#36, February 23, 2000
(With Apologies to Alfred Noyes…)
The economy was a-roaring, so were the
SUVs.
The gas was a low-cost gallon, folks
drove howe'er they please.
The road was a ribbon of taillights,
running from door to door.
And the Highwaymen came a driving--
Driving -- driving
The Highwaymen came a driving,
To raise the sales tax more.
They abandoned the tax for the
railroad, buses they did eschew.
They abandoned the tax for the
potholes, and for the bike paths too.
They cared not but for the freeway,
that much it was plain.
So they gathered up all of their
money,
They did have a lot of money,
They'd spend a lot of money
On a fabulous campaign.
The mailboxes were a' flooded, with
promises of relief.
They appealed to our frustrations, to
suspend our disbelief.
Now the Highwaymen might sincerely be
pursuing what they think right,
But they'd scour the River of gravel
While ignoring wasteful travel,
Let nature's web unravel
Before the auto's blight.
But the people sought a balance, they
knew the freeway game.
That cars and sprawl would multiply,
with each new added lane.
They knew that the growth should
concentrate along a transit rail.
Yet they knew Measure C was a token;
Its chance of passage broken
From schemes that were unspoken
By politicians frail.
So they voted down the Measure B, for
its short sighted tack.
They cast their votes for transit,
though two thirds vote they lack.
They told their supervisors, to bring
them a plan this fall
Which finds a proper blending
And helps the fences mending
So there's a decent ending
That's good enough for all.
The Ecos and the Taxfighters must each
give a little ground
To widen but spare the River, and
underground downtown.
To tighten up on the zoning, and keep
the sprawl in check.
And build the rail foundation
Of efficient transportation.
Let's have some innovation
To save our precious neck.
Someday we'll have mobility, with
clean and quiet skies.
The River will run clear and strong,
our numbers stabilized.
Someday we all will be living in
respect for this paradise.
So start in the right direction
Take a moment for reflection
And after careful inspection
Put Measure B on ice.
Voting for Measure B is voting for a
freeway-only strategy. The "transit" Measure C is destined to fail.
The product of Supervisor Tim Smith's re-election effort, it lacks the serious
campaign support it needs from freeway advocates to overcome the 1/3 minority
of transit tax opponents (and if passed, would allow the Supes to spend all the
money on street repairs!) Once freeways capture this much of the sales tax,
voters won't approve additional sales tax for transit. With no rail line around
which to concentrate, development will sprawl (even within UGBs), and the new
lanes will fill with auto-dependent travelers.
B is wasteful. Half the money will
move the Novato Narrows bottleneck three miles south to the County line. With
no support from Marin County, the rest won't get done until the State does it
(with taxes we've already paid.) Since the State is already moving ahead with
the engineering and environmental work, why not support State efforts to fund it
all, saving $1000 per household?
With B defeated, the Supervisors can
put a combined measure on this November's ballot. It would correct the mistakes
of the 1988 package (separating the tax and spending plans). It would require
less overall tax collection, accounting for recent new commitments of state gas
tax money for local widening. It will tie in with Marin County's November
ballot plans, to take rail to San Rafael. Each "side" will support the other's top priority to get their
own, enabling a 2/3 majority.
Don't let impatience get you in a jam.
Vote no on B, yes on C. Then write your Supervisor.