VOTE NO to Tran$Link tax

[Cock Throppled]

But, if we have a YES on the 0.5%, then the cost does get spread a little wider. I don't own a property, don't own a car (Modo is my friend), don't see much in the way of direct taxation. It seems reasonable to me that as everyone benefits from the public transit infrastructure (yep, less cars on the road benefits those who still drive), the cost should be spread around and the 0.5% PST isn't such a bad way to do that. Otherwise, it will be smaller groups (property owners, car owners) who get to carry more of the inevitable increase in cost.

I understand the sentiment about making the vote a vote on confidence for the Translink governance system, but I'm not sure that is the message that will result in a NO vote.

Thank you Ms. Bijoux for pulling up the research. Doesn't surprise me the oil lobby wants to make sure this fails to ensure their market share continues. And look how all the sheep seem to be falling in line.

That is the dumbest logic I've seen, and the Yes side is making some pretty ridiculous claims.

The oil companies are in no danger of losing market share or income due to public transit. And the BC Liberal government is doing a lot more for cars that passengers of any kind of transport.

I don't care who Jordan Bateman is or works for, he's the only one giving a voice to the No side. Meanwhile the Yes side is pissing away six million+ of tax dollars and another $6 million for Elections BC to monitor and count and yet the Yes side seems to really resent anyone that dares to question the wisdom of throwing more money at Translink.

The main reason we pay the highest gas prices in North America is the number of taxes we already pay - notably 17¢ a litre on every gallon.

 

[rick hunter]

Most people voting NO are like the old guy in the video. Voting NO because Translink is so wasteful but can't even explain how wasteful is supposedly is.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=575755&binId=1.1184694&playlistPageNum=1


There could be a generational gap also. http://globalnews.ca/news/1899165/generation-gap-could-impact-vancouver-transit-vote/


I also haven't seen anyone get worked up about the Auditor General of Local Government getting fired and wasting a few millions on 3 reports. Where is Jordan Bateman when you need him? He gets worked up over a $30,000 statue (which I agree is dumb) but is nowhere to found on this?

 

[johnniejetpack]

I can't afford to pay more tax. This would cut into my pooning budget

 

[1nitestan]

RE: http://perb.cc/vbulletin/showthread...ran-Link-tax&p=1597195&viewfull=1#post1597195

Hands down best post. Thanks for the links, although I'm sure not many bothered to read any of it, like they won't bother to read the ones I share.

Judging by the fact that no one has responded to either of our posts....

a) no one bothered to read them, and/or
b) they have read them but choose to be willfully ignorant and remain angry troglodytes because "Gov't/translink is wasteful"

I'd have to add though that Todd Litman and the Victoria Transport Policy Institute is also not exactly 100% believable. He's does debunk a lot of Bateman's "Tea Party" like rantings, but....

What's the Victoria Transport Policy Institute? Well as near as I can tell the VTPI is in fact not a "research institution", but a single-employee business founded and run by Todd Litman. So who is Todd Litman? Well seems he's a guy who got a couple degrees in urban planning then founding his own think-tank consultancy (ie. the VPTI) and has spent his entire career writing contract research papers for transit authorities and municipalities. Does that make him an expert in transit policy and efficiency? Perhaps, perhaps not. All I know is that outside his own website I can't find a *single* mention of his name. You'd think that if his expertise and opinion was so highly regarded around North American that you would come across mention of his work in other regions capital project planning documents, policy directives, etc. After all, according to the resume on his website he's been doing this since 1995 and has spent his entire career working at the VPTI.

Here's another article written by a transit operator who has some insight you don't normally get to read. It gives you an idea of how we got to this moment in time:

http://www.fundmoretransit.ca/a-nudge-toward-yes/

 

[vancity_cowboy]

i remember reading, after the big coast mountain strike/lockout during the summer of 2001(?), that vancouver's air quality was off-the-charts the best on record

also, from personal observation during the same period, traffic congestion was WAY less without those damned busses hogging up the roadways - but somehow people still got to work every morning

so don't talk to me about how 'environmentally friendly' bus commuting is compared to automobiles

 

[mercyshooter]

One thing, if it involves taxpayers' money, then ROI is the first priority. if ROI is negative, then everyone, except the wealthy people, will be living under the poverty line. Be realistic people!

 

[apl16]

I have discussed this issue with GVRD currently sitting mayors. One is publicly for and against. The one "for" admitted that he is not comfortable being for it but has pressure from the powerful mayors of Van and Surrey that will cause him problems on other GVRD issues. The second basically says "fuck the other mayors. This is just stupid to put more money into a nontransparent, unelected body".
The powerful are pressuring others to stay with the program, or else. There are also a lot of UNIFOR people unhappy with the unions stance as it is not inline with most of the rank and file.
I can't ever support any " plan" that is so vague and poorly constructed. When the politicos say "trust us", you know the con is on. Poopheads!

 

[vancouverman]

Just curious.. Do you know who this Jordan Bateman is? .

I don't know Jordan, I do not care who he is or what his opinions are ( especially opinions about other issues )

I do not vote for Jordan B.
I will vote against wasting my money.

Voting "NO" will be a message from me..... I do not want Translink to waste more of my money.
Fix it first, then show me the plan that will make some sense.

But that is just me. We all can make our own decisions .... then we will have to live with them.

 

[hornygandalf]

Voting "NO" will be a message from me..... I do not want Translink to waste more of my money.
Fix it first, then show me the plan that will make some sense.
.

Do you also always vote against the government in power, as it seems that all of them waste money in some way...

 

[steiln]

couldn't agree more. I remember thinking that at the time too. thousands of smog belching buses clogging the right lanes.

i remember reading, after the big coast mountain strike/lockout during the summer of 2001(?), that vancouver's air quality was off-the-charts the best on record

also, from personal observation during the same period, traffic congestion was WAY less without those damned busses hogging up the roadways - but somehow people still got to work every morning

so don't talk to me about how 'environmentally friendly' bus commuting is compared to automobiles

 

[steiln]

double post

 

[Lo-ki]

i remember reading, after the big coast mountain strike/lockout during the summer of 2001(?), that vancouver's air quality was off-the-charts the best on record

also, from personal observation during the same period, traffic congestion was WAY less without those damned busses hogging up the roadways - but somehow people still got to work every morning

so don't talk to me about how 'environmentally friendly' bus commuting is compared to automobiles

I so remember that strike.

Soooo easy to get around without the buses clogging the right lane and cutting you off when ever they feel like it even if your right in the middle of the bus when they decide to go in your lane.

Just imagine a bus strike and a teacher strike... wow... now that would clear the streets.

 

[PTP]

Yes, I remember that strike and the "Get ready for gridlock"
Gridlock never happened.
As Loki said, It was so much easier to get around- No buses = better traffic flow.

 

[PTP]

I too remember that strike and the "Get Ready For Gridlock"
No gridlock happened.
As Loki said, it was way easier to get around.
No buses = better traffic flow

 

[wilde]

Translink is an over glorified bus company with a very well paid board and generously paid union workers. Example, $30 plus/hr for a ferry janitor. Why does Translink need more money? To maintain and increase the pay of those fat cats. Any remaining table scraps will be put into "transit". Does that sound like the solution to "congestion"?

 

[manni]

I too remember that strike and the "Get Ready For Gridlock"
No gridlock happened.
As Loki said, it was way easier to get around.
No buses = better traffic flow

traffic flow is the result of synchronized light pattern
and not necessarily because there's less buses on the road.

 

[rick hunter]

Translink is an over glorified bus company with a very well paid board and generously paid union workers. Example, $30 plus/hr for a ferry janitor. Why does Translink need more money? To maintain and increase the pay of those fat cats. Any remaining table scraps will be put into "transit". Does that sound like the solution to "congestion"?

Where did you get this example of a ferry janitor who gets paid $30/hr? According to the contract, the maximum rate a bus driver makes is $30.38 after being 2 years on the job. Since the average Canadian wage is around $50,000 per year, I hardly call that being generously over paid.

http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Careers/Bus-Operators.aspx

 

[vancouverman]

Do you also always vote against the government in power, as it seems that all of them waste money in some way...

.... and since when Translink is our government ????????

traffic flow is the result of synchronized light pattern
and not necessarily because there's less buses on the road.

please show WHERE in Vancouver ( especially downtown core ) can I find synchronized lights?

 

[Lo-ki]

.... and since when Translink is our government ????????




please show WHERE in Vancouver ( especially downtown core ) can I find synchronized lights?

You wont but you'll find that all the cyclists will go trough most or all RED LIGHTS

 

[87112]

Where did you get this example of a ferry janitor who gets paid $30/hr? According to the contract, the maximum rate a bus driver makes is $30.38 after being 2 years on the job. Since the average Canadian wage is around $50,000 per year, I hardly call that being generously over paid.

http://www.translink.ca/en/About-Us/Careers/Bus-Operators.aspx

$30.38 does that include the benefits cause some pay rates they average in benefits. If not 30.38 after 2 years is a great pay for a bus driver no matter how crappy most people think the job is.