Posted on 02/27/2006 4:20:45 PM PST by calcowgirl
With the U.S. trade deficit hitting a record high of more than $725 billion in 2005, why is California poised to spend tens of billions of dollars on transportation projects specifically designed to facilitate shipments of imported goods through our major seaports, while all but ignoring the transport needs of the state's exporters?
In recent months, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and top legislative Democrats have been conducting what amounts to an extended policy seance as they seek to channel the spirits of former governors Earl Warren and Pat Brown, the now mythic master-builders of the Golden State's once vaunted infrastructure. Unfortunately, looking to the past for inspiration can sometimes result in remedies more appropriate to an earlier, much different era. That seems to be the case with the governor's bodacious scheme to invest huge sums upgrading the state's so-called "Gateway Corridors" -- those highways and rail systems linking the state's three largest seaports (the neighboring Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the Port of Oakland) with inland markets.
The governor's plan is almost reflexive in its assumption that international trade is pretty much confined to the waterfront or land borders. That may have been true when Pat Brown was governor. It is far from true today, when more of California's export trade moves by air than by sea and land combined, according to the Foreign Trade Division of the U.S.Census Bureau. Yet, on the role of airports in transporting anything besides passengers, the Schwarzenegger administration is virtually silent.
(snip)
But what about similarly investing in the transportation facilities more commonly used to export goods produced by California companies employing Californians and paying taxes in California? Regrettably, the governor's emphasis on maritime trade ignores one very important reality: Little more than one-fifth of California's exports go anywhere near a seaport.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Ping.
This is an interesting article. The author has a rather impressive resume here.
Sounds like the standard double-cross switcheroo we're used to.
That is all I need to read.
With all that talk of export volume by location there was no mention of tonnage, which relates more directly to truck traffic than does dollar volume. Further, how many more factories producing how many more truckloads of products can come out of the Bay Area, which as Mr. O'Connell suggested is geographically limited? If they really wanted to reduce traffic they'd shut down the mass transit, build bus freeways, and open up the system to deregulated jitney traffic. Better yet, fire the Post Office and plant optical fiber so that homes have the bandwidth not to drive and suppliers can coordinate all shopping into one delivery. Break the education monopoly so that kids can learn online from home. Together, these measures will knock traffic problems into the dirt for a lot less money.
OTOH, the real manufacturing growth area will be the Central Valley. So why isn't he talking about airport facilities there? Nor did I see mention of the possibility of adding yet another deep water port to California where there is currently neither a port nor a traffic problem. I will commit sacrelege and say the words: "San Simeon," which has a potential rail corridor into Santa Maria through Cambria. Yeah, but that's State property now that the Hearst family got them to buy the ranch so that they could keep their party pad complete with elephant seals and not have to pay the maintenance budget on it. I digress.
This whole thing is pigs lining up at the trough with NO ONE asking hard questions. The real reason Arnold is emphasizing imports is because he'll go to the Chinese for money. His globalist friends will cheer because their overseas investments will be even more competitive against the domestic competition they've been trying to kill with regulations for decades. They just want taxpayers to subsidize their business by using eminent domain and borrowed money to build better transportation corridors for them by waving empty promises about reducing traffic jams. The serfs can enjoy that prospect from the windows of a commuter train.
Whenever there is a mystery about government choice. always follow the money. In this case the trail leads directly to the New Majority.
if California's political leadership is serious about devising a truly comprehensive goods-movement strategy it would do well to start fretting about the state's air-transport capacity.
California has had, for year, a proposal on the books to build an international air cargo port next to I5 in western Fresno county. The location is relatively fog free, favoring export, located midway between SF/LA and would be relatively cheap to construct because of the availably of financial participation by the DOD.
BNSF Railway is moving operations from Richmond inland to Mariposa...and expecting to load containers and trailers there in the future.
Also, their Bakersfield yard is moving north to a farming area....
Shocks the hell out of me. Guess we'd better pay interest on bonds so that it won't flood.
The railroads wont flood...they were the first ones that initiated the levees....ever notice how much higher the tracks are in certain areas?
oh okay....but I think there are a lot of houses on that farmland now...
people never learn!
people never learn!
Oh this has nothing whatsoever to do with learning and everything to do with desperation feeding corruption. Flood control bonds have functioned as a real estate subsidy for the big players for ages. My dad used to be a bond consultant for Schwabacher whose job was to plan the financing on exactly such projects.
The RR has some tunnels that restrict double deckers but most could be daylighted. It may be better to build a new line to Red Bluff over South Fork mountain because it would not be so prone to blockage in winter.
One of our port commissioners went with Arnoid on his "Trade Mission" to China and has a proposal for investment here. A Chinese firm purchased our pulp mill last year and are investing in upgrades. They have self loading cantainer ships calling here for their chlorine free pulp...
Typical liberals. Change the subject instead of joining the issue. Last time I was in SoCal the freeways were an embarassing, run down mess.
His party of choice.
Big water problems, both fresh and waste. Probably insurmountable without nuclear power. Manufacturing cannot survive without these things.
California is Fubarred! Da Guv-en-a-ter capitulated to the gurl-ee men. Its over people ! Make other plans.
In dumping ag a lot will become available. Concrete doesn't require much water. As to wastewater, care to enlighten me?
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