July 24, 2008
Metro Approves Sales Tax Hike for Ballot
It is now up to state legislators to pass AB 2321, and if they do, the half-cent increase in sales tax to 8.75% approved by the Metro board today will be put in the hands of Los Angeles County residents when they go to vote on election day this November. If the sales tax proposal, now called Measure R, is approved, it could raise as much as $40 billion over the next 30 years for public transit and road projects. Two members voted against the sales tax: LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich and Duarte City Councilman John Fasana. Supervisor Gloria Molina abstained from voting.



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http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-villaraigosa24-2008jul24,0,1437377.story
Mayor Villaraigoa's OpEd about the measure. I admit a line from USC to the west side would be awesome, but would it really only cost only $25 dollars a year per Angeleno?
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I just finished an exhausting review at Streetsblog. Longest...meeting...ever....
There's a lot of things about this proposal that make me go, "huh?" but when it comes down to it can you really vote against all that transit? Even if there are a bunch of stupid highway projects and no set-aside for bike and pedestrian projects.
If you're interested in the streetsblog story...
http://la.streetsblog.org/2008/07/24/metro-board-passes-sales-tax-proposal/
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I wonder how much money they'd make if they actually put turnstiles in at the Metro stations. Or would it be so much money that they'd HAVE to just say F it and build subway tracks all over this b*tch?
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We'll find out Andy, turnstile funds roled in from Homeland Security in mid-July.
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"...in the hands of Los Angeles County residents when they go to vote on election day this November. If the sales tax proposal is approved..."
This is the proposal that would be required to pass by 2/3 majority, right?
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you are correct