San Mateo County voters in the November election approved Measure A, a half-cent sales tax that goes into effect April 1.
The County government is now reaching out to its voters asking for feedback on which critical needs and services the funds should be spent on, online.
Recently, tempers have flared over the idea that Measure A should be called the "jail tax," and that a significant portion could be spent on the new Redwood City jail.
County Manager John Maltbie and the rest of the local governing bodies now say they would love to hear from locals through the website www.SMCSPEAKOUT.com, a virtual town hall where information about Measure A is abundant, and where locals can provide your opinions.
What’s on your list? Some suggestions that have been made:
- Improving public safety
- Providing health care for the county's most vulnerable residents
- After-school literacy programs
- More accessible parks
- Safe routes to schools
These are a handful of examples that have been tossed around as of late, for how Measure A funds could be invested in San Mateo County communities.
Log on to www.SMCSPEAKOUT.com and tell the County government your priorities. Maltbie said he looks forward to presenting submitted ideas to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors at their next meeting.
What are your suggestions and priorities? Tell us in the comments below.
Also on RedwoodCity-Woodside Patch:
- Woodside Offered $11.65 Million to Change Name to 'SugarDaddie.com'
- The Billionaires Among Us
- Illegal Mattress Dumping Plagues Peninsula
- Caltrain Strikes Empty Car on San Bruno Tracks
- City Wants Feedback on Downtown Precise Plan
Stay informed on the latest crime, news and events in your local neighborhood - follow Patch!
Sign up for Redwood City-Woodside Patch’s daily newsletter
"Like” us on Facebook
"Follow” us on Twitter
Want to share your opinions with the communities of Redwood City and Woodside? Start your own blog here.
I am one of the hundreds of people who has attended numerous Board of Supervisors meetings, at least one in which the topic was specifically this: what would be the wisest way to spend the additional money allocated by the voters of SMCo. Numerous suggestions were proffered, everything from after-school reading programs to more mental health services to a "bike coordinator." What seems clear is that the amount of money available will be greatly diminished by the Board's stubborn insistence that a new jail be built, when there is overwhelming evidence that with some changes in policy the present jail would be more than adequate. PLEASE DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE CHOICE OF "IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY." That is code for "building a new jail." I'm all for public safety, too, but presently 75% of the inmates haven't even been booked yet and/or are there because they can't afford bail. Another percentage are ICE detainees. Other communities are looking for innovative ways to reduce jail population and put the added savings into rehabilitation, drug detox centers, programs for youth, etc. One gets the feeling that Sheriff Munks is out to build his empire, and somehow he's convinced the Board that they must do his bidding. I don't get it.
I just want to point out that they have in fact been booked, that's why they are in our jail, they are waiting for a trial, they have not been convicted of anything and many can't afford bail. There lies a big problem.