Just 12 years into the most recent 40-year SANDAG sales tax increase (whose "oversight" is dubious), SANDAG wants still more money from us. It's not sure what it needs the money for, but who doesn't want more money? SANDAG has all kinds of nifty ideas like a sky gondola from downtown to Balboa Park.
Moderates like former Supervisor Pam Slater-Price oppose SANDAG's tax hike because the unaccountable, unelected board uses its huge war chest to bribe or bully cities into putting what SANDAG wants ahead of the needs of local residents. Such as increasing high-density development to meet SANDAG's phony growth projections. Or deciding where Cardiff should put its Rail Trail.
The SANDAG play is to put a 40-year, 1/2 cent sales tax hike, which overlaps and doubles the last SANDAG 40-year tax, on the ballot and persuade citizens that it's critical for infrastructure. They want to avoid local elected officials having to go on record supporting or opposing the tax increase, because the more public discussion that happens, the more uncomfortable questions people might raise, like what happened to the last $14 billion we voted them?
Rostra's conservative Brian Brady interviewed Mayor Kristen Gaspar, and Gaspar is firmly opposed to SANDAG's $30 frozen yogurt. Let's hope she puts it on the council agenda so we can see which council members stand with locals, and which stand with SANDAG.
Too bad Gaspar votes to support useless expensive trophy projects like Regional sports complex, and the $3 million dollar life guard tower.
ReplyDeletevote out all incumbents.
When running for alternate office, it is always good to pretend to oppose additional taxes. Election year pandering here.
DeleteIt is also good to claim you change your vote for the rail trail after your name shows up on signs, like Fakespear. Oh by the way, Blakespear's foolish vote to suport the rail trail got the ball rolling.
DeleteWho cares what Gaspar thinks? She is a lame idiot looking for higher ground.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning this WC. Traditionally, Council votes don't "bind" a SANDAG rep but if Mayor Gaspar gets an up or down vote on the agenda, it wull be interesting to see who supports the $30 ice cream cone and who opposes it.
ReplyDeleteEscondido and Poway voted against this tax unanimously. Coronado, Vista, El Cajon, and La Mesa have it on their agendas.
Gaspar has a valid point. SANDAG has been scheming to get a sales tax increase for years. At first they called it a "quality of life" tax. Public surveys showed that such an approach wouldn't fly with the public.
ReplyDeleteOur representative at SANDAG is Lisa Shaffer. She pushed for a sales tax in Encinitas and also for parking meters downtown. She's never encountered a tax increase she didn't like. I hope Gaspar puts an item on the council agenda as soon as possible. Let's see who supports the SANDAG sales tax increase.
Vote NO on any SANDAG sales tax increase. No more money for bureaucrats who aren't accountable to the public.
GASpar is not capable of having a valid point. Someone else pulls her strings and tells her what to say and do.
DeleteShe is the developer's little princess.
We need to send her packing.
Who is the "we" you keep referring to? I'm not sure many want to be associated with you and your cute little play on words and your completely offensive references to personal appearances or other not-appropriate-for-substantive-debate comments. You detract from the significant points made by those who don't always agree with city council actions and who do make substantive arguments about what is going on in this city.
Delete3:34 "We" means more than one. Are you upset that your little princess likes the developers? BTW, what is your significant point to this blog? No one (more than one) asked for your opinion.
Delete3:34 Who is the "many" you keep referring to?
DeleteThere is a good chance she will not come in first or second in the County Supervisor race. If so, I think she will run for mayor or council again. Now that we know she has higher ambitions, we can guess that she will align her votes to raise money to win higher office. People underestimate her, she is far more clever than it seems. On specific votes she has been very clearly aligned with development interests. Beware!
ReplyDeleteYea, if Gaspar isn't Mayor or on the city council, her political career is over. The Supervisorial run was premature, especially since she didn't get the party endorsement. Her handlers are forced to proceed tho, as dropping out of the Supervisorial race at this point would have its own adverse effects on the perception of her overall electability to higher office.
DeleteKG has a good chance, in the primary, to come in at least second. Her decision to oppose another tax increase is good politics because her constituents do not support higher taxes.
DeleteCouncil Members, and Supervisors, are elected to represent their constituents' wishes, using their best judgment to do so. In that sense, it's their job to "pander," as you describe it. Of course characterizing it as such obviously demonstrates more hyperbole and trollish rhetoric.
3:07 AM In other words, you support a candidate that does or says anything to get elected. You consider that doing the will of the constituents. Your motto should be "If all else fails, lower your standards".
DeleteGaspar come in second? Doubtful - she doesn't have much to offer, so the sand and rocks policy can't sustain itself without something more substantial in her presentation.
DeleteAccording to an NPR report, SANDAG has a $500K/yr budget for persuasive political propaganda. They also monitor social media sites such as this one to gauge the sentiment of the posters and devse counter-points to opposition. Oppose all SANDAG proposals.
ReplyDeleteWe have enough taxes already... how about showing us some responsible government in return for those tax increases we already have had.
ReplyDeleteSuch as showing us a responsible growth plan with transportation for the county from SANDAG. So far the "Smart Growth" initiative was a give me more profits for developers without the infrastructure from water/power to transportation to support it.