Ron Sims - Hang your head in shame.... SHAME!

While I usually like to take on more national issues; today I have to write about something that hits a little closer to home. This fall there is a huge initiative called "Transit Now" it will do much to expand the light rail line that already goes from SeaTac airport to downtown, will increase bus service and fund studies for even further expansion of light rail. Making Seattle much more efficient in terms of public transit.

I think this measure is great because it already builds onto the existing light rail, instead of some competing technology and increases the frequency of buses meaning less time waiting for your bus to arrive.

The funding for this will be a tenth of a percent sales tax increase and (maybe) a $80 per $10,000 vehicle value licence plate tax. That's fine, since the taxes come from a base that is most affected by the improvements.
So why the thumbs down? Why the title? As a co-worker mentioned to me, not all groups are in favor of this (no surprise there), but the surprise is that our King County Executive Ron Sims has withdrawn his support for the project. Ron has traditionally been in favor of mass transit projects and his lack of support is causing people to hesitate on voting in this initative.

Today the Seattle PI tells us WHY. Turns our Ron has drawn up the new 2008 budget for Seattle, and it turns out that Sims wants a TON OF TAX INCREASES including the same tenth of a percent tax increase that the transit now imitative wants. It doesn't stop there though, the list of increases is long:

• Sales Tax Increase = .1 %
• Property Tax Increase = 10 cents per 1,000 of assessed value
• Property Tax Increase (ADDITIONAL) = 5 cents per 1,0000 of assessed value
• Bus fare increase = 25 cents per trip

Of course Ron had to withdraw support for expanding transit service, how could you go before voters and ask for a sales tax increase when in a separate measure you're going to ask for sales, property, and fare increases just to maintain current service?

Clearly Sims was not interested in what's best for the working class of Seattle, this withdraw of the Transit Now initiative was clearly a political move to keep from looking like he's hiking taxes every which way.

The transit now initiative asks for a lot less taxes then Sim's general budget and would help a lot of people in the area., and worse yet, Sims wants to pay for a good chunk of it with more property tax which unfairly punishes homeowners. In fact, the additional $.05 cent increase is for financing of passenger ferries.

Now what does my being successful enough to buy a home have in common with passenger ferries? Why should you, fellow homeowner be punished for your success while you're lazy renting friends get a free ride. Taxes need to be at least somewhat related to the services they pay for.

Mr Sims.... Your ideas of backing off a better version of public transit to further your own budgetary agendas is clearly NOT TOMLAND APPROVED.