“We want accountability, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility — not another tax.” – Athan Joshi
Mr. Athan Joshi is a Junior at Los Altos High School, and he is an editor for OpportunityNow, he is also a Fellow on Public Finance at Los Altos Institution. He is a very productive writer and investigator on public policies. One of his articles about “Measure A” is “Stacked sales taxes, stagnant services“, and at the end of this page, you can find more writings from him.
YouTube Video of Athan’s speech can be found at the bottom of the page, and below is the transcript from the speech.
“Hello everyone, My name is Athan Joshi. I’m a junior at Los Altos High School, and I write about public finance in Santa Clara County and across California. I also serve as a Fellow on Public Finances at the Los Altos Institution — the world’s first high schooler-led public policy think tank.
First, I’d like to thank Mr. Guan for inviting me. It’s truly an honor to speak among such distinguished guests.
Over the past decade, Santa Clara County’s budget has roughly tripled, while the County’s population has remained stagnant at around 1.9 million. And yet — we are now being asked to add another $330 million a year through Measure A.
If spending has soared while services have lagged, then why is the answer always another tax?
Over the last 25 years, the County has stacked multiple local add-ons to the sales tax:
- 0.5% Measure A (2000) — for 30 years, to fund BART and major corridors.
- 0.125% Measure B (2008) — for 30 years, to operate and maintain the future BART line.
- After the recession, Measure A (2012) added another 0.125% general tax, which continues even now as Measure B (2018).
- Then came 0.5% Measure B (2016) — for general transportation.
- Followed by 0.125% Measure RR (2020) — for Caltrain.
And now — another Measure A, this time to fund the broken healthcare system!
Importantly, residents in the El Camino Healthcare District already pay a hospital-supporting property tax. So, Measure A would essentially double-tax those residents.
And mind you — this isn’t the end.
Next year, we’ll face SB-63, the so-called “Keep Transit Alive” tax.
Measure A asks voters to trust the same governance model that brought stacked taxes and mediocre service. It’s high time we, as taxpayers, demand accountability from our County leaders before approving any new taxes. Our taxes should not be funding bloated payrolls or overly generous retirement benefits for county employees.
Vote NO on Measure A!
Let’s send a clear message:
We want accountability, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility — not another tax.
Thank you.”
Athan Joshi’s Long List of Articles on “Measure A”
- If Santa Clara County public hospitals are so special, why a general sales tax?
- Why a general, er, “public health” sales tax if Santa Clara County already has enough money?
- Santa Clara wants a 5/8-cent sales tax. Will that cover public-health losses of $3 billion per year?
- Should new state healthcare policy justify a rapid tax hike for Santa Clara County?
- Did SC County supes try to deceive voters into a tax hike?
- How exactly will a sales-tax hike fix long wait times at SC County hospitals?
- There’s no guarantee Measure A tax money will go to hospitals, assert taxpayer advocates.
- Taxpayer advocates: Measure A is a regressive tax on Santa Clara County’s poorest.
- Tax advocates warn Santa Clara County voters: Measure A sales tax will never go away.
- Silicon Valley Business Alliance takes on Measure A: SC County’s latest sales tax.
- Local business leaders rip SJ Chamber of Commerce for failure to oppose “business-killing” Measure A sales tax.
- On Measure A, Mahan forgets Biz 101
- Local elected & political leaders oppose Measure A, citing lack of accountability.
- Former Cupertino Mayor is “No” on Measure A.
- “Not an emergency”: Rishi Kumar says Measure A is just the first in a wave of tax proposals.
- Rishi Kumar on the question: will Santa Clara’s Measure A sales tax ever go away?
- Cupertino Mayor: Measure A is not the right way to fund our hospitals.
- Instead of high-speed rail, why doesn’t CA fund Santa Clara County hospitals?
More Speeches at the Rally:
- Chie Kan , Hostress, Small Business Owner (opening speech)
- Tony Guan , VP of ERFA PAC, Board Member SVCA (speech)
- Kansen Chu , Former CA Assemblymember (D) (speech)
- Liang Fang Chao , Cupertino Mayor (speech, more details, 中文微信版)
- Athan Joshi , Junior at Los Altos High School (speech, more details, 中文微信版）
- Edward Escobar , Founder of Citizens United (speech)
- Chuck Page , Former Vice Mayor Saratoga (speech)
- Rishi Kumar , Former Saratoga Councilmember (speech, more details, 中文微信版)
- Dave Johnson , Chair of Santa Clara GOP Central Committee (speech)
- Ha Phan , Vietnamese Community Leader (speech)
- R “Ray” Wang , Cupertino Councilmember (speech)
- Long Jiao , Cupertino Union School District Trustee (speech)
- Bryon Do , East Side Union High School District Trustee (speech)
- Lily Liang , Owner of Delta Properties (speech)
- Dipak Awasthi, Milpitas City Planning Commissioner (speech)
- Annita Chen, San Jose Small Business Owner (speech)
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