PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Lobbying for Infrastructure By Carlos Clayton, CAPE President

Over the last several years, CAPE’s influence in state and local government has risen. Our 2,700+ membership is representative of the diverse population of Los Angeles County. We’re left, right and center, of different ethnic and religious backgrounds, and are racially diverse. Politicians see this and value our support and opinions.

Our CAPE Board of Directors reflects that diversity as well. As a result, we do not make hasty decisions when it comes to endorsing candidates and supporting legislation or items on the Board of Supervisors agenda.

When SB-1 was introduced in Sacramento, proposing a new tax to go directly into rebuilding and upgrading the state’s infrastructure, we didn’t immediately jump behind it. We analyzed the bill to determine whether this was legislation that would benefit our members, as well as the public that we serve.

After careful consideration, we determined it was – and thus we went to work contacting those voting on the bill to ensure its passage.

Through CAPE’s Political Action Committee, we are fortunate to have a lobbyist in Sacramento who is working on behalf of our members and the decisions being made there that impact Los Angeles County. While our lobbyist worked in Sacramento to ensure the bill’s passage, CAPE reached out to other local unions to build support and request that they also contact state representatives.

SB-1 fit the bill, so to speak, for CAPE to support. In short, what it does is generate billions for road and bridge repairs, for which California currently has a huge backlog.

Our board is sensitive to the raising of taxes, just like most taxpayers. But when you have crumbling roads and an infrastructure that needs help now – not somewhere down the road with federal funding – it’s important to support that. Putting CAPE’s weight behind this bill boils down to this: It puts CAPE members to work, including those working for the Department of Public Works, Regional Planning, Beaches and Harbors, and Parks and Recreation, just to name a few.

As Governor Brown noted when he signed the bill into law, “Safe and smooth roads make California a better place to live and strengthens our economy. This legislation will put thousands of people to work.”

The Los Angeles Times reported state officials said $34 billion of the first $52 billion raised will go toward repairing roads, bridges, highways and culverts. Most of the money will be split 50-50 between state and local projects.

Additionally, $7 billion will go toward mass transit projects and other money will pay for new bike paths, pedestrian paths and fund improvements to trade corridors, such as the roads servicing the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports.

We applaud our leaders in Sacramento for coming up with a solution that doesn’t empty Californians’ pockets, puts CAPE members to work and helps build a better state now and for future generations.