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Pols debate final spending plan
Transit advocates push continued bailout and measure for more taxes
The Legislature and the governor are negotiating the final 2025-26 budget behind closed doors as is sadly typical.
Meanwhile, individual members are pushing their pet projects, such as more bailout money for Bay Area transit agencies. Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is the primary driver behind a $750 million bailout “loan” for the agencies that have seen ridership drop (even before the virus lockdown) and blew threw the federal and state bailout.
Instead of demanding agencies adjust service to ridership volumes, the pols and the agencies keep assuming ridership will return. Fat chance. The “loan” is supposed to be paid back when naive Bay Area voters agree to tax themselves more to pay for BART, San Francisco Muni and other agencies.
The bill necessary to put that on the ballot next year is still alive in this year’s session. Unless the governor has a sudden attack of rational thought (most unlikely for someone hailing from San Francisco politics) you can anticipate seeing the ballot measure next year. Time to just say No.
Last Sunday afternoon, I watched the US National men’s team play at PayPal Park against Surinam and I was struck by the half empty stadium. Nearby Levi’s Stadium is scheduled to host six World Cup games next summer and the paltry Father’s Day crowd had me wondering about turnout.
That questioning remains, but watching the team’s second match from Austin, TX Thursday showed a half-empty stadium there, similar to PayPal. So, presumably it has to do with the drawing power of the US team instead of the fans.
The attendance almost doubled to nearly 21,000 for the final US group match that was somewhat anti-climatic with the US already having cinched its spot in the knockout stage (to be played Sunday in Minneapolis).
It may be the interest is simply low. The Mexican match at Jerry’s House drew way below what normally seems like a home game for Mexico. It was about 21,000 in a facility that can 80K.
We’ll see what the fan interest will be now in the knockout phase with everything on the line against Costa Rica.
Of note, Jerry’s World is scheduled to host several games including the semi-finals in next year’s World Cup, while six games are slated for Levi’s.
Well-deserved recognition went to one of my favorite Christian charities—favorite because it’s entirely action-oriented. Tri-Valley Seek and Save’s partnership with local auto repair shop received a 2025 Best in Class Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties.
First District Supervisor David Haubert has supported Seek and Save in a variety of ways, including the auto program, its Saturday food giveaways with prayer that take place at Cornerstone Fellowship in Livermore (groceries are also delivered to people who cannot get to the church).
The auto partnership repairs vehicles for people living on the financial edge who can afford to do so themselves.
In addition to the auto partnerships and groceries, Seek and Save provides whatever services are required—moving people into new apartments, giving grocery cards, gas cards or other help and, always, prayer for people to know what regardless of circumstance Jesus loves them.
