Democrats and Chamber of Commerce Team Up

that is a huh? (0.00 / 0)

Not sure they'd go through te trouble just for show. maybe the chamber has decided that GOP blocking stuff advancs nothing?  May be the chmber wants to salvage some kind of climate for business? may be the dems realized with double-dip kicking off that blaming business hasnt bee the best for recovery?

I'm curious to see what if anything comes from it.

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by: CaliCon @ Thu Sep 01, 2011 at 16:42:50 PM UTC

What a nice idea! (0.00 / 0)

I hope you're right. It would be nice if the chamber finally started to care about what is actually good for the business climate in the state for the long term.  

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by: cfinnie @ Thu Sep 01, 2011 at 18:35:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Roads (0.00 / 0)

I think it has to do with improving our roads
This will create construction jobs

Where to get the money ?
Also, it takes months or even years for these things to get going

Still, it's a good idea
Washington isn't gonna do anything for us
California has to take its' own future in its' collective hands

How about money for Public transit too ??

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by: frisco @ Thu Sep 01, 2011 at 17:15:01 PM UTC

public transit (0.00 / 0)

How about money for Public transit too

not disputing anything but I often see the push for public transit here (and among the left). I know there are visions of Europe etc that seem atractive but as i look at places outside of SanFran I don't see much that public transit will help.   The bulk of the peple in LA and OC are so spread out, public transit doesn't work.

My personal experience of trying to take the train to work proves that out.  I liked not actually being in the drive. But when I addd it in the strict time I had to be at the train, the changing of modes from train to city bus, and the cost - driving was still easier in OC's notorious traffic.

I'm not against public transit and lived in cities before and had no problem living life without a car but really outside of SF public transit won't solve much without a heavy presence and even heavier subsidies to make it work.

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by: CaliCon @ Thu Sep 01, 2011 at 18:07:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Transit in LA (0.00 / 0)

I'll grant you OC. But I've been surprised how extensive the public transit is in LA my last couple of visits. I was able to take it everywhere. And it was a lot better than driving and parking. I have to say I sure would have welcomed mass transit during my last visit to OC. I was sooooo tired of sitting in traffic! And that was on the weekend!

I also understand what you're saying about trains. I had a job in Mountain View where I could walk to the train and loved it! While others were sitting in traffic behind accidents, I was catching up on paperwork. It was great. My next job was in Santa Clara and I would have needed 4 busses to get from the train to my office. None of the connections worked and it would have doubled my commute. What this tells me is that trains can work if the other transit agencies work with them and work better. There's no reason I can see why all the busses I needed had such awful connections--except, perhaps, that there just weren't enough of them at commute times.

So, overall, my experience is that transit can work if the investments are carefully planned. We need good traffic studies and better integration between systems to do that. And we need a real commitment.

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by: cfinnie @ Thu Sep 01, 2011 at 18:43:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Public Transit 2 (0.00 / 0)

But I've been surprised how extensive the public transit is in LA my last couple of visits. I was able to take it everywhere. And it was a lot better than driving and parking.

Was that on a visit there or living there?  Usually if I stay at hotel mass transit is ok. But living in a suburb/residential area and trying to get to work is a whole 'nother story!

So, overall, my experience is that transit can work if the investments are carefully planned. We need good traffic studies and better integration between systems to do that. And we need a real commitment.

That's true. But I see a lot of roadblocks.  Someone told me that the reason I can't take the train from San Diego and have it go directly to the LAX is because of the taxi lobby. Same issue with the San Diego airport. Sorry I don't remember if the BART takes you to the SF airport.

And I'd really love to see just that simple change for starters - Trains connecting to airports.  Even buses to airports.  But this is where I blame the Democrats. Yeah, the GOP and its tax cuts have a role, but the many headed hydra that is the left creates these obstacles:

- Evironmental impact reports/reguations.  Can't add mass transit without construction and that may mean going through places like Trestles or somewhere with an endangered bird.  The treehugers want mass transit then nix the project when it runs into animals. Of course this is the problem with the whole green-anarchy crowd but thats another topic.
- Unions.  The left in its union-luddite way refuses to let any job go the way of buggy carts.  Taxis from train stops to airports being the most blantant.
- Union pt 2.  Any public project requires "prevailing wage (union subsidy). So the price to do public transit is through the roof so we can't even afford to start a project.
- Feed the base.  The project has to start where the biggest Democrat donors are so its always aimed at SF or LA. Where as you noted public transit is better.  But its the ever growing inland area and the OC that actually have the most congestion and probably cause the most greenhouse gas issues. High Speed rail excused (but that could have been done better)
- Public Service is pricey.  The left demands that public transit be publicly owned.  At first glance it souns nice because the price can be managed better and safety can be imposed quicker but then there is the cost. The public servant working these lines makes a killing in benefits that wouldn't be there if it was private sector.  public vs private benefits is another debate but the point here is that this explodes the cost of public transit and again we can't even get a project started because the pricetag is so high and taxpayers don't feel its justified.

So place me in the camp of pro-public transit but I feel its more than a "real commitment" that is needed.   The left needs to do some soul searching and get rid of some of the baggage it has on its approaches if it wants to get some real good done.  

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by: CaliCon @ Thu Sep 01, 2011 at 19:22:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

bart (0.00 / 0)

... Sorry I don't remember if the BART takes you to the SF airport...

BART goes directly to SFIA
It drops you close to Oakland Airport because the East Bay politicians wanted it closer to the Oakland Coliseum.
They're currently planning a 'people mover' from BART to the Airport

I'm not sure if the planned BART extension to San Jose includes the San Jose airport
It probably SHOULDN'T
The SJ Airport should be MOVED
The SJ Airport is too close to downtown and should be moved
Kinda like the San Diego Airport
Both are unsafe

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by: frisco @ Thu Sep 01, 2011 at 22:12:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

moving airports (0.00 / 0)

I always found that the biggest proponents of moving airports were developers. Downtown for SJ and the waterfront for SD is a big prize for them.

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by: CaliCon @ Thu Sep 01, 2011 at 23:24:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Transit to LAX (0.00 / 0)

Right now there is no direct rail connection to LAX and LAX admitted It was their fault, the Green line was supposed to go there, So now a rail extension is being planned(built?) that will go to LAX directly.

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by: SuperJoker @ Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 15:04:40 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Public transit (0.00 / 0)

I haven't seen it or ridden....
But, I understand LA has a subway under Wuilshire Blvd
Subways run so much faster than surface transportation

I know, they're EXPENSIVE

I take a street car every day to work (the J Church)
Most of the way, it crawls along on surface streets, but when it goes underground, it Flys

Yes, you may not use transit
But, the more other people use it, the more traffic (might/will) lighten on the surface roads

That's why I'm a refugee from Los Angeles
I COULDN'T STAND the freeways and commuting in LA
Free at last !!

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by: frisco @ Thu Sep 01, 2011 at 19:20:58 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

First Sign of the Team up? (0.00 / 0)

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) was talking to colleagues about extending the same proposal to other job-producing projects, possibly including sports facility projects in Sacramento, Santa Clara and San Diego, as well as renewable energy developments.

Anschutz Entertainment Group sought the special treatment after a competing stadium proposal in the City of Industry won an environmental waiver from the Legislature in 2009. Its backers argue that it deserves special treatment because it would create tens of thousands of jobs.

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by: CaliCon @ Wed Sep 07, 2011 at 18:50:35 PM UTC

pakistan information (0.00 / 0)

i agree with you.i think you right.i think chamber take good care about that whats good for business.i like to read informative blogs and this blog is also so good and helpful.thanks for taking time to discus this topic..
pakistan information

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by: kingston123 @ Mon Oct 03, 2011 at 20:52:26 PM UTC