The Council proclaimed the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week. This was one of the most important documents ever put together. One of the rights given us by this document is the right to vote. With the November election around the corner, I am prompted to remind all of you to get out there and express your feelings by way of your right as a citizen to VOTE.
This is your way of showing your support for candidates whom you feel will make the decisions that closely align with yours and gives you the power to decide on a variety of ballot measures, state wide and locally, that will have lasting effects.
Many people have been dissatisfied with what’s been going on around us, gas prices, affordable housing issues, the wars, terrorism, etc. Do I need to say more? We are inundated with ad campaigns to push an issue or candidate one way or the other. It is overwhelming to see the enormous amount of money being spent on these ads. In my opinion this expense has gone too far. I’ve heard people say they don’t want to vote because they want to send a message. Unfortunately, the only message being sent is “do what you want, I don’t care!” But we do care!
At a recent League of California Cities Conference, I listened to speakers tell us of the concerns of voter apathy. They are expecting the lowest voter turn out in history for this November. This was very disconcerting to me since we have a lot at stake. Besides voting for candidates for various offices, we have many ballot measures before us. Important on the state level is the state infrastructure bond and transportation bond to name two.
On the local level we are looking at measures concerning the 1/8 cent sales tax increase for the Parks of the Future and the $ 298 million bond for the San Mateo Union High School District. These measures as well as the propositions are crucial and need our attention. If we want to send a message that is heard, send it by your VOTE.
Please email your opinion on this and any other issue to lkoeiing@fostercity.org.
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