Ferry Finale
The Governor finally signed SB1093 yesterday, the Water Emergency Transportation Authority bill. SB1093 was a clean up bill that rectified many of the problems with the original ridiculous bill that was secretly rushed through the State Senate in four days.
Kudos to city staff for fixing most of the problems (those that could be fixed) though Seantor’s Torlakson and Perata did, in the end, manage to keep their changes to the voter approved bridge toll fees that were voter approved for Alameda Ferry Service (now they can be used for any ferry service!) Staff tried to reverse these changes but there was no support from what I’m told.
Apparently, changing the voter approved Regional Measure 2 after the fact “happens all the time!” (!)
So for the next four years, the pressure falls to Mayor Beverly Johnson, who now sits on the WETA Board, to bird-dog the process of getting WETA off the ground and putting Alameda’s ferry needs front and center in the process. If the oft-repeated statement “but we’re an island” ever had any teeth, this would be the discussion.
If all goes well, the city will tansfer the service (and costs) to WETA in the next year with all personnel retaining their jobs.
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