Bruce Frohman

The voter handbook has arrived. Now voters can see what Measure L really is about. In the first paragraph of the handbook’s explanation of Measure L, the text says that local government may issue bonds using anticipated revenue from the one half percent sales tax to build and repair roads. Historically, roads have been funded […]

Proponents of Measure L have promised just about everything to everyone. Supposedly, it will be a boon to economic growth because it will enable the construction of expressways throughout Stanislaus County. Unfortunately, the biggest transportation barrier to economic growth is congestion on the Altamont Pass. For over ten years, Caltrans has been working on widening […]

One of the promises of the proponents of Measure L is to synchronize traffic signals. While the cost to set the signals is minuscule compared to the revenue that would be raised by the measure, failure to synchronize the signals now is the height of government irresponsibility. The cost is so low and the benefit so great […]

Early on, Bruce Frohman realized Measure L was part of a much larger urban development strategy. He authored two arguments against Measure L in the 2016 Stanislaus County voter handbook. We’ve published the first argument here. Below is the rebuttal to arguments in favor of Measure L that will also appear in the 2016 voter […]

When Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold took office earlier this year, he appointed a committee to review the City of Modesto’s budget. In 100 days, the committee was tasked with finding money to fund the police department and provide ideas for improving funding of various city departments. This week, a nine page booklet, “not paid for […]

Coming this fall to a ballot box in Stanislaus County is a rehash of two previously failed sales tax proposals. As in 2006 and 2008, the current proposal would increase the sales tax by a full half percent. The proposal includes allocations for projects that will supposedly benefit everyone: road repairs, increased road capacity, and […]