the most obvious is that it required a `super-landslide'
One of our own visionaries told me he was voting against it because his
property taxes have double in three years. While i countered that
killing a good project/investment is no way to send a message to city
council, his retort was that he was also voting against any school bond
levies. So people are sick of taxes, and will DO ANYTHING to avoid
paying more.
I also heard people say that it would only encourage more
development around mountain view, amounting to a bailout and subsidy to
developers.
People are not accostumed to voting on road funding. What if we got to
vote on the A Street project? It would not have received one-third. I
heard many disgruntled peoploe over that, saying it was a waste of money.
Interestingly, the money that built `A' was federal money, about the same
amount as the mtn view project. Since the city used up all of that source
thru (I believe) 2013, they had no other choice but to try to fund mtn
view through the bond. My recollection is that city council had the
opportunity to choose to fund mt view OR A Street with the federal urban
funds a coupole of years ago.
I spoke to one carless proponent who didnt think she'd be able to get to
the polls, wrong side of town. How many other
transportation-disadvantaged were deterred from voting?
Some people on the west side probably felt it was a local problem, and
didn't concern them, so why should they pay for it?
I havent been able to shake from my mind during the flooding, wondering
how much the development mistakes of the past are now costing the city in
dealing with the flooding. Think its anywhere around a million and a half?
Finally, despite the loss of a really good project, I find that 63% IN
FAVOR of raising their taxes for a street project to be a truly
phenomenal level of support, and something we can at least take a
little comfort in.
dave peckham