Clear. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low near 50F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..
Clear. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low near 50F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Updated: June 6, 2026 @ 5:19 pm
Editor,
A quarter of 1 cent is the proposed November San Mateo tax increase for $7 million annually. That’s a drop in the bucket considering aging buildings, deferred maintenance, etc. So, don’t be surprised to see another increase on the 2028 ballot. The city’s current tax cap is 9.875%, which can be increased with relative ease. That cap doesn’t apply to the forthcoming regional transit tax — likely to pass with its lowered approval requirement.
Get ready to see a school district tax too. San Mateo has various reduced or missed income opportunities and is saddled with pension debt.
The city manager is working to tighten the belt, but maybe we should’ve been doing that all along. Instead, we have Mayor Loraine’s $10 million Delaware “bike lane backtrack” expense and $27 million slated for the 19th Avenue bike lane he’s championing. All coming out of taxpayer pockets, one way or another. Let’s get serious. Remember 2025’s Measure T promise of “not one penny” in tax increases if we removed building height limits? Or its touted $15 million in funding revenue? It won’t be seen until build-out is completed.
Mayor Loraine headed up Measure T. But where has it left us? So, does San Mateo need money? Yes. At the same time, we have to ask, “How much more can the taxpayer bear?” Don’t politicians talk about making our region more affordable? Cast your votes this November. I don’t envy your choices, but I’m right there with you.
Lisa Taner
San Mateo
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(5) comments
Just for clarification, isn’t the $10M “backtrack” on bike lanes on Humboldt, not Delaware? I really hope staff and council will look at San Mateo Drive as the solution to the $10M Humboldt problem. San Mateo Drive has two dedicated bike lanes, north and south. Few, if any, trucks travel on this street, and cars drive slower. Many more people are on bikes on San Mateo Drive than Humboldt. Why? Because it’s safer. It’s also still equally close to schools. I truly hope council will ask those who put together the bike master plan to amend to remove the bike lanes from Humboldt, restore the parking on Humboldt, and use San Mateo Drive as the main north/south connector for bike riders.
Connie - As a kid I rode my bike everywhere, and there were never problems because I had common sense. Only 9 cyclists have died in San Mateo COUNTY in the last five years. We don't need to spend millions on bike lanes that won't solve a "perceived" problem and I guarantee there will NOT be a reduction in fatalities.
Thanks for your letter, Ms. Taner, detailing the multiple tax measures heading our way. (Is there ever a time when tax measures are not heading our way?) We never hear of fiscal management, only spend, spend, and spend some more. Vote NO on any tex measures because it is likely most, if not all, your money will be transferred to ever-increasing union salaries, pensions, and benefits. Or in the case of Humboldt bike lanes, wasting money to talk, talk, talk without doing anything to fix the mess they made. I’d recommend everyone vote NO on any tax measures. BTW, great comments, Connie Weiss and CA Is Burning.
Huh?
What $10M bike lane project on Delaware?
The 19th Avenue project is costing SM taxpayers $500K, not $28 million.
All of these projects have unanimous Council support but you try to use them in your campaign against Mayor Lorraine.
Please stick to the facts.
As noted, however it proportions out, the price tag is the same. If it comes from the city or it comes from the state, it comes from our pockets.
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