Written by Nicholas Vetrisek
If there is one positive thing that can be said about the coronavirus, it has kept some of the bureaucrats at bay. After initially planning to propose a transit tax on the November ballot, the San Diego MTS board decided to against the idea due to the pandemic.
“It is with a heavy heart that we confront the obvious fate of Elevate for the 2020 election cycle,” said MTS Chairman Nathan Fletcher. “The unfortunate reality of the global pandemic that we face right now is that our focus as elected officials, as leaders, as an agency really is for the foreseeable future, how do we respond to the public health challenges in front of us, how do we ensure the essential service of transit is provided in the most appropriate way, and how do we focus on the rebuilding effort that is going to have to happen as we come out of this.”
MTS had been attempting to pass the tax, which they claim would collect more than $10 billion over 40 years. They say that the funding would allow for increased bus services and additional routes, but it would more likely go to lavish foolishness like electric buses, bike lanes, and other technocratic initiatives.
In an ominous statement, Fletcher said, “While the day will come that we ask the public to make an investment in transit…that day is not going to come in 2020.”
San Diego City Council President Georgette Gómez was the primary force behind the bill, but she stated that the time is no longer right. That’s politician-speak for “we can no longer get away with it.”
San Diego voters have received temporary respite from the taxation epidemic due to the coronavirus pandemic, but need to be ready when the tax proposal inevitably returns.
