Stealing From Transportation Measure C is Just Wrong

Ka ching!

You are hearing the sound of Fresno County Supervisors, led by Henry Perea and Susan Anderson, closely followed by City of Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, to divert millions of dollars from the voter-approved Measure C Transportation funded priorities to something entirely new--a proposed rail maintenance facility for the planned California High Speed Rail System. Few, if anyone, would oppose having the rail maintenance facility in Fresno County since it would certainly be a source of jobs. Stealing--and that is exactly what it is--millions of dollars from Measure C, however, is unfair to the voters that approved the measure based on the significant benefits it would provide to roads, public transportation, railroad consolidation/grade separation, bike paths and innovative technology.

Since 1986, Measure C, a half-cent sales tax, has funded a more than a billion dollars of transportation programs that have improved the overall quality of Fresno County's transportation system. As the 20-year measure was coming to an end, an attempt in 2006 to reauthorize Measure C failed because it did not address transportation needs beyond traditional road and bus public transportation. Soon after, a broader Measure C proposal for 2007 - 2017 was successful because it also addressed alternative transportation, particularly transportation needs that were environmental-friendly.

One would think that local county and city elected officials would have learned their lesson when the voters soundly defeated the first attempt to reauthorize Measure C. The voters only approved the second ballot measure when it also addressed transportation issues voters felt strongly about. To try to change the funding formula to move millions of dollars to a "maybe" railroad maintenance center jobs project that is not related to the day-to-day transportation needs of Fresno County residents is simply wrong. If the rail maintenance facility is so important that local funds have to be offered up-front (and where is the requirement for this?), then the funds need to be found elsewhere.

Even more than wrong to expend Measure C is violation of the purpose of the Measure C Citizen Oversight Committee that was specifically included in the ballot measure to ensure that citizens would be able to keep a wary eye on the expenditure of funds. The Committee came into being because of the long-term suspicion that elected officials used the original Measure C as an unofficial piggy-bank for their pet transportation projects. The Committee's purpose, therefore, was to avoid any political slight-of-hand.

On a personal note, I was a member of the Fresno City Council that actively participated in the lengthy process of developing the successful 2007 Measure C ballot measure, voting to send it to citizens for their consideration, and then participating in the arduous task of prioritizing the numerous transportation projects for funding. I will have no problem requesting that the Measure C Citizen Oversight Committee oppose redirecting previously approved funds to a proposed railroad maintenance facility and, if that does not succeed, requesting that the Committee file a lawsuit to ensure that Measure C funds and projects remain exactly where they are.

Coming Soon. . .

1. Street-legal golf carts in Fresno: Give them the green light!
2. An update on your local community college.
3. Diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey?

Comments are welcome. Click on "Comments" below or e-mail me at abriancalhoun@gmail .com.