Bus, bike, and pedestrian interests weighing in

There have been a lengthy stream of bus, bike, and ped interests weighing in on the sales tax measure. "Weighing in" basically means speaking in opposition in this case.

The Bus Rider's Union, as expected, stated their opposition and pledged to work to get it voted down. Basically, because there are not large enough promises to expand bus ridership.

A couple of bike and pedestrian activists caught the board's interest, including Damian Newton, an activist who distributed to the board a proposed amendment to the bill that would earmark 1 percent of all funds for bike projects, and 1 percent for ped projects.

Realistically, what will happen, as Villaraigosa said in response to the speaker, is that some cities will choose to spend the discretionary money that get for transit projects on bike lanes, etc. And many others, will not. Villaraigosa pledged to spend an undefined amount on these kinds of projects.

As I have been writing this post, a speaker came up and got some laughs by comparing the proposed equity language that would bring more money to remote corners of the county to Wyoming demanding it's fair share of homeland security funding- the idea being, of course, that nobody wants to attack any targets in Wyoming.

And now, the great John Walsh, is coming to the podium to rant about how rail is a form of class warfare.

(If you just stepped in, I am blogging from today's MTA meeting on the half cent sales tax measure)