Good News on Water Bond and Desmond Bridge

There is good news today for all LA County residents with two significant wins Monday: One means jobs, safety, and better people and goods movement and the other will give us a fighting chance to build the reliable, sustainable WATER infrastructure system this entire state needs.
 
1.    On the local level, the Port of Long Beach Harbor Commissioners APPROVED the BizFed-supported POLB’s replacement of the aging Gerald Desmond Bridge. BizFed members testifying in support included Elizabeth Warren, FuturePorts; Jessica Duboff, LA Area Chamber; Dan Hoffman, Wilmington Chamber; and Tracy Rafter, BizFed.
 
2.    Meanwhile, on the state level, in a last-minute flurry of action last night lawmakers did the right thing and officially DELAYED the $11 billion water bond to 2012 to ensure a strengthened opportunity for voter approval.
 
Both of these issues are vital for our region’s economic vitality – and your support has been key! Our strength and influence in numbers is showing our voices ARE being heard!
 
Here are some excerpts of the latest news – and links to the full stories – for your quick review:
 
Harbor Commission approves plan to replace Gerald Desmond Bridge
LB Press Telegram, 8.9.10 
LONG BEACH - Port authorities approved Long Beach's largest infrastructure project in a generation Monday with a $1.1 billion plan to replace the Gerald Desmond Bridge.  It took a decade to work out the details and secure funding for the project, which is expected to break ground by early 2012.
"Competition is becoming a very serious issue," said Harbor Commissioner Mike Walter before the plan was unanimously approved by the port's governing body. "We need to make this investment." Read the full story here.  Read more on the replacement project here.
 
California water bond pushed back to 2012
LATimes, 8.10.10
Worried that Californians struggling through the economic slump will reject an $11-billion water bond measure this year, state lawmakers acted Monday to pull the initiative from the November ballot and put it off until the 2012 election. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger requested the postponement of Proposition 18, and he will sign the bill approved late Monday by the state Senate and Assembly, a spokesman said. Some backers of the water plan opposed the delay, saying the need to fix the state's water system is immediate. …Backers said the bond measure would pay for improvements to ensure the quality and reliability of California's water supply, but recent polls show voters' support falling short on having the state take on the additional debt. Setting the measure for the November 2012 ballot would give supporters two years to educate voters about the need for the bond measure, she said. Read the full story here.