Eugene B

Stepping Down Indefinitely

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It pains me to say this, from the bottom of my heart.

Due to personal issues, I must step down indefinitely from my role as group founder and informal leader of the Silicon Valley Transit Users.

I have asked Judy Purrington to take over running the group. I am also requesting that Dwayne Williams, Andrew Boone, and Adina Levin help run the group as well in my absence. I have also asked a new rising star on the local transit advocacy scene, Monica Mallon, to help run things as well. All of this as VTA tries to reduce transit service in Silicon Valley Yet Again. One other task: find a group alternative to Yahoo! Groups as it has proven to be unstable.

More below…

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2016 Measure B Allowed To Be

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California’s State Supreme Court has just spoken on the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) 2016 Measure B.  Their final verdict: reject a petition filed by Cheriel Jensen of Saratoga thru lawyer Gary B. Wesley to review voter approved 2016 Measure B.

According to the Mercury News story on this issue, millions of your sales tax dollars have now been freed up for highway and public transit projects.  According to VTA, this money was held in escrow while 2016 Measure B was deliberated in the courts.  VTA also mentions the following in its followup on the story:

VTA is now working to get this matter back to the trial court for a final order so that the funds may be released. The funds, currently kept in an escrow account until the suit is resolved, stand at roughly $340M.  This process, which seeks a “final and non-appealable” decision by the court could take approximately one month.  

It’s now official that 2016 Measure B sales tax money will soon be in play.  Given this, what are your thoughts? Please discuss this in the comments section below.

Eugene Bradley
Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users

All-Star Hockey Weekend In San Jose

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2019 NHL All-Star Game rink setup. Photo courtesy San Jose Sharks.

Pro hockey’s brightest and best stars come to San Jose this weekend.  The 2019 NHL All-Star Weekend will take place in two locations throughout downtown San Jose. Hockey fan activities take place January 24 thru January 27 at McEnery Convention Center.  The 2019 NHL All-Star game itself takes place on January 26 at 5pm at SAP Center.

Visiting San Jose for All-Star Weekend? Read our first-time public transit rider’s guide to learn how to ride the buses and trains in Silicon Valley.  We have additional Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) public transit tips to help you beat traffic gridlock and parking woes to and from these All-Star events. Read on for more details.

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Here We Go Again…

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More service cuts to public transit may be coming to Silicon Valley.  The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will discuss a proposal to further reduce bus and light rail service at its first Board Of Directors’ meeting of 2019 this Thursday at 5:30pm in San Jose.

WHEN: Thursday, January 10 at 5:30pm
WHERE: Auditorium at VTA Headquarters, 3331 N. First Street, San Jose
GETTING THERE: Take VTA Light Rail to the River Oaks station.  VTA’s headquarters is on the west (airport) side of N. First Street, in the back of the Park and Ride lot.

Tips for how to be heard at any VTA Board meeting or workshop can be mastered here.

Our group has obtained details on what the VTA Board Of Directors will discuss at Thursday evening’s meeting. Details are below.

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