The weekly open forum for saying what you think about anything and everything.
13 Comments
Beating BART to death some more…
I am for public transit and yet I find myself opposing somewhat like-minded people who are totally gung ho about BART. I wish I could have grown up taking the train from Evergreen to downtown. I don’t think an overpriced commuter line has the same urban appeal.
This valley needs a sense of flow between places that public transit can bring, but the specific plan of BART cannot. I see people propping up BART like it’s just some representative band-aid on sprawl. It’s just a reference point for people to say, “Look, we’re thinking green because he threw money at a train.”
I’d rather the money go much further toward funding a real system whereby valley residents can get from place to place like people do elsewhere. I’d rather not have one line suck up all the money just to get mindless drones to and from their office parks during a select few business hours. That has the character of a Wal-Mart.
The usual suspects are floating the idea of charging solo drivers for the privilege of using the HOT (diamond) lanes on 101. VTA must have forgotten that those lanes were paid for by the taxpayers who voted in 1984 to tax themselves a tax of one penny on the sales tax to build those HOT lanes on 101.
IF VTA forgets the 1984 vote that we supported to build the HOT lanes on 101, and decides we must buy them over again, I hope it will finally trigger the public insight that VTA has no respect for voters or taxes, and that all its future projects should be voted down.
In the circumstances, this is an arrogant proposal. Remember we voters and sales tax payers already paid for the HOT lanes on 101. And voted in 1984 for the privilege of doing so.
As you point out, BART will take away resources from the rest of out transit system. Look at all of the wonderful things Carl promised us back in 2000 in support of his measure A: http://www.caltax.org/member/digest/nov2000/nov00-2.htm
After the voters approved the tax in 2000, it’s come to light that they can’t deliver the entire package because one huge project is hogging all of the money. And since we didn’t approve Carl’s last tax increase we get to vote on the same thing again.
Look at Carl’s promises. Will BART make it to San Jose “Without increasing our current sales tax rate?”
NO
Will we see a 750 bus fleet?
NO
There doesn’t seem to be much progress on other projects, like Dumbarton Rail or Caltrain electrification, either. And “Downtown-East Valley” has been downgraded from Light Rail to bus rapid transit to save money. So much for Carl’s big 2000 promise. Do we trust this guy with more money?
One point that has not been mentioned in regard to changing the 101 carpool lanes into toll lanes is the hours of operation. Will the toll lane option only be available during normal carpool hours, or will it be in effect 24 hours a day.
Personally, I will be more than a little upset if a lane on 101 is removed from use all day.
If we want to change the image of Downtown San Jose, I would suggest to the chief and his command staff, to reassess how they use their resources. This is just one example of tax dollars at WASTE.
San Jose Police Cars Parked on the Side walk on 1st Street (in Front of Walgreens)
We dont see these issues in Los Gatos, Santana Row, Campbell, Mt. View, OR EVEN San Francisco! I can see why people would not want to buy into those wonderful empty HIGH RISES! Becuase it looks like a police state!
Why does the Alum Rock-Santa Teresa LRT come to a complete stop at Ohlone-Chynoweth, even though the station is closed? When Curtner, Capitol and Branham were closed earlier, the trains would just slow down, not come to a complete stop.
HJ#3,
Weren’t you the one who told me to leave the BART posts at the BART thread? Anyhow, like #1 NT, I’m going to beat to death another subject dear to my heart…and that’s Cisco Field! Trouble’s in Fremont, with groundbreaking on the A’s new ballpark being pushed out to 2012 (and maybe further). Again, an empty field near 880 just 4 miles north of San Jose city limits? Or on 13 acres near the Diridon Train Station in beautiful Downtown San Jose? I think it’s a proverbial no brainer. We just need a little leadership to make what some might view as impossible into a beautiful reality. (it’s at least worth a try)
I would like to wish our United States congress a fabulous 5-weeks off. God knows they have solved all the pressing problems and need the time off. I see the price of gas dropping to where I might be able to upgrade from the generic macaroni cheese to the genuine Kraft macaroni and cheese. For the life of me, I can’t understand why the approval rating of our congress has dropped below 10%; it is truly baffling.
Regarding the land near the Diridon Station which was purchased and promised for high rise development around 2005. The controversy belongs in the context of the wild and wooly transit policy changes enacted back then.
However we understood that the “high rise development” was a stalking horse for a baseball diamond & stadium. You may recall Council Member Cortese telling the truth to the public about this discussion in closed meeting of the council. Reed went right along with this pattern of deception.
It was the high rise development that was “the smoke and mirrors” in this contorversy. The City may want to use it for BART now, but much preceded that notion.
Tony D #8
There was never a “real” plan to build a ball park close to Dirdon Station.The plan was to use that story to get community support to purchase the Stephens Meat property with City RD funds so the insiders could bring BART underground At Dirdon Station to connect with the CalTrain,Light Rail and HP Pavilion.
The ball park at Dirdon Station was all “smoke and mirrors”.
So, what’s up with the Voodoo Lounge? There’s a sign that says their booze license is being yanked, and a hand written sign saying “only 22 days left”. Will the closure be permament? What’s the reason—serving underage girls flashing big boobs and fake IDs?
Was I that hung over this morning that I imagined I’d read a post by Single Gal? Something to do with women’s rights, quotas, and daycare?
I can’t stand beating BART the dead horse to death any more. I can’t. I won’t. Isn’t there something else in San Jose to talk about? Isn’t there any here here?
Beating BART to death some more…
I am for public transit and yet I find myself opposing somewhat like-minded people who are totally gung ho about BART. I wish I could have grown up taking the train from Evergreen to downtown. I don’t think an overpriced commuter line has the same urban appeal.
This valley needs a sense of flow between places that public transit can bring, but the specific plan of BART cannot. I see people propping up BART like it’s just some representative band-aid on sprawl. It’s just a reference point for people to say, “Look, we’re thinking green because he threw money at a train.”
I’d rather the money go much further toward funding a real system whereby valley residents can get from place to place like people do elsewhere. I’d rather not have one line suck up all the money just to get mindless drones to and from their office parks during a select few business hours. That has the character of a Wal-Mart.
VTA: Paint Out Those Diamonds On 101
The usual suspects are floating the idea of charging solo drivers for the privilege of using the HOT (diamond) lanes on 101. VTA must have forgotten that those lanes were paid for by the taxpayers who voted in 1984 to tax themselves a tax of one penny on the sales tax to build those HOT lanes on 101.
IF VTA forgets the 1984 vote that we supported to build the HOT lanes on 101, and decides we must buy them over again, I hope it will finally trigger the public insight that VTA has no respect for voters or taxes, and that all its future projects should be voted down.
In the circumstances, this is an arrogant proposal. Remember we voters and sales tax payers already paid for the HOT lanes on 101. And voted in 1984 for the privilege of doing so.
As you point out, BART will take away resources from the rest of out transit system. Look at all of the wonderful things Carl promised us back in 2000 in support of his measure A:
http://www.caltax.org/member/digest/nov2000/nov00-2.htm
After the voters approved the tax in 2000, it’s come to light that they can’t deliver the entire package because one huge project is hogging all of the money. And since we didn’t approve Carl’s last tax increase we get to vote on the same thing again.
Look at Carl’s promises. Will BART make it to San Jose “Without increasing our current sales tax rate?”
NO
Will we see a 750 bus fleet?
NO
There doesn’t seem to be much progress on other projects, like Dumbarton Rail or Caltrain electrification, either. And “Downtown-East Valley” has been downgraded from Light Rail to bus rapid transit to save money. So much for Carl’s big 2000 promise. Do we trust this guy with more money?
#2
One point that has not been mentioned in regard to changing the 101 carpool lanes into toll lanes is the hours of operation. Will the toll lane option only be available during normal carpool hours, or will it be in effect 24 hours a day.
Personally, I will be more than a little upset if a lane on 101 is removed from use all day.
If we want to change the image of Downtown San Jose, I would suggest to the chief and his command staff, to reassess how they use their resources. This is just one example of tax dollars at WASTE.
San Jose Police Cars Parked on the Side walk on 1st Street (in Front of Walgreens)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbkNz1q6wXE
We dont see these issues in Los Gatos, Santana Row, Campbell, Mt. View, OR EVEN San Francisco! I can see why people would not want to buy into those wonderful empty HIGH RISES! Becuase it looks like a police state!
Why does the Alum Rock-Santa Teresa LRT come to a complete stop at Ohlone-Chynoweth, even though the station is closed? When Curtner, Capitol and Branham were closed earlier, the trains would just slow down, not come to a complete stop.
HJ#3,
Weren’t you the one who told me to leave the BART posts at the BART thread? Anyhow, like #1 NT, I’m going to beat to death another subject dear to my heart…and that’s Cisco Field! Trouble’s in Fremont, with groundbreaking on the A’s new ballpark being pushed out to 2012 (and maybe further). Again, an empty field near 880 just 4 miles north of San Jose city limits? Or on 13 acres near the Diridon Train Station in beautiful Downtown San Jose? I think it’s a proverbial no brainer. We just need a little leadership to make what some might view as impossible into a beautiful reality. (it’s at least worth a try)
I would like to wish our United States congress a fabulous 5-weeks off. God knows they have solved all the pressing problems and need the time off. I see the price of gas dropping to where I might be able to upgrade from the generic macaroni cheese to the genuine Kraft macaroni and cheese. For the life of me, I can’t understand why the approval rating of our congress has dropped below 10%; it is truly baffling.
Tony D,
the ball park was a joke. how would you think the current mayor could ever pull a deal like that off.
Balco Rules
Regarding the land near the Diridon Station which was purchased and promised for high rise development around 2005. The controversy belongs in the context of the wild and wooly transit policy changes enacted back then.
However we understood that the “high rise development” was a stalking horse for a baseball diamond & stadium. You may recall Council Member Cortese telling the truth to the public about this discussion in closed meeting of the council. Reed went right along with this pattern of deception.
It was the high rise development that was “the smoke and mirrors” in this contorversy. The City may want to use it for BART now, but much preceded that notion.
Tony D #8
There was never a “real” plan to build a ball park close to Dirdon Station.The plan was to use that story to get community support to purchase the Stephens Meat property with City RD funds so the insiders could bring BART underground At Dirdon Station to connect with the CalTrain,Light Rail and HP Pavilion.
The ball park at Dirdon Station was all “smoke and mirrors”.
So, what’s up with the Voodoo Lounge? There’s a sign that says their booze license is being yanked, and a hand written sign saying “only 22 days left”. Will the closure be permament? What’s the reason—serving underage girls flashing big boobs and fake IDs?
Was I that hung over this morning that I imagined I’d read a post by Single Gal? Something to do with women’s rights, quotas, and daycare?
I can’t stand beating BART the dead horse to death any more. I can’t. I won’t. Isn’t there something else in San Jose to talk about? Isn’t there any here here?