IT'S OFFICIAL! MEASURE B WINS!
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS!
The counting is done - finally. The vote has been certified. Measure B has won. BART will be coming to Silicon Valley. More than two-thirds of the voters have voted for a cleaner and greener transportation future. Despite a gloomy economy, Silicon Valley continues to invest in its future prosperity and quality of life.
Our heartfelt thanks to all our many supporters - and when you win in an election that requires a two-thirds majority, you obviously have many supporters.
On Dec. 2, the Santa Clara County registrar of voters certified the election results. For Measure B, a "yes" vote of 66.78 percent, a margin of .11 percent over the required 66.67 percent. But the victory has been apparent since Friday, Nov. 21, when the registrar posted the 66.78 percent with only a handful of votes left to count.
That afternoon, supporters gathered outside the Diridon train station in downtown San Jose, one of two stations where BART will connect with Caltrain and create a heavy-rail system around the Bay, to pop the cork on a bottle of sparking wine.
At the news conference, supporters of Measure B talked about the importance of BART, the long wait for a result, and what is next for bringing BART to Silicon Valley. Among the speakers at the news conference were:
- Carl Guardino, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group
- San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed
- Supervisor Liz Kniss, Chair of the Board of the Valley Transportation Authority
- Cupertino Mayor Dolly Sandoval, Vice Chair of the Board of the VTA
- Connie Martinez, Managing Director & CEO, 1stAct Silicon Valley
- Steve Preminger, Director of the Union Community Resources Program, Working Partnerships
- Sam Liccardo, San Jose Councilmember
- Scott Knies, Executive Director, San Jose Downtown Association
The list shows the widespread support for Measure B and BART. It included business organizations such as the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and Chambers of Commerce countywide. It included the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council. It included scores of elected officials from cities, the county and in state and federal offices. And, of course, 414,328 voters who said "yes" to Measure B.
The morning after Election Day, Measure B stood at 66.27 percent "yes," four-tenths of a percentage point short of victory. As the registrar's office worked diligently through about 164,000 absentee and provisional ballots, the "yes" vote steadily crept up. Finally, on Monday, Nov. 17, Measure B reached 66.67 percent. It continued to gain through the week, reaching 66.78 percent on Nov. 21.
What Measure B supporters say about its approval:
Carl Guardino, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group & Leader of the Measure B campaign:
"The passage of Measure B - the BART initiative - during the worst economic time in our lifetime, underscores that Silicon Valley residents have the vision to bet on and build for our future.
Chuck Reed, Mayor of San Jose:
"The BART extension will help complete a regional transportation system, a vital part of our economic future. With more than 98,000 projected riders each weekday, BART will provide an efficient way for Bay Area residents to commute while lessening our dependence on foreign oil and helping the environment."
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, executive officer of the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council:
"Measure B is economic stimulus at a local level, with a solid, deliverable outcome -- bringing a proven system of public transportation to the South Bay. Two out of every three people in the county chose to make this investment. This was a super-democratic decision, and the people of Santa Clara County decided to help the economy, to help the environment -- and to help the community."
Caltrans Director Will Kempton:
"The extension of BART to San Jose will create jobs and will have a positive impact on congestion and air quality. With Measure B, the desires of the community will become a reality. I take the trust demonstrated by this election very much to heart. We will work with the local agencies to deliver this project as promised."
Liz Kniss, VTA board chair, who represents North County on the Santa Clara County board of supervisors:
"The BART extension will give us a speedy gateway to the East Bay and also provide convenient access to the San Jose Airport and CalTrain."
Dolly Sandoval, mayor of Cupertino and VTA board vice chair:
"Bringing BART to Silicon Valley is still a priority to voters in Santa Clara County, as evidenced by the recent election to raise their sales tax to pay for the operating costs. I am pleased that the voters have the wisdom to recognize the boost this will give to the project."
Connie Martinez, managing director and CEO of 1stAct Silicon Valley:
"BART to downtown San Jose bolsters our collective vision for a creative urban core with a vibrant mix of people, experiences and sense of arrival. The passage of Measure B is fantastic."
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