The other day I was saying we need to watch the city of Chico for signs they are spending taxpayer money to push their revenue measure – here’s an article about the state of California using public funds to defeat the gas tax repeal:
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018/06/19/gas-tax-opponent-sign-controversy/
“Under California Government code, officials cannot spend taxpayer money ‘..to support or oppose the approval or rejection of a ballot measure, or the election or defeat of a candidate, by the voters. ‘ according to California Government Code 54964.”
I’ve seen the signs, and it’s obvious they are part of a campaign to defeat the repeal. The projects they are trumpeting about are band-aid patch jobs. Take Chico, for example. A year ago the Enterprise Record reported, “Chico’s obsolete, deficient bridges need attention.”
https://www.chicoer.com/2017/08/12/chicos-obsolete-deficient-bridges-need-attention/
“Many of the city’s bridges are no longer functional, and a few have deficiencies needing attention, according to Caltrans inspection reports from 2016.”
The article describes the condition of the old Guynn Avenue bridge – “The narrow Guynn Avenue bridge over the Lindo Channel in Chico features rusted metal, crumbled railings, and grape vines climbing up the girders.” The reporter, observing a truck with a trailer crossing the bridge, adds, “ The bridge creaks and shakes under even the lightest loads. ” He also says the bridge will be replaced, but not when.
I don’t remember hearing anything about that bridge being replaced, but I do remember city public works staffer Brendan Ottoboni saying at a recent meeting that they were dropping a whole list of projects because there was no funding.
Right now the city is undertaking 4 inch scrape and slop jobs on higher visibility roads like Cohasset and Esplanade. The contractor, Rene Vercrussen of Knife River Construction, says these jobs are being paid for with gas tax proceeds. Why not replace some of the bridges listed in that story? I know for certain the bridge between East First Avenue and Floral is in similar condition to the Guynn Avenue bridge, and the same goes for the bridges on Pine and Cypress at Humboldt.
I believe they are working on Cohasset and Esplanade because they will be seen. I realize, those roads are heavily used, but tell that to somebody who has to cross one of those bridges every day to get to work, get their kids to school, and get groceries and other supplies.
And, I believe those “repaving” jobs are not being properly done, we’ll see if they last until the election.
The Repeal California people have a good argument to make about the use by the state of public funds to promote a tax measure. State staffers are spending thousands of dollars on signs that promote the use of the gas tax, that’s obscene when you consider these high-profile projects are a drop in the bucket.
I believe the city of Chico will pull the same sort of stunts – they want not only to keep the gas tax increase but float a local bond measure for street improvements. We have to call them on it.
Get more information about supporting the gas tax repeal at
http://www.reformcalifornia.org/
Chico Taxpayers Association 