Editorials: Regional ballot measures need Orinda’s support
Democracy demands that citizens take the time to vote
Citizenship is more than a right – it is an obligation. And citizenship in a democracy demands, among other things, that eligible voters make the effort to cast their ballots in every election.
The Nov. 3 ballot does not include a presidential decision, and thus many, too many, will opt out. But in fact voting for the president in these divisive times is much less important than voters making their feelings known about local issues and local candidates.
Yes, the statewide ballot contains confusing and often contradictory measures, but it is the obligation of citizenship to take the time to try and understand the motivations of those who support these measures, and their potential repercussions.
Regionally, the issues will have more impact, especially Measure RTM (which The Orinda News has endorsed). Public transit is a complex challenge, and thought must be given to the positives and negatives of Measure RTM.
The Acalanes Union High School District parcel tax, Measure W, is even more critical for Orinda residents, as its effect on the quality of education our children receive, and on local property values, will be significant.
There are also a host of local elections, from the Orinda Union School District to the City Council to the Moraga-Orinda Fire District to several important Contra Costa County positions.
All of these positions, and all of these measures, will affect life in Orinda, and as citizens, it is our obligation to consider them carefully and then make a decision that’s marked on our ballot.
We all benefit from being citizens of the United States. The least we can do is live up to our obligations and take the time to cast a carefully considered ballot in the Nov. 3 election.
Vote yes on Measure RTM
The Orinda BART station opened more than 50 years ago, and since that time, it has been a focal point of the city’s identity.
Commuters move to Orinda for convenient access to mass transit, and visitors can easily attend events at the Orinda Theatre or patronize local businesses.
If Measure RTM on the Nov. 3 ballot does not pass, it is quite possible that BART will close the Orinda station – and the potential consequences range from significant to near disastrous.
In addition, other transit agencies, including the County Connection, will be impacted, and the effect on local traffic, especially to and from school, will be significant.
Measure RTM calls for an increase of 0.5% in sales tax, which would push the Orinda rate to 10.25%, for the next 14 years. A two-thirds majority is require
d for passage, and though there is opposition to the measure, none should come from Orinda.
The BART board has said that if the measure does not pass, it is likely that the Orinda station will be closed. Given the track record of the BART board, and the possibility that the threat is merely a scare tactic, skepticism is a reasonable response.
But even if there were only a 25% chance that BART would close the Orinda station if Measure RTM fails, that chance is too great to take. Not only would local businesses suffer, and commuters be inconvenienced, but property values would likely drop – and how much that drop might be is impossible to predict.
Yes, there are reasons to mistrust the BART board, and there are reasons to be concerned about an increase in sales tax, but on balance, the potential negative impact on Orinda’s commuters, business community and property values far outweighs those concerns.
Vote yes on Measure RTM.
