The chair of the VIA Metropolitan Transit board says she hopes the mayor will rethink his decision not to send more sales tax funds to the agency. In Tuesday night's State of the City speech, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said city officials won't ask voters in November to redirect a one-eighth cent sales tax toward VIA funding, as earlier planned. Hope Andrade says the transit agency needs the funding. The sales tax revenues had been meant to expand and improve VIA services. But, the agency faces a huge budget shortfall because of the pandemic, so Andrade says the funds are needed just to maintain current levels of service.
Photo: 1200 WOAI