Proposition 181

It’s uncharacteristic for The Times to convey bad advice to its readers, but it’s spectacularly ill-advised of you to recommend that voters reject Proposition 181 (Oct. 11).

Proposition 181 is one part of the five transportation bills enacted by the Legislature and then-Gov. George Deukmejian in June 1989 to alleviate traffic congestion problems resulting from ever-increasing motor vehicle registration (there are now over 26,000,000 registered vehicles in California), the paucity of money in the state highway fund (California’s gasoline tax in 1989 was the 46th lowest in the nation) and few incentives to use public rail transit. While the 1992 rail transit bond issue (Proposition 156) did narrowly fail, the 1990 issue was approved by voters.

Similarly, Proposition 181 will create funds for expanding rail transit systems throughout California, from San Diego to Los Angeles to Sacramento to the Bay Area. The benefits are inordinate. Proposition 181 reduces traffic congestion, improves air quality, creates jobs--all without a tax increase! It’s the only state bond issue on the November ballot, representing the considered judgment of the governor and Legislature respecting its virtues. In this instance, I, uncharacteristically, disagree with The Times and urge its readers to vote for Proposition 181.

STATE SEN. QUENTIN L. KOPP

I- San Francisco