Transportation Referendum Poll

smArTaLlone · #1 Posted: **Jul 16, 2012, 12:52 AM**

Do you support the TSPLOST to be voted for on July 31? Why or why not? I have included in the poll some common reasons I've heard for voting no.

Road and Bridge Projects list.PDF

Transit Expansion Project list

DonTallPaul · #2 Posted: **Jul 16, 2012, 1:25 AM**

Yes, but I still think a better list would have more support.

I'll vote for it, personally benefit from so much and I know a lot of people who are - but there is definitely a lot of opposition.

SwimAtl · #3 Posted: **Jul 16, 2012, 12:16 PM**

I'm all for it. We have to start doing something. I like the lists of projects - seems like there is something for everyone.

smArTaLlone · #4 Posted: **Jul 16, 2012, 5:13 PM**

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/us...pagewanted=all

Snakebit · #5 Posted: **Jul 16, 2012, 9:53 PM**

Sent in my absentee ballot today. +1 in the yes column.

tdawg · #6 Posted: **Jul 17, 2012, 1:06 PM**

I was in LA over the weekend for some strange reason, some of my NY friends brought up this story and none of them (my LA and NY friends) could understand why people would NOT support a 1 cent tax that would raise $8B over 10 years.

tdawg · #7 Posted: **Jul 17, 2012, 4:26 PM**

I should clarify that I was not in LA for a strange reason, but that TSPLOST came up for a strange reason. My friend January will be in Atlanta this fall doing a show at the Alliance and she's never been, so she was getting familiar with what's going on in Atlanta.

TarHeelJ · #8 Posted: **Jul 18, 2012, 6:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdawg

I was in LA over the weekend for some strange reason, some of my NY friends brought up this story and none of them (my LA and NY friends) could understand why people would NOT support a 1 cent tax that would raise $8B over 10 years.

You could be talking to a friends from Atlanta and get the same response...a lot of it can depend on where they live - city or suburbs.

RudyJK · #9 Posted: **Jul 18, 2012, 8:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdawg

I was in LA over the weekend for some strange reason, some of my NY friends brought up this story and none of them (my LA and NY friends) could understand why people would NOT support a 1 cent tax that would raise $8B over 10 years.

Maybe your NY and LA friends need to realize that $8B doesn't just drop out of the sky. That is money that won't be spent on other things - like food, clothes, gas and Marta fares.

And it's a 1 PERCENT tax, not a 1 cent tax. That's a 12.5% increase in the City of Atlanta sales tax rate.

I know we have a transportation mess on our hands but I'm not convinced that this is the way to solve it or that this scheme will improve congestion much if at all. Big ticket items like the Beltline and Clifton branch should stand on their own - not be lumped in with road repaving and intersection improvements.

Also, as a long time Atlanta resident, I sort of resent an extra percentage in sales tax when Fulton and Dekalb taxes have been funding Marta alone all these years.

bryantm3 · #10 Posted: **Jul 19, 2012, 5:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdawg

I should clarify that I was not in LA for a strange reason, but that TSPLOST came up for a strange reason. My friend January will be in Atlanta this fall doing a show at the Alliance and she's never been, so she was getting familiar with what's going on in Atlanta.

yeah, i was just like in LA, just all of the sudden, it was totally weird

TarHeelJ · #11 Posted: **Jul 20, 2012, 1:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RudyJK

Maybe your NY and LA friends need to realize that $8B doesn't just drop out of the sky. That is money that won't be spent on other things - like food, clothes, gas and Marta fares.

And it's a 1 PERCENT tax, not a 1 cent tax. That's a 12.5% increase in the City of Atlanta sales tax rate.

I know we have a transportation mess on our hands but I'm not convinced that this is the way to solve it or that this scheme will improve congestion much if at all. Big ticket items like the Beltline and Clifton branch should stand on their own - not be lumped in with road repaving and intersection improvements.

Also, as a long time Atlanta resident, I sort of resent an extra percentage in sales tax when Fulton and Dekalb taxes have been funding Marta alone all these years.

I've seen it as a one cent sales tax and also a 1% increase. Isn't it the same thing (1% of $1 = .01)?

atlantaguy · #12 Posted: **Jul 20, 2012, 3:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryantm3

yeah, i was just like in LA, just all of the sudden, it was totally weird

This guy is a totally respected, long time member that happens to love his former home of Atlanta. Give him the benefit of the doubt, please.

tdawg · #13 Posted: **Jul 20, 2012, 11:19 AM**

thanks atlantaguy, although it could be said that most people in LA are there for strange reasons.

bryantm3 · #14 Posted: **Jul 20, 2012, 7:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by atlantaguy

This guy is a totally respected, long time member that happens to love his former home of Atlanta. Give him the benefit of the doubt, please.

no need to get upset, just being silly.

RudyJK · #15 Posted: **Jul 20, 2012, 9:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarHeelJ

I've seen it as a one cent sales tax and also a 1% increase. Isn't it the same thing (1% of $1 = .01)?

It would raise the sales tax rate from 8% to 9%. That is a 12.5% increase.

TarHeelJ · #16 Posted: **Jul 21, 2012, 1:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RudyJK

It would raise the sales tax rate from 8% to 9%. That is a 12.5% increase.

Or, worded a different way, it's a one penny increase. One percent of one dollar IS one cent.

atlantaguy · #17 Posted: **Jul 21, 2012, 1:39 AM**

Please delete -double post

atlantaguy · #18 Posted: **Jul 21, 2012, 1:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryantm3

no need to get upset, just being silly.

Very glad to hear it.

It's not very easy to tell the difference between snarkyness and idiocy on a public forum.

micropundit · #19 Posted: **Jul 22, 2012, 5:32 PM**

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/featu...medium=twitter

smArTaLlone · #20 Posted: **Jul 23, 2012, 8:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by micropundit

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/featu...medium=twitter

That article is tough to read. Its as if a city that once had so much vision, whatever the motivation, now cannot get beyond seeing skin color. I'm actually kind of surprised that such a candid article appeared in Atlanta Magazine.