>Although I haven't heard an explanation for the recent RescueMuni
>committee vote
>not to oppose any/all fare increases at this time (and I'm willing to
>listen to
>any such explanation), my initial reaction is that there's no way we
>should pay
>anything more unless and until service shows some real signs of improvement.
>Given Muni's November disaster with scheduling drivers for express bus
>routes,
>and having waited up to 30 minutes for a bus that is supposed to run every 10
>minutes, I refuse to give those jokers another dime until they show they can
>provide service that even pretends to be useful.
I think Terry's perspective on this is right on. Muni's continued
unreliability certainly tells me that additional fares are not deserved
now. Particularly, as Muni seems to want, without clear rules
establishing specific standards that Muni must meet EVERY TIME if it is
to get the increase.
But the same people who oppose fare increases also are often willing to
give Muni budgetary increases with no accountability whatsoever for
service improvements. I think this is just as irresponsible. The
taxpayers, who fund more of Muni than users do (of course these groups
are in part the same), are surely entitled to get their money's worth.
This is just as true of the Powerful Downtown Business Interests that
some would prefer to soak as it is for John Q. Public out there in The
Neighborhoods.
The bigger question is HOW fares might be raised, because at some point
it will happen, pipe dreams of a free Muni notwithstanding. (This could
be many years out, or it might be sooner - the timing is not really the
issue.) I think it is critically important that RM stand up for MUCH
greater accountability for Muni itself, and ALL Muni personnel, before we
endorse any such change. This, in my opinion, involves at a minimum
service standards with real teeth and real incentives to meet these
standards.
If any new taxes (code word: "funding sources") are proposed, by the way,
we must take the exact same position. WE the taxpayers deserve the same
accountability as we the riders do, even if the funding method is less
direct.
That's what I'm trying to achieve at RM, and I think it's our most
important goal.
Andrew
P.S. A small correction. I wrote yesterday that:
>I would bet you dollars to on time Muni buses...
Of course this is backwards, as on time Muni buses are relatively scarce.
My apologies.