Leadership – Vision – Action

California High Speed Rail System – Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Subway to Sea – San Gabriel Valley Gold Line Foothill Extension- Orangeline High-Speed Maglev Authority and other initiatives being placed in place to move from rhetoric to implementation.  From Mobility 21 to the Arroyo Verdugo Transit Alliance being formed by the cities of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena. Is this the rebirth of the Tri-City Transportation Coalition that was chaired by the former Glendale City Councilman Carl Raggio?

With voter’s approval of the possible California High-Speed Rail Authority high-speed train bond in November 4th 2008, along with the initiatives by the MTA to put a half-cent sales tax hike will help in improving mobility and reducing air pollution. 

However, we need assurance that the $735 million set aside for the extension of the Gold Line in San Gabriel Valley would actual go to that project. It is up to our representatives and leadership to stand up and be counted, along with the public in placing the issues on the front burner. 

Let us not forget the numerous taxes planned by our various city councils for increase cost to our electric, water and public works cost, plus that of government payroll increases.  Now add to this the dramatic increase in the gallon of gasoline.

Who is in charge and responsible for reducing cost?  What other fees and taxes are coming in the near horizon with the coming of the November presidential election?  It seems that it is easy for our leadership to increase our taxes a half-cent at a time. Statements that “fees haven’t been raised in several years” or “only a slight adjustment.” However, when you add all the slights and other tax increases, those on the surface and hidden, it soon becomes more then one can bear. Has anyone analyzed how the various city budgets and full time personnel employed have grown over the past ten years as compared to population growth and services provided? At the same time news reports from various sources make it clear that public spending by state and local agencies in California are riddled with waste, fraud, missed priorities and poor management.

There is a need for more extensive review and evaluation of public spending. In confronting the state and cities chronic budget problems, a critical first step is to address reports of mismanaged public spending that needs to be identified. A perfect example is the recent audit that revealed the largest million-dollar shortfall by a Pasadena contractor in a construction project in Iraq that was poorly managed and riddled with severe construction problems. Watchdogs and accountability are needed on all government contracts be they in a foreign country to that of building a police station in our cities or a new school building.