Recent Streetsblog CALIFORNIA posts about Assembly

Yvonne Burke trying to get Caltrans staff to say that crashes are caused by distracted pedestrians at the most recent CTC meeting. Image: Screengrab from Caltrans.

Who is the California Transportation Commission?

By Melanie Curry | Apr 21, 2017 | 9 Comments

The CTC is responsible for programming and allocating money for most of the state's transportation projects, so it's a pretty important body. But Governor Brown must either believe that things are going well on the commission, or that decisions made by the CTC don't really matter.

Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) presenting his bill to the Assembly Transportation Committee. Image: Screengrab from CA TV

This post is supported by GJEL Accident Attorneys

Bill to Stymie 710 Tunnel Is Stymied by Asm Transportation Committee

By Melanie Curry | Apr 20, 2017 | 110 Comments

A bill that would have ended consideration of a potential tunnel on the 710 freeway through Pasadena fell short of votes. Assembly Transportation Committee members hesitated to step into what they call a "local issue."

S.B. 1 needed 54 votes in the Assembly to pass, and this was how the vote looked for a good five minutes at the end of the night. Assemblymembers Cooper, Grayson, and Muratsuchi eventually voted yes.

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Transportation Funding Bill Passes with Closed-Door Deals and Public Posturing

By Melanie Curry | Apr 7, 2017 | 18 Comments

All afternoon the Senate and Assembly had hosted “debates” on the bill, but those served mainly as an opportunity for grandstanding. Most minds had been made up, and the real negotiations, to convince the few undecided votes, was going on behind closed doors.

"We are the union! Mighty mighty union! Fighting for our roads!" Union members rallied in support of S.B. 1 today in Sacramento. Image: screengrab from Senate TV

What’s in the Gas-Tax-Raising Transportation Funding Bill?

By Melanie Curry | Apr 5, 2017 | 35 Comments

There are a lot of good things in S.B. 1, including raising gas taxes to better reflect how much wear and tear vehicles actually impose on California roads. But then there's that dirty truck amendment.

Governor Jerry Brown stumps for the transportation funding package at the capitol. Image: Screengrab from Senate TV

This post is supported by GJEL Accident Attorneys

After Years of Inaction, a Rush to Approve CA Transportation Funding Bill

By Melanie Curry | Apr 4, 2017 | 3 Comments

A fix to a late amendment wasn't enough for environmental justice advocates, and the Republicans--well, their support is irrelevant. But the rush to pass S.B. 1 is hampering what could be a very good transportation funding bill.

Governor Jerry Brown, flanked by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León, with S.B. 1 author Senator Jim Beall looking on, touts the new transportation funding agreement.

Transportation Funding Bill Poisoned by Truck Amendment

By Melanie Curry | Mar 30, 2017 | 39 Comments

A last-minute amendment exempting trucks from air quality rules threatens to poison an otherwise strong[er] transportation funding bill. The political calculus to get 2/3 vote makes this kind of amendment a risk.

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