VOTE NO to Tran$Link tax

[Sporting]

We need transit, the skytrain is a miracle of modern technology. We need lots more of it. We need more stretch buses. It's the people that have bloated the organization that runs Transit that need their comeuppance. I took a look today. These people loaf around the stations all day long. Why couldn't they be inspecting tickets while they are waiting to blow the whistle on the occasional misanthrope who wanders in? I couldn't do their job, it's so boring. Give them something to do to keep honest people honest!
BTW I don't think PST is regressive. There are so many foreigners who live amongst us, who have millions, but don't show a dime of taxable income, in fact they shamelessly apply for welfare or GIS, or whatever money they can felch the ignorant bureaucratic systems that ignorant governments put in place to felch from honest hard working people you find here. The minute they have been here 10 years, they apply for OAS. We're all asleep.

 

[wilde]

Notice how there is no time frame in the question: "Do you support a one half percentage point (0.5%) increase to the Provincial Sales Tax in Metro Vancouver, dedicated to the Mayors’ Transportation and Transit Plan, with independent audits and public reporting?” This would appear to indicate a permanent increase. So FUCK NO.

 

[Rod_Longenhard]

Voting YES would be like giving money to an alcoholic to buy booze, on the promise they'll go to rehab, eventually.

It's a resounding NO from me. Unfortunately, they'll get the money by robbing Peter to pay Paul in the long run. The last time the lower mainland took a progressive stance on infrastructure was 1960.

 

[Equity Market investor]

But how did you get to Edmonds station? Did you take into account the time to commute to the station and find (and pay for) parking; or do you bus to the station? If you live at Canada Way and Edmonds, you'd probably be able to get downtown and park quicker in a car. Coming home would be even quicker because you would not need to wait for a bus to complete your journey.

Lo-ki mentioned 4 people. Using your numbers, that would be $28 in transit fares. Evening parking downtown is much cheaper than that. Using Transit as a designated driver does make sense, regardless of costs in terms of dollars or time. But driving down with a bunch of buds in your own car is much more fun.

I live very close to the station and you are right. Being so close I never considered the fact about others not living very close to a station. But, there is plenty of free parking around many stations ( excluding dt ) , you just have to find them

$28 in transit fees divided by 4 people ='s $7. Now, what do parking lots dt charger per hour? Add that in and spit that between 4 people. With transit you don't worry about parking dt. Meters are what.....$6 per hour? What if your gathering is 3 or more hours? Whats the cost of 3 hours in a parking lot? If passengers are not splitting the whole trip, then yes.....the passengers have it made lol, unlike the driver who is fronting all driving cost and parking.

I guess, everyone sees it differently , Also, with a car you are not waiting for trains but have the convenience of your car right at hand.

You are right in saying.....driving in a car with friends is a whole lot funner :thumb:

 

[Cock Throppled]

The best reason to vote No is, if this tax is implemented it will be permanent and there will be absolutely no accountability from any of the pushers of the Yes vote once the costs start spiraling, the plans aren't fulfilled and the secret deals and surprises start popping up.

Once it's in, it's in and the only thing that will happen is the rate goes up.

If the pushers want it so much why isn't there a single one of them ponying up their own money for all the ads? Every cent is our tax money.

 

[vancouverman]

Every cent is our tax money.

It always is.... it always is ..... :doh:

 

[Papa Chongo]

I am voting yes, as a home owner I am not willing to pay more property taxes, and I guarantee if this vote goes No, then our Property taxes will go up, this money is needed and will be raised somehow, at least a sales tax evens it out and everyone helps pay!

I have the same misgivings as everyone, but I see this as the best solution.

 

[dan08]

I'll be voting yes. I hate the waste on two ceo s and sky high labour costs, but this is Vancouver...

I also hate the Compass fiasco. Someones making money at all these cost overruns.

But all of these things are details. I buy into the message that our population is increasing by a million people and we need roads and infrastructure to support it so that we are not all choking in traffic happy about how we showed translink what we thought of them.

I want new roads and bridges and a Broadway subway.

Agreed with the above

 

[87112]

I did not read all of this thread. Do what most cities do stick it to the visitors, tourists. Just add 1 to 2 % more tax on hotels, car rentals, airport landing fees. Most visitors are not going to bitch over another 3 to 5 bucks on a trip or hotel room stay.

 

[Equity Market investor]

I am voting yes, as a home owner I am not willing to pay more property taxes, and I guarantee if this vote goes No, then our Property taxes will go up, this money is needed and will be raised somehow, at least a sales tax evens it out and everyone helps pay!

I have the same misgivings as everyone, but I see this as the best solution.

Exactly and I agree with your whole statement. :thumb:!!! People should learn from history, and that is.......if provincial or Federal government is in need of public finance, they will find other means to get it. People may chat all they want and talk the talk but.......They - the government - will ALWAYS get it from us!!

In Seattle, higher property taxes are being proposed for transit finance as well, and it may be the more secure road. I pay enough property tax / taxes as is.

http://www.news1130.com/2015/03/20/...ay-of-raising-money-for-transit-improvements/

 

[SirJimmy]

Why does a population growth of 1 million necessitate a sales tax rate increase of 0.5%? Lower mainland population is about 2 million, New York is about 20 million. (20-2)*0.5 = 9%. So by the time we hit New York's population, we should have a provincial sales tax of 7+9 = 16% ?

Evergreen line will be in production in 2016 = new revenue. Are there plans to build parkades at the Coquitlam stations so that ridership is high from day one? Of course not. If there were cheap/free parkades at the Coquitlam stations, people could drive in from PoCo, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, etc and park to take the new train. This would bring $170/month from every new customer. What do the genius "planners" propose? Adding B-line bus service to the stations. Forget the expensive, slow, infrequent buses with their expensive unionized bus drivers ferrying me to/from your one product (SkyTrain) that I actually want to use. I will use my own vehicle/driver/fuel to get myself to the product. Just give me a cheap/safe place to park! And I will still pay your full $170/month 3-zone fare. Add the buses later when there is enough population density to justify them.

Also, why do they need a "go big or go home" mentality? Making small, incremental improvements isn't an option?

Three "NO!" votes from this household.

 

[bcneil]

I am voting yes, as a home owner I am not willing to pay more property taxes, and I guarantee if this vote goes No, then our Property taxes will go up, this money is needed and will be raised somehow, at least a sales tax evens it out and everyone helps pay!

I have the same misgivings as everyone, but I see this as the best solution.

Agree. One way or another they are going to get their money. Either a sales tax where the people that actually use transit will pay too.
Or property taxes, where a huge portion of transit users won't have to pay a penny.
Its not like if the no side wins, they will be like damn, gotta spend less.

 

[76duster]

I cross the bridge to work every weekday. That's 10 crossings per week (one crossing to work, one crossing back). I pay approx. $160 per month to do this as a registered user.

Nobody can justify this amount - I do not put $8 of wear and tear on that bridge when I cross it. It's highway robbery, pure an simple.

$160 per month as a tax is enough. That's $1920 extra taxes I pay to Translink just so I can go to work, and I'm providing my own transportation. These idiots/assholes asking for more money is unconscionable.

We are not provided with excellent public transportation compared to the rest of the world. It is far more expensive and it is average compared to other metropolitan centers.

All of Translink should be destroyed and rebuilt from the ground up. We need a strong anti-union government to make sure the next Translink is not the piece of shit that this one is.

 

[76duster]

Agree. One way or another they are going to get their money. Either a sales tax where the people that actually use transit will pay too.
Or property taxes, where a huge portion of transit users won't have to pay a penny.
Its not like if the no side wins, they will be like damn, gotta spend less.

What a defeatist attitude. If you vote no, it will help to open the discussion to eliminate Translink altogether, which people should rally to make the next step. We need to destroy that piece of shit and rebuild it from the ground up and make it more efficient and competitive.

 

[bcneil]

What a defeatist attitude. If you vote no, it will help to open the discussion to eliminate Translink altogether, which people should rally to make the next step. We need to destroy that piece of shit and rebuild it from the ground up and make it more efficient and competitive.

You're in dreamland if you think they are going to dismantle translink

 

[Papa Chongo]

This is another example of misinformation, Translink is not asking for the money, it is a consortium of Mayors of the GVRD, sure the bulk of $$ will go to upgrade translink infrastructure, but it is not them asking us for the money, translink has been smart here, they know they are hated, and yes DREAMLAND if you think they will ever dismantle it.

What a defeatist attitude. If you vote no, it will help to open the discussion to eliminate Translink altogether, which people should rally to make the next step. We need to destroy that piece of shit and rebuild it from the ground up and make it more efficient and competitive.

 

[Plude]

Double post

 

[Plude]

You're in dreamland if you think they are going to dismantle translink

Sure dismantling TransLink won't happen but something needs to be addressed here. Can't be throw money to them and let them waste it all. Population is sure as hell not going to decrease, just going up

 

[mercyshooter]

I did not read all of this thread. Do what most cities do stick it to the visitors, tourists. Just add 1 to 2 % more tax on hotels, car rentals, airport landing fees. Most visitors are not going to bitch over another 3 to 5 bucks on a trip or hotel room stay.

exactly! Canada is lacking world competition! and it's a multicultural country! :doh:

 

[mercyshooter]

Exactly and I agree with your whole statement. :thumb:!!! People should learn from history, and that is.......if provincial or Federal government is in need of public finance, they will find other means to get it. People may chat all they want and talk the talk but.......They - the government - will ALWAYS get it from us!!

In Seattle, higher property taxes are being proposed for transit finance as well, and it may be the more secure road. I pay enough property tax / taxes as is.

http://www.news1130.com/2015/03/20/...ay-of-raising-money-for-transit-improvements/

seattle people use less public transit than Vancouver! less than 10%! :doh: wtf are you guys comparing with? be logical! :doh: