►
Description
The League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale explains the local county measures Cupertino voters will see on their November ballots: a county bond to support affordable housing and a countywide sales tax for transportation projects. Recorded September 28, 2016. (25 min.)
A
B
Good
evening
and
welcome
to
this
evenings
presentation
of
the
santa
clara
county
and
Cupertino
ballot
measures,
since
we
are
recording
video
this
evening,
we
are
going
to
do
this
in
two
parts.
So
for
our
live
audience
will
ask
you
to
bear
with
us
a
bit
as
we
first
do.
The
county
measures
then
take
a
short
break
for
the
cupertino
measures
for
our
taped
audience.
Welcome
to
the
this
discussion
of
the
county
measures
a
and
B
I
do
want
to
make
it
clear
for
all
of
our
audience
that
our
presentations
are
based
on
publicly
available
information.
B
We
did
our
best
to
dig
it
up
and
find
the
best
sources
we
could
for
this,
we're
here
not
to
tell
you
how
to
vote
really,
unless
you
count
telling
you
to
please
vote
thoughtfully,
we're
here,
to
tell
you
what
these
measures
actually
do
and
what
people
who
are
in
favor
of
them
and
people
who
are
opposed
to
them
have
to
say.
But
the
aim
is
to
give
you
the
facts
needed
to
make
your
own
decisions
in
accordance
with
your
own
values
and
your
own
priorities.
B
That
that
decision
of
how
to
vote
is
is
really
completely
up
to
you.
We
do
have
if
this
is
of
any
use
to
you,
and
you
have
friends
and
family
that
we're
not
able
to
come
tonight.
There
will
be
links
to
that
tape
diversion
going
up
later,
but
for
right
now,
let's
continue
on
with
these
county
measures,
we're
looking
at
our
ballots
at
measure
a
and
measure
B
will
go
in
alphabetical
order.
B
B
By
approving
the
bonds,
voters
would
authorize
an
increase
in
property
taxes
by
twelve
dollars
and
sixty-six
cents
per
hundred
thousand
of
assessed
valuation
now
average
assessed
value
of
a
personal
residence
in
santa
clara
county
is
about
five
hundred
thousand
dollars,
and
so
the
average
increase
in
property
tax
would
be
about
sixty
four
dollars
a
year.
It
does
require
a
two-thirds
vote
to
pass.
B
It
also
like
many
bond
issues.
These
days
authorizes
creation
of
a
citizens,
oversight,
committee
and
audits,
independent
external
audits,
routinely.
One
of
the
questions
that
has
come
up
along
the
way
is:
who
does
the
county
see,
building
these
housing
units
where
we've
had
questions
in
advance,
we've
often
folded
the
answers
right
into
the
presentation.
B
Thank
you
for
those
of
you
who
sent
those
in
the
board
of
supervisors
intends
to
one
distribute
the
housing
units
throughout
the
county
and
two
to
leverage
funding
from
the
bond
to
attract
both
private
and
matching
funds
from
state
and
federal
sources.
If
you
do
the
math
we're
going
to
look
at
numbers
of
units
on
the
next
slide,
you
will
see
that
950
million
dollars
will
not
build
that
many
units.
It's
going
to
take
about
two
billion
dollars
of
private
state
and
federal
funding
leveraged
in
third
parties.
B
Now
the
county
would
be
doing
the
actual
building
now.
One
thing
you
also
want
to
know
about
the
bonds
is
the
interest
rate
is
says
in
the
measure.
It
would
not
exceed
12
percent
per
annum
and
the
total
indebtedness
incurred
is
not
to
exceed
an
amount
equal
to
one
point:
two:
five
percent
of
the
total
assessed
value
the
taxable
property
of
the
county.
B
So
what
are
we
going
to
build
with
that?
950
million
if
the
county
passes?
This
bond
issue
divide
it
into
eight
hundred
million
dollars
for
extremely,
very
low
and
low
income.
If
you
care
about
those
numbers,
I
can
tell
you
what
that
family
income
is,
but
just
consider
it
very,
very
low
and
divided
into
long-term
and
transitional
housing,
so
3600
long-term
housing
units
those
would
be
targeted
at
addressing
the
needs
of
the
chronically
homeless,
the
most
vulnerable
population.
B
They
would
probably
require
mental
health,
substance,
abuse
and
medical
services
built
right
into
those
housing
services,
and
then
the
transitional
housing
or
the
rapid
rehousing
2400
units
of
that
that
would
be
for
populations
experiencing
transient
homelessness,
episodic
homelessness.
They
need
transitional
assistance
of
perhaps
up
to
18
months,
so
perhaps
victims
of
human
trafficking
or
domestic
violence,
individuals
in
emerging
from
foster
care
people
who
basically
are
going
to
be
able
to
get
on
their
feet
after
some
short
term
assistance.
B
These
units
would
be
available
to
individuals
and
families
at
fifty
percent
of
the
area,
median
income
and
lower
around
here.
That
would
be
fifty-five
thousand
eight
hundred
a
year
or
less
for
a
family
of
four
another
hundred,
and
fifty
million
of
the
bond
issue
would
go
to
moderate
income
housing
with
up
to
50
million
dollars
in
first-time
homebuyer
down
payment
assistance.
That's
aimed
at
the
local
teacher
firefighter
nurse
population
so
that
they
can
live
where
they
work.
B
B
The
number
of
housing
units
available
to
those
households
with
low
incomes
falls
far
short
of
the
demand
within
our
community.
In
2008
agencies
in
Santa,
Clara
County
had
126
million
dollars
available
annually
for
affordable
housing,
but
2013
that
amount
had
decreased
to
about
47
million
dollars
annually.
In
addition
to
the
current
47
million
dollars,
the
county
needed
an
additional
220
million
dollars
annually
to
meet
the
affordable
housing
needs
of
low-income
households.
B
They
want
you
to
know
that
this
includes
an
independent
citizens
oversight
committee
that
will
review
the
annual
report,
and
it
includes
independent
external
audits
to
review
the
county
spending
of
bond
proceeds
and
ensure
accountability
in
opposition.
You
see
the
Silicon
Valley
taxpayers,
association
and
John
inc's
a
councilman
from
mountain
view,
also
groups
such
as
California
taxpayers,
association,
Howard,
Jarvis,
Taxpayers,
Association,
other
taxpayers
associations.
B
They
would
like
you
to
know
that
the
policy
precedent
set
by
taxing
business
based
on
property
valuation
and
not
per
parcel,
is
damaging
in
both
the
short
and
the
long
term
that
the
valuation
tax
causes
businesses
to
pay
more
than
a
parcel
tax.
They
say
the
measure
does
not
adequately
address
the
strategy
to
build
more
work,
fair
housing
throughout
the
region,
an
issue
which
negatively
affects
businesses,
ability
to
attract
and
retain
qualified
workers,
and
they
say
when
the
county
of
santa
clara
puts
a
bond
measure
like
a
before
the
voters.
B
B
B
B
B
B
The
thank
you
for
the
clarification.
The
question
was
sub,
who
is
subsidizing
the
rent
after
and
I
admit
I
do
not
have
the
answer
to
that.
However,
stroke
of
luck,
we
have
much
of
the
research
team
in
the
room.
Does
any
member
of
the
research
team
have
the
answer
to
that?
One
nope?
Sorry,
it's
the
nature
of
these
evenings
that
we
don't
know
all
the
answers,
and
occasionally
we
discover
new
ones
as
a
result
of
the
questions
you've
asked
and
then
we've
gone
and
Doug
very
carefully.
B
This
one
is:
does
measure
a
address
where
the
housing
will
be
built.
What
it
says
is
it
will
be
across
the
county
it
will
throughout
the
county.
Are
they
expected
to
be
apartments?
I
do
not
know
the
answer
to
that.
It's
a
little
hard
to
picture
them
not
being,
but
but
that
would
just
be
me,
I'm
not
seeing
more
coming
up
straight
away,
so
I'm
going
to
suggest
we
move
on
to
measure
B.
B
B
B
B
B
Now.
One
of
the
things
you
need
to
realize
about
sales
tax
increases
is
that
California
law
says
that
all
local
governments
within
each
county
cannot
enact
a
total
sales
tax
rate
of
more
than
two
percent.
Approval
of
this
measure
will
result
in
the
territory
within
Campbell
and
San
Jose,
reaching
that
two
percent
cap.
Other
cities
in
the
county
will
have
a
quarter
percent
left
so
until
a
sales
tax
expires
somewhere
in
the
county.
B
Broadly
speaking,
expanding
public
transportation
systems
and
options
for
Bart
caltrain
cars,
bikes
and
pedestrians
funds
are
focused
in
eight
areas:
local
streets
and
roads,
1.2
billion
dollars
allocated
for
that
return
to
the
cities
on
a
formula
basis.
The
cities
must
show
that
funds
would
be
used
to
enhance,
rather
than
replace
their
current
investments.
B
Barked
1.5
billion
capped
at
a
maximum
of
twenty-five
percent
of
total
program
tax
revenues.
So
if
it
raises
less
money
than
expected,
Bart
would
not
be
1.5
billion.
It
would
be
less
than
that
twenty-five
percent,
and
that
is
for
the
construction
phase
of
the
six
mile
for
station
extension
from
berryessa
through
to
Santa
Clara.
This
would
leverage
again.
This
would
not
be
enough
to
do
the
job.
B
This
would
leverage
1.5
billion
dollars
in
federal
funds
at
750
million
dollars
in
state
funds,
250
million
dollars
for
bicycle
and
pedestrian
program
to
complete
gaps
in
the
cross
country,
pedestrian
and
bike.
Canet
work
to
construct
cross
barrier
connections,
form
ability
to
connect
schools,
transit
and
employment
centers
to
enhance
safety
and
convenience
and
to
safe
routes
to
school
and
other
bike.
Pedestrian
education
programs
would
be
eligible
caltrain
improvements,
both
capacity
and
grade
separations.
B
700
million
will
a
billion
total
314
million
for
capacity
expand
capacity
by
allowing
longer
trains
at
stations
and
allow
for
service
improvements
throughout
the
system.
700
million
on
grade
separation
to
separate
caltrain
tracks
from
roadways,
safety,
improvements
for
drivers,
bicyclists
and
pedestrians,
and
to
reduce
congestion
at
intersections.
The
shopping
list
continues:
750
million
dollars
on
highway
program.
Candidate
projects
exists
already
throughout
the
county.
The
VTA
would
administer
a
competitive
grant
program
to
select
the
projects
that
would
move
forward.
B
750
million
for
County
expressways
projects
to
increase
effectiveness
of
the
expressway
system,
again
throughout
the
county,
350
million
on
the
highway
85
corridor.
Now
the
highway
85
public
policy
advisory
board
has
made
some
recommendations.
Their
wish
list
includes
express
lane
and
transit
only
lane
in
each
direction:
noise
mitigation
for
highway
85
and
a
transit
study
for
the
corridor.
B
They
would
like
you
to
know
that
public
transportation
use
will
increase
significantly.
As
this
has
passed,
reducing
greenhouse
gas
emissions,
it
will
expand
transit
options
for
seniors,
disabled
students
and
low-income
workers.
It
repairs
streets
and
fixes
potholes,
relieves
congestion
on
expressways
and
highways
and
improves
bicycle
and
pedestrian
safety.
They
also
cite-
and
this
happens
not
to
be
a
bullet
on
the
slide.
They
also
cite
something
that,
incidentally,
will
also
appear
on
the
opposition
page
by
saying
that,
yes,
the
VTA
can
make
changes
if
needed
to
this
list
of
projects.
B
B
They
would
like
you
to
know
that
population
in
the
valley
has
increased
since
2001,
while
bus
ridership
has
declined
given
this
history,
why
should
we
invest
in
more
public
transportation?
They
say
Bart
phase
two
could
eat
up
all
the
tax
money
as
costs
mount
and
citing
that
VTA
may
modify
this
program.
They
say
there
is
no
commitment
to
the
projects
listed.
Let
me
clarify
that
slightly
the
mechanism
by
which
VTA
can
amend
this
project
list
is
it
by
a
three-fourths
majority
vote
of
the
VTA
board
of
directors.
B
B
And
one
of
those
was:
how
do
we
know
there
won't
be
another
sales
tax
increase
coming
along
anytime,
as,
as
we
said,
the
sales
tax
is
about
to
hit
a
cap
in
certain
parts
of
the
county
and
is
very
if
this
passes
of
measure
B
passes
will
be
very
near
the
cap
in
the
rest
of
the
county.
So
there
is
no
room
under
California
law
for
a
future
sales
tax
until
some
other
sales
tax
expires,
the
other
one.
How
do
we
prevent
Bart
from
using
up
all
the
funds?
B
B
Okay,
this
question
is
what
happened
to
the
proposal
for
highway
85
light
rail?
Is
it
covered
by
measure
B?
If
we
look
back
at
the
highway
85
section,
there
was
some
transit
mentioned
that
the
the
highway
85
policy
advisory
board
definitely
has
some
transit
desires
for
highway
85.
How
much
this
would
be
able
to
do
about.
That
is
a
little
more
in
question,
with
350
million
dollars
allocated.
B
I'm
going
to
do
a
little
bit
of
a
wrap-up
then,
since
we're
coming
to
the
end
of
our
first
segment
and
I
want
to
direct
you
to
places
that
you
can
find
some
of
the
information
we
haven't
been
able
to
bring
to
you
tonight
and
one
good
place
to
start
is
at
our
local
league
site,
LW,
VCS
org.
For
one
thing,
if
you
go
there
to
the
calendar,
you'll
be
able
to
click
on
the
link
for
this
event,
and
you
will
be
able
to
find
recording
of
it
before
it
to
be
long.
B
B
The
league
of
women,
voters
of
california
offers
both
the
easy
voter
guide,
the
shortest
possible
treatment
of
the
state
propositions
we
can
manage
and
the
pros
and
cons.
If
you
have
a
little
more
reading
patience,
you
can
get
to
all
of
those
through
the
league
websites
and
you've
already
taken
this
step
of
coming
out
to
start
to
educate
yourselves,
which
I
am
incredibly
grateful
for,
because
here
we
are
making
the
laws
that
we
all
get
to
live
under,
and
it's
worth
putting
some
thought
into
it
and
putting
some
time
into
it.
B
Further
information.
Some
people
are
asking
why
they
don't
have
their
ballot
materials,
yet
those
will
be
mailed
starting
tuesday.
The
11th
so
hang
in
there
you'll
see
them
fairly
soon
and
when
you
do
you'll
get
a
chance
to
really
study
the
state
measures
as
well
as
well
as
all
the
candidates
and
continue
to
put
your
time,
your
attention
and
your
thought
into
this.