AgdaPkt 2006-03-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

9A Page 21 CIChorn page 1................................................... The group held press conferences in San Francisco and the CoacheUa Valley, even as city officials and other members of the coalition organizations were contacting their legislators and the government to encourage action before March 10 - the cut-off date to bring a measure to the June ballot. With growing indications that state leaders were working hard on a consensus bond package, the CIC message continued to focus on encour- aging leaders to act collaboratively and not press- ing one approach over another. Speaking at the San Francisco press confer- ence on March 7, CIC Chair and League of Cali- fornia Cities Executive Director Chris McKenzie stressed the importance of investing in infrastruc- ture now, as opposed to waiting for the November ballot, when election year politics may make it even more difficult to reach consensus on a package. "Our leaders are working together to address California's pressing infrastructure needs, but we urge them to keep up their efforts and agree on a solution," McKenzie said. San Francisco Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, Bill Nack, executive officer of the Building and Con- struction Trades Council of San Mateo County, and Jim Wunderman, president and chief execu- tive officer of the Bay Area Council, joined McKenzie in addressing the media and getting out the message. "We thank our state leaders for their hard work to date, but now we're asking them to continue that work to pass a package that can get to the June ballot," added Maxwell. "Our citizens can't afford to wait. We need progress on infrastruc- ture, and we need it this year." Coachella Valley Leaders and CIC Members Gather in Palm Desert On Wednesday, March 8, the message contin- ued with the theme "3 Days to Take Care of the Next Generation," as Coachella Valley elected officials and civic leaders joined the statewide effort to have a bi-partisan infrastructure bond measure passed in time for placement on the June ballot. Speaking at a news conference in Palm Desert, Palm Springs Mayor Pro Tem Dick Kelly said that infrastructure was as important in Coachella Valley as it is in all parts of the state - a comment echoed by La Quints City Council Member Terry Henderson. "It doesn't matter where you live - the lack of funding for infrastructure is holding us back as a state," Henderson said. Joining Kelly and Henderson were Chris McKenzie, Joe Mulleneaux, business representa- tive of Operating Engineers Local 12, and Califor- nia School Board Association Member Barbara Tooker. .. ... .. ,. . . .. ..... .. .... .. .. . . ... . 'CAl.I..INGAtL . .CAtlFORNlA ... ... CITIES I . .. . . . . . ... .' ...., ,... . ..<.. ..... .SI ,N (3.."(C)IJI'CiW~~ P raj~~þy~n ~ri" 9 ..the:2GO6Helen;PulnamA'vvardfor. . .~](cøll,n(;øPr()g@ro. . . . .. .. . . . .. . . This.pr99rárri .~Cc>gni:Z~$ .....,()tJ~t~"d.i}g. ..cities .... th~t4~In,ef'th øtJIg,,~tq @lity'Eindl ~y~l()f serviêe...iØ..the...O1()~fe~ivElrtlÆil1oer...pos~ . .. sjble.Partic:Ulä"'ÇrecUfØndf3tte:l1tiórt..i~giVEln to .' ~pp I i~O"$$Pec::ifi ~I JY ad va n cj ft9 .'. th e Leåg Ùe' sstråtegicþriorities . Visit the League's Official Webslte..www.cacities.ofg PRIORITY FOCUS. PAGE 9 March 10, 2006 . Issue #10