5
February
2007
February
2007
Walker’s Double Standard on Transit vs Parks
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker supports removing parks from the property tax. He says he supports parks but he would prefer they be spun off to an independent board.
But what of transit? We already know he opposes using the sales tax to pay for transit. What does he propose — continuing to raise fares and cut bus lines until it’s obvious to even the most oblivious that transit is in a death spiral? And for that matter, where is his leadership on the KRM?
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Link: Mobile’s Take: Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker’s Lack of Leadership on the KRM Bewildering
Jim McGuigan
Jim McGuigan, Walker Watch
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Jim:
As a taxpayer, I support public transit. It is crucial that we provide a way for workers–mainly those without cars–to get to and from work. If I added up all the time I’ve spent waiting at freezing east-side bus stops, I’m sure it would be at least a year of my life. I bet your tally would be high too. That being said, I think Walker should avoid any pledge of tax dollars for this project. I don’t believe that anybody would ride this train. It doesn’t go where people work, and it doesn’t stop where people live–except rich people, that is. Once people get off a train, they arn’t going to walk more than half a mile. If they have to walk farther, there would be the additional hassle of a cab and a wait in the cold. Why not just hop in the car? Am I wrong?
If we’re going to invest more money in mass transit, lets do more to connect low income areas to good-paying jobs. Why have a silly sales tax–which would hurt the poor the most–to support a train they won’t ride?
Chris I could not disagree more. The major obstacle to transit improvements, which have so many uses and benefits beyond those that people traditionally associate with buses, etc., is the notion that only poor people with no cars have any interest in using them. Its just not true, and it holds Milwaukee back. If you’ll indulge me tooting my own horn, my own website has thoughts on this subject:
http://www.brewcityzen.com/2007/02/barretts-transit-plan-is-good-but-not.html
I’m with Chris. Rail is the most expensive form of mass transit. It is broke and bleeding red ink in most every city it has been tried. We don’t want this albatros around our neck the rest of our taxpaying lives. Rather we should promote and expand the working MCTS - Milwaukee County Transit System bus programs.
KRM would hinder the MCTS, the very system that works best for mass transit riders.
Kill KRM, promote MCTS! As usual Scott Walker is right on!
Personally I intend to make an issue of this through the IBA - Independent Business Association of WI (www.IBAW.com).