Editorials: Regional ballot measures need Orinda’s support
Vote yes on Measure W
It comes down to this: Do the children of Orinda deserve $168 a year so we can give them the best education we can?
There is no doubt that a) Miramonte High School is one of the best high schools in the state; and b) its excellence is threatened by a complex state educational funding system that penalizes school systems like the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD).
AUHSD has maintained an incredibly high level of quality in its four high schools thanks to tremendous efforts from teachers, administrators and parents, but that high level of quality requires more than just dedication – adequate funding is a necessity as well.
Measure W on the Nov. 3 ballot is a must-have if Orinda is to maintain its ability to give its high school students the opportunity to get the maximum out of their high school experience and their best chance to succeed in life.
And at $168 a year – the cost of dinner and drinks for two at a nice restaurant – the price is hardly exorbitant.
In addition, that $168 a year will also help keep Orinda property values high, as many people move to the city because of the educational opportunities for their children. So homeowners concerned about that extra $168 a year should ask themselves this question: How much will my home value decline if Miramonte’s educational reputation declines? If it’s more than $1,344, the eight-year parcel tax cost to each individual homeowner, then it makes financial sense to vote yes as well. (Note that a senior exemption is available.)
Most important, however, it’s ensuring that Orinda’s children are given the best possible education – and approving Measure W is imperative if that is to happen.
Vote yes on Measure W.
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.
