The Drink Tax

The PA legislature changed recent history on the 17th of July of 2007 when they enabled a new tax on alcoholic drinks and car rentals that would be a permanent, dedicated funding source for mass transit in Allegheny County. The long-suffering commuters and daily transit riders of southwestern Pennsylvania were finally offered a permanent funding solution for mass transit. For the first time in a generation, it looked as though the almost yearly and ever-more devastating cuts in transit might become a thing of the past.

Or so we thought.

Unfortunately, as happens all too often in today's political climate, transit riders have become the latest political football as the "solution" of the drink and car rental taxes are attacked by many different sides.

Many would agree that a fuel tax would be the most sensible way to fund mass transit in Pennsylvania. However, because of the historic strength of the highway lobby, under PA law it is unconstitutional to use a fuel tax to fund mass transit. Because of rich special interests of the groups that make up the highway lobby, PA lawmakers have had to struggle to find ways to fund transit, hence the roundabout funding through alcoholic beverages and car rentals.

Which is why we are where we are today--- the restaurant and tavern owners, as well as car rental agencies, are working with opponents of public transit in county and state government to get the drink tax thrown out.

There is more than a little irony in the public outcry of the opposition to the new funding streams. These interest groups say that they are being unfairly targeted while never acknowleging that the tavern and car rental agencies have long been the true winners of extravagant public subsidies. Consider who has benefited from the building of the airports, stadiums, all-purpose arenas and convention centers while the taxpayers of Allegheny County always get stuck with the bill. The very same business men who demand to internalize profits, externalize debts (to taxpayers) and allow the citizens of Allegheny county to foot the bill for their benefit.

The restaurant association asserts themselves as if they are an economic generator with their low paying service sector jobs, when the truth of the matter is that they exist because of the region that surrounds their businesses and in a large part because of the ability of their workforce and their customers to get around that region!

The restaurant owners will argue that business will be lost to counties surrounding Allegheny. As if the municipalities around us will jump up with open arms and shout YES PLEASE VISIT OUR COMMUNITIES AND CONSUME SOME ALCHOHOL! Can we also conclude that these same towns and counties will want to pay for the social cost of alcohol consumption?

The mass transit system in Pennsylvania has been in financial crisis for over fifteen years. Every fiscal year, lawmakers and bureaucrats have made inadequate bandaid solutions without ever addressing the real reason behind the decades of cuts in transit service. One could argue that public transit in western PA (like mass transit systems all over the country) is being starved toward privatization.

The riding public should understand: Public Transit Cannot Generate Profits. Public mass transit is exactly that: a public service. Even with a highly maximized ridership, fares alone could never pay for a high quality transit system. Pittsburghers over a certain age should recall the reason the Port Authority was created in the first place—because the private transit systems could not stay in business.

Allegheny County is blessed to have a transit system that is annually ranked in the top 15 North American transit systems. We now have the oppurtunity to become among the very best in North America. Dedicated funding could allow the Port Authority to address the ever-lengthening delays in commuter travels. Consider this: the Port Authority of Allegheny County, for all the criticism it endures, still saves commuters $33.8 million in fuel costs, 1.8 million in hours saved traveling and pumps over $350 million dollars into the regional economy.

• Mass transit is the solution to our dependence on middle-eastern oil.
• It's better for our environment.
• It can help the most vulnerable in our society to be independent.

When businesses seek to relocate, accesability of mass transit is one of the first attributes they look for in a locale. Our transit system is a regional jewel that we can be proud of.

It's time we as a society understand that the restaurant association and the other organized interests in the business community exist because of us. We don't exist for Kevin Joyce. You can't put the cart before the horse.

County Government the facts are before you: Stand and be the leaders you were elected to be. Vote for maintaining our mass transit system, our regional asset or vote for special interests and social irresponsibility.

Mass transit is and has always been the answer to growth in Southwestern Pennsylvania and no matter what big money interests may go into the campaign to argue against the public good, the truth will always win out.

Let's stop the bickering and begin to fund a service as essential to a vibrant city as a Police and Fire dept. Transit is something we seem to take for granted just as we do a breath of air-- we'll never miss it until it's gone. The public good is at stake and we await your decision.