May 9, 2022
For Immediate Release
SAVE MUNI OPPOSES MEASURE A
SaveMUNI voted to oppose Measure A, the $400 million Muni bond on the June ballot at our special meeting on May 2. We consider this bond measure far too vague. It fails to identify specific cost-effective transit improvements and prioritize them for funding.
SaveMUNI specifically objects to legal language that provides the MTA with what amounts to a blank check. Although several categories of projects are listed in the measure, the phrase, “not limited to”, opens bond spending to almost any project imaginable.
SaveMUNI also wondered whether looming cost overruns attributable to the Central Subway will somehow affect the use of bond proceeds. The SFMTA’s reluctance to say how they will pay for the $353 million of excess costs raises skepticism in our minds.
SaveMUNI understands that bond funding is costly. There are estimates that the total repayment for this bond issue could top $ 700 million. We believe that a pandemic time-out is warranted. A temporary halt on new bond measures, pending revision of the city’s strategic transit plan, should be put in place immediately.
Muni needs a comprehensive citywide transit strategy going forward. It is clear that the MTA has been failing to meets its own performance metrics for quite some time. Now with ridership returning, it is time to move toward full restoration of service that better meets the needs of all San Franciscans.
SaveMUNI is an independent, all volunteer, organization advocating for improved transit in San Francisco. In keeping with this role, we sponsored a debate between proponents and opponents of Measure A, and afterwards sent a set of follow up questions to each side for further discussion. After considering the available evidence, SaveMUNI could not support Measure A.
Contact:
Bob Feinbaum
President, SaveMUNI
bobf@att.net