Comments on: metro sales tax measure approved; ball in legislature’s court

By: Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:21:48 +0000

Rich,

I think you’re not following Bettie’s reasoning because it is so far out there that it’s off the page, off the screen and under the desk someplace. Imagine if having turnstiles from the start could have earned MTA $5 billion (Billion!) more in revenues? Wow, what a missed opportunity! (joke)

Anyway, about the vote…
I’m excited.
I’m ecstatic.
I’m hoping I’ll live long enough to ride to the sea!

By: Rich Alossi

Rich Alossi — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:01:16 +0000

Bettie: You think Metro has $5 billion worth of uncollected fare revenue?

Most people buy monthly, weekly or day passes… because you can’t get on a bus without paying the fare or showing your pass (unless you hop in the back door, but the drivers are usually good about catching that). Most trips on the system require a bus and rail transfer… so I’m just not following.

By: Bettie Miner

Bettie Miner — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:58:50 +0000

If measures had been taken in the beginning to enforce payment for riding Metrorail, they would probably already have their money to expand the line(s) plus some! The money being lost by having an honor system would easily fund new projects. Rather than finding more ways to tax citizens, they should collect the money from people riding the trains (who are not paying) which will not only fund their projects, but provide additional safety in the stations.

By: Vero Queero

Vero Queero — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:38:38 +0000

Gloria Molina used to be an exciting politician but like all aging politicians who’ve been in office too long, she’s jaded and has become irrelevant. It’s time to replace her. She’s the real blockage to the tax because you knew the Republicans would be against it.

By: DTLA

DTLA — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:06:38 +0000

“Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder Dean Logan said the MTA must now pay up to $10 million for a special second ballot on election day or ask a court to force the measure onto the existing Nov. 4 ballot”

What a bunch of losers - one good thing that could have helped the masses and all future generations - they kill without even giving the people a chance to vote. What happened to democracy??

By: LAofAnaheim

LAofAnaheim — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:47:55 +0000

LA continues to be a 3rd rate city in terms of mass transit. The political bickering with the board of supervisors is beyond disgust. Can we get the angelenic readers to help vote out Antonovich especially? The sales tax measure is dead

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tax6-2008aug06,0,3404233.story

By: Raul

Raul — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:51:17 +0000

Too many of us complain about the transit shortcomings of our city, so now it’s time we do something about it. We need to step up and do something, and a half-cent increase is an easy, almost painless way to do so. 2/3 is a mighty tall order though.

By: Hugh

Hugh — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:57:59 +0000

…by the way, I am the future mayor of Los Angeles… in about 15yrs!!!
El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula

By: Hugh

Hugh — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:54:10 +0000

Anyways, a 1/2cent sales tax is almost nothing. It is $0.005 Per $1.00. I am from Orlando, more specifically Seminole County, and we pass the same 1/2cent sales tax for the upkeep of our schools and what we have is one of the best districts in the nation. Our schools get completely remodeled roughly every 20 yrs, no portable classrooms, and everyone is happy. I have never gone to an old creaky school. The same can work here in Los Angeles with transit. $.005 is hardly a dent in the pocket. Corruption is everywhere, but it doesnt mean we can’t live quality life, we just have to make sure the people we put in office deliver on what we ask. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE, that is what we can do

By: Hugh

Hugh — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:51:08 +0000

You ask: didnt we pass a 1/2cent sales tax a while back for transit? The answer is yes we did and look where it got us… we have the basis for a world class transit system. Metro won the award in 2007 from APTA for “America’s best transit system” not because of what we have, but where we are going. We went from having absolutely no rail in 1990 to 74 miles of Metro Rail, plus it funds our booming metrolink system which also wasnt here in 1991— we now have 512 miles of Metrolink. We built 4 Metro rail lines, expanded bus service to include the highly successful rapid lines. In 18 years, that minute tax has HELPED fund 586 miles of rail, as well as many other factors.