League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Alameda, Contra Costa County, CA November 4, 2008 Election
	Measure VV Special Tax Measure Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District 2/3 Approval Required Pass: 308,971 / 71.9% Yes votes ...... 120,864 / 28.1% No votes    40483 (70.12%) Yes / 17248 (29.88%) No in Contra Costa County    268488 (72.15%) Yes / 103616 (27.85%) No in Alameda County See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure VV

Arguments Against Measure VV

AC Transit bus services benefit us all by: Helping seniors and people with disabilities who cannot drive remain independent Providing transportation to and from school for children Reducing traffic by getting cars off the road Reducing greenhouse gas emissions that lead to air pollution and global warming Providing transportation alternatives for those who cannot afford skyrocketing gas prices However, AC Transit is facing a $19 million cut in state funding and our local bus services are at risk. Without additional funding, AC Transit can no longer guarantee affordable transportation for seniors, people with disabilities, students and others who rely on these services. Measure V V is on the ballot to provide a stable source of local funding to maintain affordable public transportation for East Bay residents. Measure V V funds will be used to: Avoid reductions in paratransit services for passengers with disabilities Preserve daytime services that seniors use for trips to the doctor and to go shopping Maintain services that children use to get to and from school and after school activities Preserve bus routes that help East Bay commuters get to and from work + keeping cars off the road and reducing traffic and air pollution Measure V V will cost just $4 per month + less than the cost of one gallon of gas. This cost is deductible on state and federal taxes. An independent citizens oversight committee will ensure that all funds are spent responsibly and only for the purposes approved by voters. All funds will stay here in the East Bay to provide safe, reliable and affordable public transportation. Help seniors and people with disabilities remain independent. Help children get to and from school. Keep cars off the road and protect the environment. Please vote Yes on V V. Sheila Jordan, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools Jan Garrett, Disability Advocate Marion Taylor, Vice President League of Women Voters of the Bay Area Wendy L. Alfsen, Chair Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter Transportation Committee Andy Montgomery, President United Seniors of Alameda County Rebuttal to Arguments For Proponents fail to state that Measure V V DOUBLES the existing AC Transit Tax to $96 a year. Measure V V raises $14 million a year for ten years, far more than needed for a one-time budget shortfall. AC Transit has mismanaged its money, squandering millions on big, noisy, dangerous, diesel Van Hool buses from Belgium ("Buses from Hell," East Bay Express). Clean-air American buses could have been reimbursed 80% by the Feds via Buy American Act! Then AC Transit would not need another tax. AC Transit's diesel buses spew dust and toxic particulates, creating unhealthy environments for all in our commercial corridors. AC Transit has asked for our financial support for years. We pay, while they eliminate local buses and force big Van Hool buses, often running empty, into narrow avenues between North Oakland and Richmond. AC Transit is NOT affordable for many, at $1.75 for a short trip and 25 cents for one transfer. Measure VV won't make AC Transit more affordable. It would be affordable and increase revenues, to reduce fares during off-peak travel. Near empty buses at $1.75 could be full with off-peak $1 fares and unlimited transfers between 10am and 3pm. The popular small DASH buses in L.A. cost 40 cents, 10 cents for seniors! AC Transit could benefit financially by providing deeply discounted (ECO) passes for all, a proven money+maker for transit. ECO-passes can be financed by many ways including parking fees, and can greatly reduce congestion and global warming gases. Vote NO on Measure V V! Merrilie Mitchell

The proposed AC Transit parcel tax is unfair in many ways. Measure V V is unfair to low income homeowners, because all homeowners pay the same tax, regardless of income or home value. Low-income homeowners would pay $96 a year, while affluent renters pay nothing. At a time when people are losing their homes to foreclosure in record numbers, is it responsible to burden financially strapped homeowners with more taxes? Should voters who do not own property have the right to levy a 10-year tax on property owners? If AC Transit needs more revenue, it should increase ridership by offering needed service, rather than focusing on clogging one route (1R) with massive noisy buses that are often empty. AC Transit could benefit financially by providing discounted (Eco) Passes for all, a proven moneymaker for transit, and serious step to reducing greenhouse gases. The 1R line is a trial balloon for the controversial BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), with plans for major corridors in the East Bay. This parcel tax seems to be a back-door attempt to grab millions of dollars for the BRT scheme. According to AC Transit literature, BRT's main benefit is Redevelopment! The draft EIR for BRT shows no significant reduction in energy consumption or air pollution. BRT will use buses that get 3.5 miles per gallon of diesel fuel. BRT is not Green! We need safe, clean-air buses! It is disingenuous to call this a temporary tax. It will be a tax for perpetuity. The existing AC Transit parcel tax was $48 a year for five years. Now they want $96 a year for 10 years. One can predict with certainty that if this tax is approved, AC Transit will subsequently seek to increase the tax rate again and extend the tax further into the future. VOTE NO ON MEASURE V V Merrilie Mitchell Rebuttal to Arguments Against Measure V V has broad support from respected organizations and leaders because it will preserve affordable public transportation services. The lone opponent is upset about a specific local issue and overlooks all the important reasons to support Measure V V: The cost of fuel for AC Transit buses has grown from $8 million in 2004 to over $20 million this year. The cost of Measure V V is less than one gallon of gas per month. AC Transit buses are a lifeline that allows seniors and people with disabilities to remain independent and helps children get to and from school. Without Measure V V services will be reduced and fares will increase. AC Transit buses reduce traffic and greenhouse gas emissions by getting cars off the road. Measure V V requires strict accountability including an independent citizens' oversight committee and mandatory annual audits. All funds must stay local and can't be taken away by the State. AC Transit consistently ranks as one of the best bus systems in the nation. For 4 of the last 7 years, AC Transit has been named "best of the best" bus systems in the nation. AC Transit is an environmental leader. AC Transit has reduced pollution by developing cleaner engines and zero emissions technology. With high gas prices and the threat of global warming, Measure V V is more important that ever. Please vote YES vote on V V. Sheila Jordan, Superintendent of Schools Alameda County Jan Garrett, Disability Advocate Marion Taylor, Vice President League of Women Voters of the Bay Area Wendy L. Alfsen, Chair of Sierra Club San Francisco Bay Chapter Transportation Committee Andy Montgomery, President United Seniors of Alameda County