Dear Editor,
Thank you for making our town newspaper one that nurtures
democracy by opening dialogues with elected leaders. We are
indebted to you for your sterling work.
Dear Editor,
Thank you for making our town newspaper one that nurtures democracy by opening dialogues with elected leaders. We are indebted to you for your sterling work.
Should taxpayers reward local leaders with more taxes when there is so much waste happening with public-sector transit boondoggles?
Many VTA buses, and most seats on them, move empty at taxpayer expense. Lite rail rides cost more than rides on the Concorde supersonic. Amtrak riders could be taken from Los Angeles to New York cheaper by taxicab. How much are the subsidies that Caltrain riders get? Why not move them in limousines? It would be cheaper for taxpayers, and we wouldn’t have so many small businesses going bankrupt or closing like Indian Motorcycles.
If operating expenses are $480,925, but fares are only $18,236, that means local leaders burdened taxpayers for $462,689 to pay the operating subsidy. Add to that the other operating costs not disclosed, plus the fixed and capital costs, and the Caltrain rider’s each received $142,103.85. And if the capital and fixed costs were greater than the $47 million disclosed for the trackage rental agreement VTA leased from Union Pacific Railroad, then the perks for the select few Caltrain riders is even higher. Why not buy each of them a Mercedes sedan? We would save thousands. Why not hire shuttles? We would save millions?
To calculate the true burden our leaders impose, one must factor in the percentage return for each dollar of tax we send to Sacramento and Washington. For example, 37 rural counties in California get back about 10 cents for each $1 of taxes sent. What is it for Santa Clara County? That multiplies the tax burden necessary to pay the Caltrain and VTA subsidies. Having fun spending “OPM,” Other Peoples’ Money?
Measuring Caltrain “success” by “ridership” is pure deception, bordering on outright lies. We need leaders who measure boondoggles by generally accepted accounting principles, not socialist baloney. Carriage of passenger business belongs in the private sector, not on the backs of taxpayers. No new taxes/fees so long as our leaders waste our money. We need new leaders willing to tell Emperor Transit First that he is stark naked. We don’t need any leaders who act like medieval physicians applying more blood-sucking leeches to a dying patient, telling him that he will soon be cured. It’s the leeches that are killing us.
Joe Thompson, Gilroy
