North and South Coast Politicos Come Together for Measure
D
by Nick Welsh
Elected officials representing the often
acrimonious polarities of Santa Barbara Countyâââboth geographical
and ideologicalâââgathered on Tuesday for an unprecedented display
of political unity on behalf of Measure D, the sales tax surcharge
meant to help ameliorate local freeway congestion. Joining the
usual coterie of slow-growth, predominantly liberal South Coast
politicians at a press conference held at Santa Barbara City Hall
were a handful of conservative North County politicos: 4th District
Supervisor Joni Gray, Santa Maria City Councilmembers Marty
Mariscal and Alice Patino, and Guadalupe Mayor Lupe Alvarez.
Together the group expressed support for the extension of the
original Measure Dâââa half-cent tax surcharge approved by voters
countywide in 1989âââand called for a quarter-cent addition to the
tax. If approved by voters in November, the new Measure D is
expected to generate $1.5 billion over the next 30 years, the great
bulk of which will go toward funding freeway decongestion projects.
The existing Measure Dâââwhich wonât expire until 2009âââhas raised
$350 million thus far.
Of those gathered, Marty Mariscalâs
presence was perhaps the most striking; he has been outspoken in
his criticism of the spending priorities insisted upon by his South
Coast counterparts, notably a proposed commuter rail projected to
cost $26 million. Explaining his newfound support for Measure D,
Mariscal said, âI realized the North County will generate $750
million in sales tax revenues and the South will generate $750
million. If they want to spend some of their money on a commuter
rail, thatâs their business. I hope it works. But if it doesnât,
that money goes back into a kitty to widen the freeway.â The fact
that South Coast interests agreed to cede an additional $70 million
to the North to make this deal fly also played a role in Mariscalâs
change of heart.
Supervisor Joni Gray and Carpinteria City Councilmember Donna
Jordan both expressed strong support for the measure. Gray said
voters should ask themselves if theyâll be better off with or
without Measure D. For those who think theyâd be better off without
the tax increase, Gray urged a tour of San Luis Obispo and Ventura
counties, where no equivalent to Measure D exists. âThen ask
yourself, âWouldnât I be better off with a quarter cent sales tax
increase?ââ As for Jordan, she said that Measure D has paid for all
of Carpinteriaâs major road repairs, and pointed out that without
it the small city would lose $750,000 a year. âIn Carpinteria, we
have a saying about Measure D,â she said. âYou canât leave home
without it.â
But not everyone in Carpinteria is so enamored of Measure D.
Jordanâs fellow councilmember Greg Gandrud has filed a lawsuit
charging that some of the ballot arguments made in favor of the
measure are false and misleading. For example, he claims that only
39 percent of Measure Dâs funds would be allocated to the nine
public works departments countywide for road repairs, not the 50
percent claimed. Advocates of Measure D have dismissed Gandrudâs
lawsuit as a frivolous measure designed to thwart the countyâs
publishing deadline for ballot statements and arguments. That
deadline is next Monday. Superior Court Judge Denise de
Bellefeuille will hear Gandrudâs arguments on Friday.