Vote yes on ‘T’ to upgrade SJ public safety, infrastructure
The last time the San Jose City Council put a bond measure before voters, Ron Gonzales was mayor and Gray Davis was governor of California.
The 18-year gap has left San Jose with a $1.4 billion infrastructure backlog that city officials say is increasing by $110 million every year. The longer the city waits to repair and replace infrastructure, the more it will cost taxpayers.
A city of San Jose’s stature should have sufficient funding to provide well-maintained streets, roads and bridges as well as basic public safety facilities and flood control protections. Measure T won’t completely solve the problem, but it is a major step in the right direction. Voters should approve the $650 million infrastructure bond measure on the November ballot.
Measure T requires two-thirds voter support and will cost homeowners about $11 dollars per $100,000 assessed value every year. Opponents argue that general obligation bonds shouldn’t be used in part to pay for basic maintenance work. They say that the council could find sufficient money if it better managed its budget.
At this point, that’s not realistic. The budget cuts necessary to fund the city’s infrastructure needs would have a devastating impact on San Jose’s basic services, including public safety. And the only realistic alternative to bonds for raising revenues is a sales tax increase, a regressive tax that disproportionately hurts lowincome residents.
Nearly half of the Measure T funds — $300 million — would go toward repaving roads. A study released in August by the nonprofit organization TRIP found that 64 percent of San Jose’s streets and roads are in poor condition, costing the average motorist an additional $983 a year in vehicle operating costs. The need is obvious to anyone driving around San Jose on a regular basis. If the bond measure is approved, the repair work could get under way as soon as the City Council prioritizes the projects, floats the bonds and seeks and approves bids.
Measure T would also provide:
• $20 million for bridge repairs, some of which are vulnerable to a major earthquake. Mayor Sam Liccardo said the city can leverage the bridge money into another $80 million from available state and federal sources.
• $175 million for upgrading and repairing police, fire and other emergency operations facilities. Two high priorities would include building the long-awaited Fire Station 37 in Willow Glen and building a police academy training facility. The fire station would significantly reduce emergency response times. The city could ultimately save money by building its own police training facility, rather than continuing to rent space.
• $85 million for flood protection, including $50 million to prevent the type of flooding that occurred last year in Coyote Valley; $13 million to upgrade community centers so they could serve as emergency shelters; and $20 million for replacing streetlights with LED lighting.
The San Jose City Council’s decision not to seek an infrastructure bond measure since 2002 has allowed the city to maintain an admirable credit rating and hold down its debt per capita for the past six years. But it’s also created a situation where its basic infrastructure needs scream out for attention.
Voters should give their blessing to Measure T on the November ballot.