Any chance that 293 acre facility is bitcoin mining? It’s rampant in Texas and very detrimental to I don’t understand what it actually does, but the articles I’ve read don’t sound very good to me
Fare-free public transit is more than just "popular in many circles," it's an essential service that people rely on to get to jobs, medical appointments, school, and more. Reinstituting fares will only place additional financial burden on those who are already struggling to make ends meet. It also would generate maybe a few million at most-- not the $10-$13 million I've sometimes seen mentioned-- since there's significant costs associated with staffing, fare collection & enforcement, etc.
We're also heading into a record-breaking summer; why would we intentionally cut off access to a life-saving service?
Honestly? It is an economic decision. Worst case scenario is fare-free transit is costing the city $10 million a year (although that number is an educated guess by staff AND has its critics.
With a few weeks to go, the Council is likely going to find a middle ground. Cheaper fares, certain routes will be free, etc.
You're right-- it's an economic issue. A growing body of research and case studies demonstrate that universal access to public transit provides tangible economic benefits to communities. Studies have shown that every dollar invested in transit generates $4-5 in local economic benefit. Vice Mayor Santa Cruz requested that the City complete a full economy analysis of the impacts fare free transit has had over the past half decade, and I sincerely hope it happens. A City Council in Massachusetts (Merrimack Valley) recently voted in favor of permanently fare free public transit, and the decision was based solely on a business analysis. I'm happy to share that info with you if you're interested.
Just rename the "Office of Equity" the "Office of Ensuring White Men Hold Proportional Share of Jobs Based on Merit," and do the same thing they've always done. Probably get more federal funding just from changing the name.
Any chance that 293 acre facility is bitcoin mining? It’s rampant in Texas and very detrimental to I don’t understand what it actually does, but the articles I’ve read don’t sound very good to me
It seem unlikely, lots of water and fewer jobs than a server farm. But we will find out.
Fare-free public transit is more than just "popular in many circles," it's an essential service that people rely on to get to jobs, medical appointments, school, and more. Reinstituting fares will only place additional financial burden on those who are already struggling to make ends meet. It also would generate maybe a few million at most-- not the $10-$13 million I've sometimes seen mentioned-- since there's significant costs associated with staffing, fare collection & enforcement, etc.
We're also heading into a record-breaking summer; why would we intentionally cut off access to a life-saving service?
Honestly? It is an economic decision. Worst case scenario is fare-free transit is costing the city $10 million a year (although that number is an educated guess by staff AND has its critics.
With a few weeks to go, the Council is likely going to find a middle ground. Cheaper fares, certain routes will be free, etc.
You're right-- it's an economic issue. A growing body of research and case studies demonstrate that universal access to public transit provides tangible economic benefits to communities. Studies have shown that every dollar invested in transit generates $4-5 in local economic benefit. Vice Mayor Santa Cruz requested that the City complete a full economy analysis of the impacts fare free transit has had over the past half decade, and I sincerely hope it happens. A City Council in Massachusetts (Merrimack Valley) recently voted in favor of permanently fare free public transit, and the decision was based solely on a business analysis. I'm happy to share that info with you if you're interested.
Just rename the "Office of Equity" the "Office of Ensuring White Men Hold Proportional Share of Jobs Based on Merit," and do the same thing they've always done. Probably get more federal funding just from changing the name.