Comments on: Measure R… or massive service cuts? http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/ los angeles transit oriented lifestyle Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:20:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: johnny http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309872 johnny Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:12:14 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309872 KR, For the record, I was being facetious. I would think that the idea of referring to life itself becoming better or worse by percentage points would be so ridiculous that the irony would be obvious. Apparently not. If you scroll up to comment 37 you will see that I (sincerely) declared that I was "pretty happy that [measure R] passed". I join you in cheering the likely passage of the measure, and hope that better transportation options will make life immeasurably better in LA county. KR,

For the record, I was being facetious. I would think that the idea of referring to life itself becoming better or worse by percentage points would be so ridiculous that the irony would be obvious. Apparently not. If you scroll up to comment 37 you will see that I (sincerely) declared that I was “pretty happy that [measure R] passed”. I join you in cheering the likely passage of the measure, and hope that better transportation options will make life immeasurably better in LA county.

]]> By: Kymberleigh Richards http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309855 Kymberleigh Richards Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:42:17 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309855 Johnny, I see you bought in to the rhetoric put forward by the BRU that this sales tax is somehow going to have a devastating impact on the cost of life's necessities. Here's the requisite reality check: Rent - not subject to sales tax Utilities - not subject to sales tax Groceries - not subject to sales tax Non-food necessities (i.e., paper towels, toilet tissue, toothpaste, deodorant, soap) are taxable. Clothing is taxable, unless you do a lot of wardrobe shopping at Goodwill. Buy a car and that is taxable. So is the gasoline you put in it. A transit pass, though, is not. Let's presume an example of a low-income person who uses public transit and spends $200 a year on non-food necessities and clothing. The additional tax at 0.5% on that $200 is one dollar. For the whole year. On the other hand, someone who spends $40,000 on a BMW or Mercedes will pay $200 in additional sales tax on that purchase alone. So, unless you are one of those people who can afford a Beemer or Benz, life is not as "worse" as you thought. Johnny, I see you bought in to the rhetoric put forward by the BRU that this sales tax is somehow going to have a devastating impact on the cost of life’s necessities.

Here’s the requisite reality check:

Rent – not subject to sales tax
Utilities – not subject to sales tax
Groceries – not subject to sales tax

Non-food necessities (i.e., paper towels, toilet tissue, toothpaste, deodorant, soap) are taxable. Clothing is taxable, unless you do a lot of wardrobe shopping at Goodwill.

Buy a car and that is taxable. So is the gasoline you put in it. A transit pass, though, is not.

Let’s presume an example of a low-income person who uses public transit and spends $200 a year on non-food necessities and clothing. The additional tax at 0.5% on that $200 is one dollar. For the whole year.

On the other hand, someone who spends $40,000 on a BMW or Mercedes will pay $200 in additional sales tax on that purchase alone.

So, unless you are one of those people who can afford a Beemer or Benz, life is not as “worse” as you thought.

]]> By: johnny http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309821 johnny Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:39:39 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309821 Yes, life in Los Angeles county is now 0.5% worse for the next 30 years. Yes, life in Los Angeles county is now 0.5% worse for the next 30 years.

]]> By: Mdogg http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309817 Mdogg Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:00:11 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309817 guys dont forget to get out and VOTE tomorrow!!! guys dont forget to get out and VOTE tomorrow!!!

]]> By: Rob Dawg http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309815 Rob Dawg Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:27:27 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309815 I can't wait to see auto sales tax revenues the month after Measure R goes into effect. I can’t wait to see auto sales tax revenues the month after Measure R goes into effect.

]]> By: Spokker http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309813 Spokker Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:51:29 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309813 hehe, I get it. hehe, I get it.

]]> By: Kevin Tipcorn http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309812 Kevin Tipcorn Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:57:54 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309812 oh man this measure R is some bullshit. talk about rascist! how is it possible we elect our first black president (OBAMA!) and pass this insidious attack on POOR minorities. i'm outraged. oh man this measure R is some bullshit.
talk about rascist! how is it possible we elect our first black president (OBAMA!) and pass this insidious attack on POOR minorities.
i’m outraged.

]]> By: Heather http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309811 Heather Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:19:53 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309811 Hey, now I don't have to move to Chicago. Yay! Hey, now I don’t have to move to Chicago. Yay!

]]> By: davidagalvan http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309810 davidagalvan Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:47:37 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309810 Yeah, I'll take an expo line extension, a gold line extension, a Crenshaw transit corridor. . . and, you know, go ahead and throw that Westside Subway extension in there too, would you? That'd be greeaaat. Thanks. (Yoink.) Yeah, I’ll take an expo line extension, a gold line extension, a Crenshaw transit corridor. . . and, you know, go ahead and throw that Westside Subway extension in there too, would you? That’d be greeaaat. Thanks.

(Yoink.)

]]> By: Fred Camino http://metroriderla.com/2008/10/08/measure-r-or-massive-service-cuts/comment-page-1/#comment-309808 Fred Camino Wed, 05 Nov 2008 17:21:26 +0000 http://metroriderla.com/?p=1689#comment-309808 Wow. There you go. The people of Los Angeles county have spoken and, regardless of how you feel about the specifics of this measure, they've made it clear that improving transportation is a priority. That's inspiring to me. Look for a new and improved MetroRiderLA coming soon. It's time to give the people an excellent resource to rely on to promote, inform, and encourage the lifestyle they voted their tax money towards and to attempt to keep Metro informed and aware and accountable for that precious money and trust. Wow. There you go. The people of Los Angeles county have spoken and, regardless of how you feel about the specifics of this measure, they’ve made it clear that improving transportation is a priority. That’s inspiring to me. Look for a new and improved MetroRiderLA coming soon. It’s time to give the people an excellent resource to rely on to promote, inform, and encourage the lifestyle they voted their tax money towards and to attempt to keep Metro informed and aware and accountable for that precious money and trust.

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