BFBC Endorses Measure I and Measure 2
on March 2004 Ballot
This item originally appeared in BFBC-NEWS, the BFBC On-Line News Bulletin, Tuesday 3 February 2004.
At its meeting on 18 January 2004, the BFBC Board of Directors voted to endorse two measures which appear on the March 2 ballot.
Berkeley Measure I, Instant Runoff Voting
The Board endorsed Measure I unanimously, 7-0. Reasons cited for support at the discussion included:
- IRV allows voters to better express themselves in multi-candidate elections;
- IRV saves the city money (in avoiding runoff elections) which is then available for other city purposes including (possibly) bike facilities;
- IRV saves volunteer time (which would go into runoff elections) which is then very likely available for other civic purposes including (possibly) bike advocacy.
Regional Measure 2, Bridge Toll Increase for Transportation Projects
The Board endorsed Measure 2 by a vote of 6-1. Those in favor of the endorsement cited reasons given in the current BFBC Newsletter, page 7 (available on-line at www.bfbc.org), and the strong support from TALC, the Transportation and Land Use Coalition (see http://www.transcoalition.org/c/sus_brtoll/btoll_home.html). The dissenter cited concerns that it would lead to a 4th bore of the Caldecott Tunnel and thereby greatly increase motor vehicle traffic pressure on south Berkeley and north Oakland.
As a 501(c)(3) organization, BFBC is allowed to take positions on legislative matters including ballot measures, but not on candidates.