SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio has spoken: A streetcar or light rail will never be built without taxpayers having a say.
That's because voters easily passed a charter amendment on Election Day. However, some have said the language on the ballot about charter amendment 1 was overly confusing.
The day after the election, KENS 5 received an email from a voter that read in part, I remember the decision I made that day and I realized I voted for what I didn't want. Makes me wonder how many of the thousands who voted as I did…And that person is not alone, others have said there's got to be an easier way to pose the questions.
"Specifically regarding the streetcar issue, I had to read that several times, 4 or 5 times to ensure I was voting the way my conscience suggests," said voter Michael Prouse.
Prouse left the voting booth feeling confused about charter amendment 1 regarding the streetcar proposal. The amendment said:
SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT NO GRANT OF PERMISSION TO ALTER OR DAMAGE ANY PUBLIC WAY OF THE CITY FOR THE LAYING OF STREETCAR OR LIGHT RAIL TRACKS SHALL EVER BE VALID, AND NO FUNDS SHALL BE APPROPRIATED AND NO BONDS OR NOTES SHALL BE ISSUED OR SOLD FOR THE PURPOSE OF STREETCAR OR LIGHT RAIL SYSTEMS, UNLESS FIRST APPROVED BY A MAJORITY OF THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE CITY VOTING AT AN ELECTION CONTAINING A PROPOSITION SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED FOR AND LIMITED TO SUCH PURPOSE?
"If I'm struggling with it, I've got a college education, I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but I suspect that there are others who are also struggling with understanding the intent of that language," said Prouse.
"We tried our best to make sure the language could stand up to legal scrutiny, be in the charter and put forth language the voters could understand. It really is a complicated issue," said Mario Hune, who works for District 10 councilman Mike Gallagher.
Hune was also a part of the committee that crafted the language on the ballot, a process he said took several months.
Hune said part of the problem was that people did not realize they were not simply voting yes or no to the streetcar, instead, voting to have a say in the future.
"A lot of folks probably went in there saying 'Street car, I don't want streetcar I should vote no,'" said Hune.
"I think that going forward, all those propositions need to be clear and concise in terms of the language so that you fully understand what side of the issue you're voting for," said Prouse.
Hune said if the streetcar proposal ever comes up again, it should then be much easier for voters to understand, because then it would be a more direct yes or no to street cars.
The streetcar coalition played a big role in crafting the language on the ballot, added Hune.
