In response to my blog posting on Sunday criticizing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his administration for the problems on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and other infrastructure challenges in the state, the administration just emailed this statement. It is from Dale Bonner, the governor's cabinet secretary for California's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.
Opinion Talk Blog Editor and Readers,As Sacramento nears a monumental water deal to rebuild our state's aging water infrastructure to ensure water reliability for more than 23 million Californians, it makes little sense for The Bee to attack the Governor's infrastructure credentials.
The Governor takes matters like those of the emergency closure of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge very seriously. Public safety is this Governor's top priority. Caltrans took the necessary precautions to test the Bridge repairs and ensure driver safety. The Governor and I take the commutes of more than 280,000 people very seriously -- but even more important are the lives and safety of those commuters.
It's no secret that the bridges in the Bay Area need to be upgraded, as do several other infrastructure projects in the state. That's why in 2005, the Governor signed AB 144 to complete and finance the construction of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and to contribute an additional $630 million in state funds for seismic retrofitting for Bay Area bridges. Caltrans worked along with federal, seismic and academic inspectors who signed off on the repairs before the bridge re-opened to ensure public safety.
In 2006, the Governor supported and won voter approval for $42 billion in general obligation bonds for education, housing, levee repair, flood control, parks and transportation. Further, the Governor formed the group Building America's Future with Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2008, and they've lobbied the White House to spend more than $1.6 trillion in infrastructure investment in the next five years, as well as to make infrastructure improvements a key component in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - through which the state has captured billions of dollars to repair and improve highways and roads.
To say that there is lack of concern for an event like the emergency closure of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge or for the state's infrastructure is absurd. Caltrans worked along with federal, seismic and academic inspectors who signed off on the repairs to ensure public safety, and I'm happy to report that as of this morning, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is open for travel.
Karen Tani | November 1, 2009 8:16 PM | Reply
"The article makes it appear as if Caltrans did the repair work. The main contractor on the repair was C.C. Myers."
Perhaps the Caltrans inspection was not better than the contractor's work. Don't blame the wind. It is or should have been in the calculable. The Governor's concern is no replacement for safety. And the public has every right to expect it.
"C.C. Myers is a Rancho Cordova, California based construction company specializing in building highways and bridges. It received recognition in California for its speedy repair ...." maybe a little too speedy?
As long as this blog is read by the Governor and his minions let me just relate some facts. I had a great time hunting in Montana this year. I used my accumulated work furlough days you provided me while the person covering my critical position was paid overtime, we are both happy. I shot a 6x5 bull elk three times and none of the 335 grain hard cast lead bullets were recovered. All passed through the animal and back into the earth, where they came from. Governor Schwarzenegger: your clinically supported, tax funded pet condors are safe as ever. Good luck with the bridges, easy on the pidgeons.
The bottom line is...taxpayers paid for the repair,the re-repair and the millions lost in tolls and productivity.I'm starting to become...uncomfortably numb.
Bridges break and governments are generally sluggish, rather incompetent, and wasteful of money. Come on out to Squaw valley and pick up 5 acres. Sink a well and haul in a manufactured home or live in a metal building, like me. . Sit on your porch at night and watch that rattler in the corner of the yard head out for ground squirrels. Hear the screech owl as he leaves his home, and the wail of the local wildcat as he gets ready to hunt. Look up at the stars and wonder about the majesty of God.
In the morning, slip down before dark upwind of the wild boar. Knock your arrow in the crossbow and take aim at the medium sized pig as he begins to stir. Pull the trigger and your bolt will travel 314 feet per second for 45 yards before it passes through the animal to stick in the tree behind him. He will give a shudder and start to run and then nose down dead in the dirt. Roast boar tonight!
You can't do a thing about Sacramento except try to avoid it. Come on out to the valley. Find a good realtor like Lonnie Work (www.esquaw.com) whose family goes back 6 generations in Squaw Valley. No pressure as in no pressure and the nicest man on the mountain (love you Lonnie). Find that land that speaks to your heart and find freedom. Sacramento will fade like fog.
Yes, you'll have to shoot $4 bullets to protect the non-existent condors. Life is like that.
Calvin...I agree...that's why my anger is turning to numbness and just how much for 5 acres in Squaw Valley with a view?It's too damn hot for my wife but I've daydreamed about it passing through on our way to the park...You paint a lovely mental picture and almost come across like that guy from the Motel 6 commercials..."Keep the Light On"...will ya?
Calvin, I'll ignore the call to role over for unreasonable hunting restrictions for now. When they begin to restrict your crossbow use I'll be here to remind you that life is like that.