From: To: Subject: Date: Catherine Blakespear Walsh, Lynn (NBCUniversal) Re: NBC 7, Voice of San Diego inquiry to SANDAG Board Members, re: tax proposal dollar amount predictions Wednesday, February 15, 2017 8:46:13 AM Hello! I was not a member of Sandag's board, having been appointed just this year to serve. That being said, I believe we need a better accounting of what happened. I therefore have signed my name to the letter which I will forward to you in the following email. Thanks, Catherine Blakespear Mayor of the city of Encinitas On Tue, Feb 14, 2017 at 4:42 PM -0800, "Walsh, Lynn (NBCUniversal)" wrote: Dear SANDAG Board Members, Voice of San Diego and NBC 7 San Diego have been closely following the promises made to taxpayers related to the 2004 TransNet tax and Measure A. Specifically, we have learned: ·         When SANDAG asked voters to approve Measure A in November, it told the public the proposed sales tax would bring in $18 billion but emails obtained by the Voice of San Diego show the agency knew that number was incorrect. Despite this, the agency chose to still use the $18 billion number in advertising to voters. ·         Those emails also show that after receiving information showing the dollar amount predictions were incorrect, SANDAG’s executive director and other high-ranking officials chose to do nothing. The information was not passed on to the SANDAG board of directors, elected officials in San Diego county or voters. ·         Related to TransNet, the tax approved by voters in 2004 to fund regional transportation projects, SANDAG did not use the new information to adjust their plans for the program nor did SANDAG alert taxpayers to the issue, which could result in the projects promised, not becoming a reality. Based off of this information Voice of San Diego and NBC 7 would like to ask each of the following questions: ·         Were you aware the dollar amount predictions being advertised to voters and associated with Measure A were incorrect? If so, when did you learn they were incorrect and how (email, phone call, memo, etc.)? ·         Were you aware the TransNet tax program funds were not coming in short? If so, when did you learn of this and how (email, phone call, memo, etc.) ·         Why did SANDAG choose not to edit advertisements and ballot language, related to Measure A, to include more accurate numbers? ·         Do you, as a SANDAG board member, plan to take any action to address the situation? We plan on reporting on the sending of this letter, as well as any responses or lack of response we receive. We would appreciate a response by February 21, 2017, COB. SANDAG is a publicly funded organization which makes decisions about how to spend billions of taxpayer dollars. Because of this, SANDAG has a responsibility to be transparent and open with the public. Thank you for your time and we look forward to hearing from you,    Voice of San Diego and NBC 7 Staff       Lynn Walsh Executive Producer, NBC 7 Investigates o 619.578.0578 c 614.579.7937 9680 Granite Ridge Drive, San Diego CA 92123