Is San Jose’s nonpolitical mayor in a position to attract federal clean-tech dollars?
Silicon Valley business leaders will be keeping an eye on what happens immediately following inauguration day, when, analysts predict, President Barack Obama may address his plan to shift the nation toward clean technology—an emerging local business sector. The president has made strong remarks about his plans to elevate the industry and make America a world-leader in green energy. Many hope this will be part of the incoming president’s multibillion-dollar stimulus package.
With that in mind, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed has been meeting with elected officials and other local leaders to begin framing the valley’s priorities as the emergency economic legislation wends its way through Congress.
“There is so much uncertainty with which way the stimulus package will go,” Reed says.
Even if the new administration decides to fund clean-tech mass transit, and other industries that would benefit San Jose directly, there’s no guarantee that the dollars will find their way to the city.
While other big city mayors were stumping for Obama during the election, Reed remained quiet on the presidential race, never publicly working to support Obama. Instead, the mayor opted to focus on a campaign issue much closer to home: getting the BART tax passed.
Although his efforts paid off in the Nov. 4 election when voters (barely) supported Measure B, the BART tax, the project is still no sure thing. BART needs a $750 million check from the federal government to start construction on a Silicon Valley branch.
After ignoring the presidential race, San Jose’s admittedly nonpolitical mayor is now turning his attention to D.C., where he’s hoping to capture dollars that will help push along his green vision plan (which includes creating 25,000 clean-tech jobs), as well as his beloved BART project.
Will the mayor’s distance from the Obama campaign during the election lower the his chances to capture federal money for his pet projects?
“I don’t’ think so,” Reed says. The president, Reed points out, is not a fan of “earmarked” funding schemes, in which the government allocates specific monies for specific projects. And so, Reed says, “there is less opportunity for political favors and friendships to play a role.”
Besides, Reed says, he’s got plenty of friends in high places, friends who strongly supported Obama’s campaign, and are key players in Congress, close to the new administration. He’s relying on these people to help push his green agenda and big-ticket transit projects like BART.
The mayor’s office is working with Steve Westly, the former state controller and one-time eBay exec, who co-chaired the California Obama campaign and served on the president-elect’s transition team. Reed is also working with the lobbying firm Patton Boggs, which has ties to former President Bill Clinton’s transportation secretary, Rodney Slater. And staffers in Reed’s office say they have been swapping phone calls and emails with Sens. Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, talking about what San Jose needs in the stimulus package.
“Where we don’t have a personal connection with the president, we do have a number of folks who have access to folks in the administration who are making those decisions,” said Jeff Janssen, the mayor’s senior policy adviser.
Janssen and the mayor are scheduling several trips to D.C. this year. The first will take place in late February or early March, when the mayor is planning to meet with key players in the Federal Transportation Authority, as well as the congressional delegation and energy secretary, Janssen said.
“We have enough people in key decisions to help set the direction so our projects are in the favorable light,” Janssen said.
On Thursday, House Democrats proposed a $825 billion stimulus package, with the bulk of it going to schools and highways, neither of which would boost green-tech jobs or mass transit projects in Silicon Valley.
However, lawmakers, who will be negotiating the stimulus package for the next four weeks, have hinted that the price tag of the package could rise before reaching Obama’s desk, which could mean more money for mass transit and clean-tech projects.
“If we get lucky in the stimulus, BART could be accelerated,” Reed says, “if there is a focus of mass transit, which Obama has talked about.”
However, other BART supporters are doubtful that the project could get money from the stimulus package.
The president has said he wants “shovel-ready projects” to be funded through the stimulus package, meaning projects that are ready to start construction within six months. That often means piecemeal projects like pothole repairs.
Even in a best-case scenario, BART is several years away from construction.
Even Janssen seems to believe his boss might be overly optimistic. “I don’t expect we would have BART funding in the stimulus,” Janssen says “because we are hearing they want projects they are ready to build in six months. And we are not ready to put shovels in the ground.”
That’s not to say the project doesn’t have a shot at getting money from the feds.
Janssen and other BART loyalists have noted that the Silicon Valley’s congressional leaders have long been supportive of the mass transit line, which will carry more than 100,000 passengers daily between Fremont and Santa Clara by 2030. In addition, it’s a poster-child project for the green movement: rail is the most efficient way to move commuters, and means gas savings and cleaner air.
The federal government refused to put up the $750 million toward the project until BART leaders could show they had the money to operate the trains. And measure B provides the $50 million needed to run the trains, says Carl Guardino, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, which took the lead on the BART campaign.
If BART doesn’t get squeezed into the stimulus funding, BART supporters will work to get the project included in other federal transportation programs.
“This is going to register even stronger now that the local funds are secure,” Guardino said. “That was always the biggest stumbling block and that legitimate concern has been addressed.”
The federal government has tagged BART with “not recommended.” Has that changed?
Obama has signed orders about transperancy in government, and Chuck has worked to block blogs like San Jose Revealed from computers at City Hall. Gee, what is next Victor and Chuck, Salman Rushdie???
Ajlouny is using the CITY IT Department to carry out a pogrom on San Jose Revealed??
Well, Victor has wanted to punish someone for issuing the San Jose Revealed verses and now he has used the IT schmitar.
BART funding won’t happen in this stimulus.
There are a number of reasons that funding BART is not stimulating to Pres. Obama, but you only need 2:
– it’s not “shovel ready”. It won’t be until the last year of Pres. Obama’s 2nd term (if he’s re-elected). He is focused on re-igniting the economy NOW, not in an optimistic 7 years.
– Auto lobby is still strong, and they’ll want roads and bridges instead of public transit
Better to request money for solar projects for city-owned buildings (including schools) and money to expand the city’s bicycling infrastructure.
Monday’s New York Times article on transportation spending in President Obama’s stimulus propsal backs up californian’s talking points.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BATN/message/40292
“The requirement that the money be spent quickly, in order to get it coursing through the parched economy, means that many ambitious projects that require more planning will have to give way to smaller
ones considered “shovel ready.”
[…]
“The plan also calls for using existing federal formulas to send transportation money quickly to the states, giving policy makers in Washington little say as to where or how the money should be spent.”
Story #2 was from last Friday’s gristmill.grist.org details President
Obama’s transportation spending proposal further backs up those talking points.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BATN/message/40289
“[House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair James Oberstar (D-Minn.)] had called for $30 billion for roads and bridges and $17 billion for mass transit, which would give mass transit 36 percent of
all the transportation funding in the stimulus package. But in the plan unveiled yesterday, while the road money stayed the same, the transportation portion was reduced by 25 percent, which includes cutting
operation assistance funds entirely. As for rail, for which Oberstar wanted $5 billion, its funding was reduced to $1.1 billion—a 78 percent cut.”
[…]
“In fact, there’s at least $50 billion worth of backlogged repair needs for public transit systems, compared to just $8.5 billion needed to maintain current road systems. And yet the current stimulus bill gives $30 billion to roads, meaning much of the money will be spent on expanding roads or building new ones. Meanwhile, public transit systems would get just $2 billion for upgrades and repairs to existing systems—a mere 4 percent of the funding needed to maintain current systems. Amtrak’s northeast corridor alone has a backlog of more than
$10 billion in repair and infrastructure needs, but the bill allots just $1.1 billion for improving Amtrak and intercity passenger rail.”
The House stimulus package includes a relatively minuscule $1 billion for new commuter and light rail, even though there are at least $2.4 billion worth of new light-rail projects that are ready to go,
according to the Federal Transit Administration.”
Mayor Reed and our representatives in Congress have a LOT of work to do if they want that $750 million in federal funding for BART.
I thought San Jose wants to do a citywide traffic signal project but funding is a problem.
This is a city that, despite being in the middle of Silicon Valley, has yet to figure out that computers can control traffic lights. And is willing to suffer decades of endemic congestion (example: 880 exit on to Stevens Creek) rather than to be dragged forcibly into the second half of the 20th century.
I notice one local “green” project—the solar panels recently installed in the parking lot at Lincoln High. And on the underside of the solar panels are fluorescent lights that come on at night to illuminate the empty parking lot, using far more energy than is generated during the day. Plus, since they are not monochromatic light like our streetlights, they contribute to light pollution that affects the operation of the Mt. Hamilton observatory.
Obama seems to me to be a pretty smart fellow. I wouldn’t be surprised if he looks for some kind of track record when doling out the simoleons.
I’m with californian; our most realistic shot may be dedicated bicycle lanes and bridges. SJ actually has quite a bicycling history; perhaps we should take a look back.
Chuck stayed out of the presidential race—dumb move.
But the other big BART leader Carl Guardino was an active supporter of Hillary Clinton raising money and flying around the country for her. Dumber move.
Why would Obama or McCain have a bumbling, ineffective presider like Chuck who reports to Victor instead of the people? No one in either party would want Reed, a cheap version of MASH’S MAJOR FRANK BURNS, and an even cheaper version of Colonel Klink anywhere near his presidential campaign. Reed is a political leper.
“which will carry more than 100,000 passengers…”
How about “might carry?”
Its a shame that Chuck Reed and a host of other Repub politicos are not showing more backbone and integrity when it comes to the stimulus bribe money which may potentially come their way. There is no STIMULUS in the bill! The funds are simply a means of Obama trying to guarantee himself another four years in office. Why do I say this? The majority of the actual funds do not begin to get released until within the two years prior to the next Presidential election. Sure, it may do some good, but is it really worth every regional Republican politician to sell their souls just for a few dollars to show their constituents?
This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that I will explain
using the Q and A format:
Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment? A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.
Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers. Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.
Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus
stimulating the economy.
Q. But isn’t that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.
Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:
If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.
If you spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs.
If you purchase a computer it will go to India.
If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico,Honduras ,and Guatemala (unless you buy organic).
If you buy a car it will go to Japan.
If you purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan.
And none of it will help the American economy.
#5—Chuck Reed talks green; but every night most of the Taj Gonzal lights burn on, long after even the janitors have left the building.