What's, Actually, in Our Measures and Propositions: Measure B1

It’s important that the public read the full text.

For those who aren’t able to read it, some county residents have done it for us.  Here is the result of the Peoples’ review of B1.

Section 2, Section 5

Extending current 1/2% sale tax which should expire in March of 2022, but won’t

Section 3, Section 3.F, Section 5, Section 7

No Sunset

(Sunset Clause: A statement added to the end of a measure which causes the act to "sunset," or become ineffective, after a certain date.) 

Section 5

Additional Retail Tax of ½%

(Will this hinder small businesses, and therefore jobs?)

Section 3.C, Section 7

Excise Tax imposed on Storage

(Warehouse taxes? More taxes on small businesses?)

Section 13

Alameda County Transportation Commission (CTC) handles bonds up to $1,000,000,000 

(Did we elect these people to this committee, or were they appointed?)

Section 15

Alameda CTC controls expenditures up to $800,000,000

(If we didn’t elect them, then who appointed them?)

Section 17

People who wish to contest B1 are LIMITED to six months.  If they miss the 6 months, this bill will be forevermore “incontestable”. 

(Should the people ever be restricted from questioning?)

Section 19

Expansion of Alameda CTC authority

(Can this county afford more government expansion of authority?)

Analysis by county council 

“The Alameda County Congestion Management Agency and the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority merged to create the Commission in July of 2010. The Commission has the authority to increase the transactions and use tax upon approval by two- thirds of the votes”  

(see link below – did you vote for any of these three groups?.....THEY WILL DECIDE which cities qualify to receive money)

In addition

to B1 full text, the 42 page "plan" automatically connects to B1 (see link below).

Page 2-9 Section “Bart to Livermore”

“The project-specific environmental process will include a detailed alternative assessment of all fundable and feasible alternatives, and be consistent with mandates, policies and guidance of federal, state, and regional agencies” 

(high density housing)

Page 3-2 Section “Advisory Committees”

Four committees and in the last paragraph “ ‘Other Committees’…The Alameda CTC will establishother community and technical advisory committees...

(Did you vote for them? Do you know that committee members are paid [with our tax] money for each meeting they attend?  Is there a limit to the number of committees one can belong?  Who decides how much pay they receive?)

Please take a look at the full measure (including the "plan":

http://www.acgov.org/rov/documents/2012-11-06MeasureB1.pdf

Please watch for a review of other initiatives, in the next couple of weeks.