Tech Titans: Time to Share the Wealth for Bay Area Transit

The Bay Area's transit systems are in a tough spot. BART and other services are facing big money problems. They need around $800 million every year just to keep running. One idea is to ask voters to approve a sales tax in 2026. But this might not be the best way. Sales taxes hit people who can least afford it the hardest. There's another idea. Big tech companies in Silicon Valley make huge profits. In 2024, companies like Apple, Google, and Meta made about $340 billion. But they don't give much back to the communities that help them succeed. The Bay Area has bad roads, broken infrastructure, and workers who can't afford to live nearby. Right now, these big companies don't pay special taxes to support transit. Workers and small businesses are already struggling. They shouldn't have to pay more. Instead, big tech should help out. They benefit from the Bay Area's talent and infrastructure. It's time they give something back. BART has its own problems too. Their recent budget doesn't fix the big money gap they'll face starting in 2026. They need to cut costs. One way is to reduce overtime and maybe even cut some jobs. But this is tricky. BART needs to work with unions to make changes. They can't keep ignoring the problem. The Bay Area is still a big economic player. Even with challenges like tariffs and inflation, California is strong. Other places, like New Jersey, are making big companies pay more to support transit. Why can't the Bay Area do the same? It's time for a fair solution. Big tech should help pay for transit. This way, service cuts can be avoided while transit agencies work to cut costs and bring back riders. The Bay Area deserves better transit. And big tech can help make that happen.