More on The Bridge -- SBCTA Opposes

Here's a letter I received a copy of about Cold Spring Bridge that was sent to CalTrans:

===========Letter from SBCTA to Cal Trans===============

This is to inform you of the opposition of the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association (SBCTA) to the CalTrans proposal to install fencing barriers on the Cold Spring Bridge. We have arrived at our position after receiving input from experts in law enforcement.

SBCTA understands that our public safety officers place themselves in life threatening situations on a daily basis due to the unpredictable conduct and behavior of certain members of our society. Nevertheless, when troubled individuals threaten to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge, or engage in protesting while climbing the Golden Gate Bridge, we do not believe officers should put themselves in harm's way because of these individuals' erratic behavior and unfortunate conduct.

SBCTA would rather see our taxpayer dollars used to pay for putting more officers on the street and/or by providing our existing officers the wages and benefits they deserve as opposed to using these finite resources to build fencing and other barriers that are not only aesthetically unappealing, but are ultimately ineffective at stopping suicides from occurring.

We thank you for the opportunity to share our position with you on this important matter. In addition, CalTrans staff is always welcome to attend our monthly board of directors’ luncheons, held on the second Thursday of the month at Andersons Pea Soup in Buellton.



Sincerely,



Mike Stoker
President,
Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association

SBCTA Against Measure A

Here's what the SB County Taxpayers Association sent out today -- this 'blatant effort to circumvent democracy' sounds like spin by the SBCTA.

Saving taxpayer money by consolidating elections sounds pretty democratic to me since more people will vote for council members on even years....what they didn't explain is why the police and fire associations (as well as the Chamber) would oppose Measure A other than to have more of an influence with PAC funds on local elections during off years when people don't vote as much, hmmmm.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
ANNOUNCES ITS OPPOSITION TO MEASURE A-2007
Measure will reduce local focus on local issues and local elections

SANTA BARBARA, CA – The Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association (SBCTA) has announced their opposition to Measure A-2007, the local ballot measure that, if approved, would consolidate city elections with federal, state and county elections.

According to SBCTA treasurer and past Santa Barbara school board member, Lanny Ebenstein, "Measure A is an attempt by the current City Council to secure an additional year in office without a vote of the people.” For that reason and others, SBCTA urges voters to reject what Ebenstein referred to as a “blatant effort to circumvent democracy."

Measure A is also opposed by a wide variety of local groups including the Santa Barbara police and fire associations, the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce as well as many individual Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.

“SBCTA is generally supportive of consolidation efforts”, said association executive director Joe Armendariz. “However, in this case, we believe the savings are overstated while ignoring the inherent value of voters focusing their collective attention on local issues specific to the city of Santa Barbara.

Another concern raised by the Measure, according to Armendariz, is the issue of voter fatigue. "We know that on a long ballot, which is typically what you have on even-year elections, voters lose interest resulting in a drop off of votes being cast for local races. This turns the proponents’ argument of increased voter turnout on its head."