Measure A: What’s Raised Here Will Stay Here

As a Republican and fiscal conservative that has represented South County on the Board of Supervisors for 10 years, I’ve thought long and hard about it, and I strongly support Measure A.

We have serious local needs such as health care, transportation, and emergency services. Measure A can help meet these needs. I believe we should be able to address our needs locally, without worrying that our tax dollars will be shifted to the state government. That’s why Measure A has a key provision: by law, Measure A funds cannot be taken away by the state.

We’re in a health care crisis, and Measure A can help fix it. Thousands of children in our county do not have even the most basic health insurance. Measure A can help these children. Our County Hospital, which provides health care, trauma and emergency services for 200,000 residents annually, needs $750 million in earthquake safety upgrades. Without Measure A, there’s no guarantee that we can fund these upgrades. Tragically, there are 22,000 reported incidents of child abuse annually in Santa Clara County, each requiring investigation and compassionate care. Measure A funds can be used to provide that care.

These are some of the reasons why Measure A is backed by the Santa Clara County Medical Association, the Health Trust, the Registered Nurses Professional Association, Association of Mental Health Contract Agencies and the Hospital Council. 

Anybody caught in rush hour traffic doesn’t need to be told that we’re in a transportation crisis. It’s time for an efficient transit system that includes service and station improvements for CalTrain from Gilroy and Morgan Hill to Palo Alto, as well as regional rail improvements like BART and light rail. Measure A can help make these improvements a reality.

Furthermore, streets countywide are in dire need of improvements. And our eight County expressways need upgrades to serve the 850,000 commuters who use them daily. Measure A can provide funds for these improvements. We lack funds in Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Martin and throughout South County for pothole repairs and basic street maintenance.  Measure A can help fund these needs. 

 For these reasons and others, Measure A is supported by Outreach, The Council on Aging Advisory Council (which provides “meals on wheels”), the County Firefighters Association and 15 area Chambers of Commerce and business groups representing small and large employers. 

Measure A has provisions to hold elected officials accountable by requiring annual independent audits that are open to the public. Also, an independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee will monitor spending to ensure that every dollar is spent efficiently and without waste. This strong accountability is just one of the reasons why Measure A is supported by County Sheriff Laurie Smith and County Assessor Larry Stone.

Before you make up you mind, please look carefully at the organizations opposing Measure A.  Several fought against recent measures to build schools, roads, parks, libraries, and CalTrain. If they had been successful, many transportation and school projects simply wouldn’t exist. 

 Measure A’s opponents have been against practically everything.  They cannot attack Measure A’s important priorities, so they claim “backroom deal.”   That’s just not true. Working together with citizens, in an open process, the Board of Supervisors placed Measure A on the ballot after listening to input from hundreds of neighborhood, faith, environmental, business, labor, and community leaders.

The citizens have clear priorities: health care and transportation. The Supervisors listened. That’s why Measure A is on the ballot. That is why good government groups like the League of Women Voters strongly support Measure A.

Take a close look at the supporters of Measure A (go to www.MeasureA.org).  Many led successful efforts to build highways, schools, parks, and libraries.

We know that Measure A means local funds for local priorities. Funds the state government cannot take away.

 Please join me in voting “yes” on Measure A. 

Don Gage has been a county supervisor for District One, which covers South County, for the past 10 years. Previously, he was mayor and a councilmember in Gilroy.