VENTURA : City Denies Subsidy to Rescue Trolley

Buenaventura Trolley Co. will stop its six-day-a-week service Thursday, operator David Taylor said.

The Ventura City Council on Monday turned down a request for a $48,000 subsidy from the private firm that has operated three trolley cars in downtown Ventura and the beach areas since August, 1988.

“You heard the vote,” Taylor said. “It means that as of Thursday, we’re shut down.”

Taylor said his company has been losing an average of $4,000 a month since it began operating in Ventura, and the subsidy would have covered past losses.

About half a dozen businessmen and women spoke out on behalf of the trolley company during the meeting, but the council did not commit any city funds to rescue the company.

On a 4-2 vote, the council opposed a motion by Mayor Richard Francis to provide an $8,000 subsidy, which would have allowed the trolley to continue operating for two months while officials decided how to help the company.

The majority argued that the city should not subsidize private enterprise.

The council then voted 5 to 1 to form a citizens committee to study how the trolley could be operated more efficiently. Council members also asked staff to identify possible funding sources for the subsidy, but made it clear that they were not promising one.

Taylor was disappointed with the outcome. “They say they want the trolley, but they don’t want to pay for it. Well, the bank is broke. We can’t go on spending money on the trolley.”