SACRAMENTO – Senator Steve Glazer, D-Contra Costa, resigned today from his position as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Bay Area Public Transit, saying Bay Area leaders have failed to support fiscal oversight of BART.
Senator Glazer is a longtime supporter of public transit and is concerned about the financial problems facing Bay Area transit systems, which are essential to the health of the regional economy. But, he said, the status quo is unacceptable.
“Bay Area leaders have not stepped up to fix the fiscal oversight problems with BART, as well as the underfunding of the Inspector General’s office,” Glazer said. “When these problems are addressed, I will join with my colleagues and support greater transit funding.”
In June 2022, an Alameda County Grand Jury found that BART’s leadership has repeatedly blocked the Inspector General’s authority and autonomy.
Just two months later, former State Auditor Elaine Howle found that the BART office “lacked the authority and independence necessary to do its job…”
The BART inspector general was created by Senator Glazer as part of a transportation bill in 2017. Senator Glazer advanced legislation (SB 827) to the governor’s desk last year that enhanced independence for the IG, conforming its auditing standards and investigations with other transportation IGs. At the request of the BART Board, Governor Newsom vetoed the bill.
Senator Glazer’s letter to the committee is attached.
1 comment
They’ll fix the under funding by getting the voters, specifically renters who vote, to approve another parcel tax to shore things up. I disagree with this route, but that’s probably what will happen.
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