By Michael Williams<\/p>\n
Last Friday, 8 December, Assemblymember David Alverez convened an inaugural meeting of his Select Committee on Reconnecting Communities at San Diego College of Continuing Education Cesar Chavez Campus. \u00a0 This meeting focused on the impact of freeway construction on local communities, particularly low-income and minority neighborhoods.\u00a0 The purpose was to explore potential solutions to reconnect affected areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Chairman Alverez and several of the speakers framed the purpose in the context of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the mantra of the Left to condemn policies that damaged the \u201cunderserved,\u201d \u201cminority,\u201d and \u201ceconomically disadvantaged\u201d communities. \u00a0 Plus he threw in mitigating \u201cclimate change\u201d for good measure.\u00a0 Current taxpayers get to pay for supposed sins of the past.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This meeting focused on the damage done principally to Barrio Logan\/Logan Heights by construction of Interstate 5.\u00a0 Which happens to be Alverez\u2019s old neighborhood. \u00a0 By the way, the highway was constructed in 1963, meaning most of the current residents were not around.\u00a0 However, righting past wrongs done by \u2026 well you know who \u2026 is the cause celebre<\/span> in modern California.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The public hearing was to begin the process of getting community input and move toward construction solutions to \u201creconnect\u201d the neighborhoods. \u00a0 A concept plan for placing several \u201clids\u201d across the interstate was presented. \u00a0 A freeway lid is a concrete shelf that covers a sunken freeway, allowing development on top.\u00a0 An example is in City Heights over Interstate 15 where Teralta Park was built.\u00a0 Another has been proposed for Little Italy.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Select Committee meeting attracted a few residents, but was primarily attended by staff, experts, and construction union members, i.e. those with a financial stake in any plan.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The lid concept is one way for cities to both connect neighborhoods divided by highways and add additional surface space for urban development. \u00a0 According to testimony at the meeting, there have been previous discussions, plans, and false starts to \u201creconnect\u201d the community in the past that only led to elevated hopes that were then dashed when faced with reality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Apparently, Alverez wants to do it again. \u00a0 His Select Committee is starting a statewide hearing tour to consider potential \u201creconnection\u201d projects in other metropolitan areas.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The big hurdle was, is, and will always be funding.\u00a0 The Biden Administration\u2019s $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill, (i.e. the fix everything in America bill charged to the national credit card) was cited as the source for some of the funding along with CalTrans state money. \u00a0 Oh! The national debt is $34 Trillion and growing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ironically a news headline stated California is facing a record $68 billion budget deficit through fiscal year 2024-25.\u00a0 The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst\u2019s Office assesses an additional shortfall of $30 billion per year from 2025-26 through 2027-28.\u00a0 The potential deficit is $155 billion over a six-year period.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So, rather than realistic proposals to \u201creconnect\u201d neighborhoods, Alverez\u2019s select committee is a chance to virtue signal how concerned he and the Democrat controlled Assembly care and feel for the disadvantaged.\u00a0 Sort of like they care for the homeless camped in parks and along highways.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Reconnecting neighborhoods\/communities separated fifty years ago is down the priority list of such things as crime, crumbling infrastructure, failing schools, water and electricity shortages, healthcare, and masses of unhoused and undocumented people wandering the streets.\u00a0 Maybe during the next big budget surplus\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n During California\u2019s flower power 1960s cultural heyday, soft colorful paintings of flowers, butterflies, and clouds conveyed a sense of peace and unreality. \u00a0 Much of it fueled by drug induced euphoria.\u00a0 Last week\u2019s Select Committee is a prime example California\u2019s government\u2019s failure to live within realistic financial constraints. \u00a0 And residents will continue to be disappointed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Image Credit: Canva<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Michael Williams Last Friday, 8 December, Assemblymember David Alverez convened an inaugural meeting of his Select Committee on Reconnecting Communities at San Diego College of Continuing Education Cesar Chavez Campus. \u00a0 This meeting focused on the impact of freeway construction on local communities, particularly low-income and minority neighborhoods.\u00a0 The purpose was to explore potential…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9588,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion"],"yoast_head":"\n