Phoenix 1997 Transit Election

After the Election

• "Tax brains, not wallets, to fix traffic mess," The Arizona Republic, Oct. 12, 1997, page EV11. Collection of letters about roads, transit.
• "Tax foes win cheaply," By Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, Oct. 11, 1997
• "Transit: Pay up now or pay more later," by Karen Peters, The Arizona Republic, Oct. 4, 1997.
• "Transportation system's future in Valley starts now," The Arizona Republic, Oct. 2, 1997, page EV4. Collection of letters about transit.
• "Trimmed bus tax plan dropped," By Chris Fiscus and Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, Sept.18, 1997
• "Let's dig in and solve the transit problem," by Victor Linoff, Mesa Tribune, Sept. 18, 1997, page A13. QUOTES: "...once again people were unwilling to come to grips with the Valley's future. It is certain that the situation will only get worse. The 'no' votes resolved nothing." "...the election results do not have to be interpreted as a defeat for transit or a victory against government. Rather they should be seen as a mandate for creative thinking."
• "Light rail is needed now to solve transit problems," by Joann Richi, The Arizona Republic, Sept. 16, 1997, page EV6.
• "Transit: Let's do it right the next time" Editorial, Business Journal of Phoenix, September 15, 1997
• "There's an ugly truth behind results of transit-tax elections," by Doug MacEachern, Mesa Tribune, Sept. 15, 1997, page A2. QUOTE: "How many bus riders, do you suppose, voted against that tax? No, it was thousands of people like Semmens and Rawles -- people who look down their noses at (or, worse, look away from) the unwashed wretches scrambling for a patch of shade at this Valley's pathetic excuses for bus stops."
• "Election issues and newspaper's role," By Richard de Uriarte, The Arizona Republic, Sept. 14, 1997
• "Success of anti-transit groups gives Valley a dim future," by Joel Nilsson, The Arizona Republic, Sept. 13, 1997, page B6.
• "High-pollution advisory shadows transit defeat," By Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, Sept. 11, 1997
• "What part of no...: Sorting out the transit tax defeats" Mesa Tribune, Sept. 11, 1997, page A16. QUOTES: "...does no really mean no? ...The close vote in Phoenix makes the likely answer there: Not necessarily." "Tuesday's votes signalled that it is time for more creative thinking and more cooperative planning among all Valley cities..."
• "Transit proposal runs out of gas in Phoenix, Scottsdale," By Mary Jo Pitzl and Alexa Haussler, The Arizona Republic, Sept. 10, 1997
• "Early voting's role in transit future," By Keven Willey, The Arizona Republic, Sept. 10, 1997
• "Voters slam brakes on transit tax hike," Mesa Tribune, Sept. 10, 1997, page A1.
• "Say yes to mass transit..." Endorsement by the Tribune Newspapers of Proposition 1, Sept. 9, 1997

1997 Phoenix Transit Election Page