Surrender
The guvernator signed SB976 yesterday, mandating, with the help of our local State Senator (Perata), and our local State representative (Swanson), that the state put together a plan to take over the Alameda ferry system within the next year.
The Guv and friends (Perata and the Alameda City Council) will be at the Alameda Ferry Terminal this morning to celebrate swiping millions in voter approved funding that was specific to Alameda’s ferry system for the use of any “Transbay” service.
To be fair, emergency water transit is a good thing, I have yet to hear anyone except Tom McClintock rail against it (He feels all transportation money should be spent on freeways). And, with the governor having given his support to this bill, and actually signing it (he could have allowed it to become law by not signing it as well), there wasn’t much the city of Alameda could do. Vallejo and Solano county have been throwing a fit over this, and it’s got them exactly nothing. Alameda’s a special place. But not in statewide politics.
So the pressure is on. Submitted and adopted in four days, SB976 has many holes in it when it comes to the take over of Alameda’s services, it’s written so poorly that the legislature is going to have to work on clean up language immediately. Alameda city staff, who had been sitting around with nothing to do I’m sure, now have a giant mountain to climb.
They have the fun task of negotiating:
A) continuing service levels,
B) guaranteed emergency service to the main island,
C) protection of the will of the voters,
D) representation on the WETA Board.
All while knowing that the law has already been signed that allows the state to do this without acknowledging or rectifying any of these situations.
Upcoming Meeting: The Alameda Transportation Commission will be holding an informational meeting on the issue on Wedenesday night at City Hall at 7:30. Come get the full low-down and give your input to city staff, Perata’s staff, and the Alameda City Council.
UPDATE: Watch the Press Conference here:
UPDATE 2: News cast videos here:
Mark I
October 16th, 2007 at 7:36 am
I was surprised KTVU didn’t cover the news conference, or at least I didn’t find coverage last night and this a.m..
KQED is doing coverage right now as I write….pretty minimal.
Even if we are little guys and this issue is somewhat of a sleeper because so few people are directly effected, I still think the way the process has gone down is poison for those responsible.
While I get your point that Vallejo has gotten nothing for it’s protestations, I can’t accept that we should be good little constituents and plead not to get screwed because we have no clout and could be punished if we act up.
For starters, letters to the Chronicle folks!
Jack B
October 16th, 2007 at 9:39 am
From today’s AJournal: Alameda Mayor Beverly Johnson said the city is “very appreciative of it, and we’ll be large beneficiaries of this legislation.”
But she doesn’t say why or how. Of course I’m skeptical. Maybe we’ll find something out tomorrow at TC’s special meeting. John, thanks for setting that up. My wife will be there but I’ll be at Oakland Airport trying to do something about the 6am prop-plane flyovers… Tora! Tora! Tora!