Tacoma Weekly
An effort by two Tacoma residents to put a streetcar system up to a public vote could be doomed before it builds very much steam. Last month, Committee to Build the Streetcar submitted a citizen petition to the city of Tacoma. Written by long-time streetcar advocates Chris Karnes and Morgan Alexander, the petition calls for funding to come from something called a transportation benefit district. For every $10 spent in this district, .2 cents of sales tax would go to constructing and operating the system.
Tacoma City Council is putting a tax increase before voters next year, possibly in April, to pay for street repairs. Council members discussed creating a task force to study the issue during their Sept. 1 Committee of the Whole meeting. Mayor Bill Baarsma said many residents are aware there is a problem with the streets. Tacomans are willing to increase taxes to improve the city if they are presented with enough information pointing out a need, according to Baarsma.
Signing an initiative petition should be a fairly private matter. Doing so simply means the signer would like to see the matter decided by voters, and does not necessarily indicate how they will vote…