There is an

old saying in politics: repeat something enough times, and eventually

the people will believe it.

This cliché

is usually meant to refer to tabloid allegations or the negative mud-slinging

in campaigns; however, I've learned that it can also refer to common sense

ideas in the public sector.

For the past

three years that I have been in office, I have tried to raise awareness

about the unfair funding of what is, realistically, a regional transportation

system.

As most know,

MARTA is supported through the one-penny sales tax generated by Fulton

and DeKalb counties. I have spoken out about this subsidy for two basic

reasons: one, it places an unfair burden on the taxpayers of Atlanta,

Fulton and DeKalb counties; and two, I have felt that there is no way

that MARTA would be able to continue to operate as a viable regional transportation

system with this funding structure.

In June of

2000, the AJC described my efforts as "ham handed."

In September

of 2000, I was "looking for a scapegoat or tilting at windmills"

going to happen. Nor should it," the AJC wrote. An October 2000 headline

read "MARTA funds rebellion picking up few followers." And,

perhaps it was true in the media.

As I was receiving

more and more support from my constituents and other regional leaders,

I was receiving less and less support from the media.

An October

AJC editorial led that "Fulton chief should halt tirade over MARTA

tax." Later in October of 2000, I was quoted as saying that "All

revolutions start somewhere," and that the movement was gaining legs.

And, it was. Leaders across the region were beginning to think of the

system that had been set up 30 years ago, in a completely different light.

But, the headline read, "Kenn's MARTA revolt spinning wheels."

Let's jump

ahead to now. MARTA is experiencing very significant financial problems

at a time in which the region's reliance on the system is growing.

As a result

of the financial crisis, MARTA has proposed several controversial service

reductions that have been met, understandably, with anger on the part

of the people. MARTA's connectivity and importance to many local transit

systems (it's a significant part of the regional transportation plans)

and the declining sales revenues as a result of the economy have only

accelerated and made a necessity of what I thought was a matter of common

sense a couple of years ago. In order to survive, MARTA's funding sources

must change.

Just a few

weeks ago, Maria Saporta suggested that regional finding, not budget cuts,

was the answer to MARTA's financial troubles. She was exactly right. And

today, an AJC editorial stated that the "expectation that a transit

system such as MARTA could survive on limited subsidies and fare box revenues

is absurd."

Amen.

It's nice to

know that common sense, if stated often enough, can be believed.