More Than This
On February 23, 2007, California State Senator Torlakson whose district covers much of Contra Costa County, introduced Senate Bill 976 (SB976), a rather innocuous amendment to the California Government Code #66540.20 which spells out the authorities of the existing San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA). This bill was supported heavily by Senator Don Perata, who is said to be the primary pusher of it.
The original language of the bill only changed the following text:
“The primary focus of the authority and the plan shall be to provide new or expanded water transit services and related ground transportation terminal access services that were not in operation as of June 30, 1999 operate a comprehensive regional public water transit system and to coordinate waterborne transit emergency response activities.”
Innocuous because in reality, the WTA was already, albeit slowly, negotiating with Alameda about transferring the existing ferry services, approval to begin these negotiations came to the city council on June 6, 2006 and the vote was 3-0-1:
“[T]he motion carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Councilmember deHaan, Matarrese, and Vice Mayor Gilmore – 3. Abstentions: Councilmember Daysog -1. [Absent: Mayor Johnson – 1.]”
On July 9, small changes were added, as they always are. The document remained a svelte, 4 page amendment.
However, two months later, September 7, four days before the vote, the document we amended again, ballooning to 44 pages. At this point, the WTA was no longer being amended, it was being abolished and the San Francisco Water Emergency Transit Authority was born. The kicker, in the new 66540.6
“The authority shall have authority and control over all public transportation ferries within the bay area region, except those owned and operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District. The planning, management, and operation of any existing or planned public transportation ferries and related facilities and services in the bay area region shall be consolidated under the authority’s control”
No longer was is a goal to operate a comprehensive bay area water transit system, now it was a mandate. (check out the “shall” in the first and last sentences.) and existing and planned services SHALL be consolidated. The word “seize” is never used, but this is what the language intends.
On September 10, the day before the vote, a deadline for the transition plan was added, “on or before January 1, 2009”
The real hilarious part of this bill is found in section 66540.34:
“The authority shall refer for recommendation the plans of routes, rights of way, terminals, yards, and related facilities and improvements to the city councils and boards of supervisors within whose jurisdiction those facilities and improvements lie and to any other state, regional, and local agencies and commissions as may be deemed appropriate by the authority. The authority shall give due consideration to all recommendations submitted.”
That right, a bill that was submitted without any consultation of the local entities that would be directly affected by it, is requiring local cooperation. I’m imagining that the writers of the bill got a good chuckle out of that.
There are some pretty big unanswered questions (in no particular order):
- While a regional emergency response using water transit is certainly needed, what is the hurry to take over existing local systems without the input of affected communities?
- How will Alameda, an island city with no connections to the mainland that are structurally rated to be usable after an earthquake, be assured of receiving needed emergency transit service?
- Voters passed Regional Measure 2 in which included a line item expenditure for Alameda specific Transbay Ferry Service (listed here on the MTC Website and here in the California Streets and Highway Code) It’s code #30914 subsection (c) #25 and it says:
o c) If the voters approve a toll increase in 2004 pursuant to Section 30921, the authority shall, consistent with the provisions of subdivisions (d) and (f), fund the projects described in this subdivision and in subdivision (d) that shall collectively be known as the Regional Traffic Relief Plan by bonding or transfers to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. These projects have been determined to reduce congestion or to make improvements to travel in the toll bridge corridors, from toll revenues of all bridges:
§ (25) Commute Ferry Service for Alameda/Oakland/Harbor Bay. Purchase two vessels for ferry services between Alameda and Oakland areas and San Francisco.
The new language removes Alameda and our ferry, replacing it with the work “Transbay.” So voters approved a Toll increase with the specific expectation that the money would go towards Alameda Ferry service, and with no discussion, SB976 changes the terms of the funding so that it can be used for any ferry service, read “Not Alameda’s.” There would be no reason to change this language unless one planned to use the money for non-Alameda services. How is this right?
- Given the way that this bill has gone forward (in the dark), how can the cities of Alameda and Vallejo rest assured that their concerns and their voices will be listened to in the future?
On Wednesday, October 17, at 7:30pm at City Hall, there will be a public meeting held at the request of the City Council. Members of Don Perata’s staff will be on hand to answer questions.
Anyone interested in this issue is encouraged to attend.
Smell a rat
October 13th, 2007 at 11:53 am
What happened at the meeting?
This looks like a conspiracy by some developers and their friends to screw a rival developer at the public’s cost, despite and against the expressed will of the public. We already know developers like to increase their profits at the expense of the public, and here they are, (people like Perata & Cowan are behind this with not a whisper of objection by our mayor of Alameda) ready to issue new bonds to take control of the BA ferries that were bought, organized by, and support Alameda and Mare Island - both places where development competitor Lennar has major developments in the works.
Seems politics and crime are now synonymous.