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As gas prices rise and government coffers tighten, the city of Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus service is asking for Santa Monican's and the public-at-large's help for an issue that reaches far beyond the oceanside city's boundaries.
The state is planning cuts to the transportation budget, something that already resembles swiss cheese. If passed, the proposal would wipe out 50% of transit funds by diverting half of gasoline sales tax to the general budget in hopes of filling financial chasms rather than keep it earmarked for transportation projects.
Santa Monica officials say this means a possible loss of $3.5 million translating to no new buses to relieve overcrowded busses, something that's especially important during a time of high gasses and high ridership (7.1% for BBB so far).
How can people help? Big Blue says to contact your representatives in state government. If you live in Santa Monica, they people "can voice their opinions about the transportation budget cuts by contacting State Senator Sheila Kuehl at senator.kuehl@sen.ca.gov or 310-441-9084, or District Assemblywoman Julia Brownley at Assemblymember.Brownley@assembly.ca.gov or 310-395-3414."
Related in Transit Activism: Sales Tax Increase for Public Transit to Cost $25 Annually
Photo by Charlie Brewer via Flickr
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Santa Monica is one of the wealthiest cities around these parts. They strip and re-pave perfectly good streets all year long, and are pretty much swimming in cash. Sounds like someone needs to re-arrange some city budget lines.
Also, is there a legitimate supporting news/gov link?
Speaking of a legitimate supporting news/gov link, do you have one supporting your claim?
Sacramento dipped into the gasoline tax set aside for funding public transpo last year. If Sacto is allowed to do this every time there is a budget crisis public transpo projects will never get the full funding that we were promised when we voted for this tax.
I mean come on, when is there not a budget crisis?