Let's talk about BART.

Because while national political gossip is fun, BART is staring down a fiscal cliff that could fundamentally change how the Bay Area moves — and the agency's response has been, charitably, underwhelming.

Here are some facts that should make your blood pressure spike: BART now employs roughly 300 more people than it did in 2019, despite ridership sitting at roughly half of pre-pandemic levels. Overtime charges remain a regular feature of the payroll. And when an auditor tried to investigate potential corruption — including allegations of $30 million in contracts awarded to friends and family of employees — BART reportedly refused to open its books. As one SF resident put it bluntly: "I'm not sure how they're telling us with a straight face that they need more money when they won't open their books to see what it's being spent on."

That's not cynicism. That's common sense.

Another local was even more direct: "BART needs a factory reset. You can claim whatever you want, but they have a spending problem."

And they're right. The conversation around BART funding always gets hijacked by the "public transit shouldn't need to make money" crowd — and fine, there's a philosophical argument there. Roads don't turn a profit either. But even if you accept that premise, it doesn't excuse a refusal to account for how existing funds are spent. Blank checks aren't a transit policy.

BART agreed to new pay hikes in 2024 that account for roughly 8% of the projected deficit — while already knowing the budget crisis was coming. That's not an agency acting in good faith with the public it serves.

Before we hand over another dime in tax revenue, we deserve transparency, a serious audit, and a plan that doesn't just involve asking riders and taxpayers to cover for institutional bloat. Liberty means accountability — especially when it's your money.