Greetings!
9-16-15
John’s Soapbox:
TAKE BACK OUR ROADS!
Tell Your Supervisor You Want County To Focus On Road Repairs!
The time has come for our industry members to step up, and sound off to your elected officials in Sonoma County. Our roads are in terrible shape because of several reasons:
- We have 1384 miles of County roads
- The County has spent money on other costs (like “Cost Of Living Allowances for their workers, pensions and public safety).
- The rural roads were not built that great to begin with-some were just asphalt laid down on minimal baserock sections.
- The lack of sealing the surface regularly has led to intrusion of water into the subbase. This accelerates the deterioration of the wearing surface dramatically.
There is a “not so hidden” cost to all that drive our rough roads. Studies have shown it costs an average driver upwards of $600/a year due to lower fuel mileage, tire wear, alignment and shock issues wearing out your vehicle faster. Our Supervisors know all of this. Yet, they tend to react and act in response to the loudest noises they hear. Since Measure A failed, the loudest voices they are hearing are for homeless advocates and affordable housing. There is a move to reduce the spending on fixing our roads and use that money for homeless shelters/housing/services, increasing wages for County workers, and many other costly special interest issues.
What we want is for the County Supervisors to “hold the line” or increase spending on fixing our roads. Voters defeated Measure A but not because fixing the roads was not important. They defeated the additional tax mainly because they believed the County already has enough money, they just need to prioritize their budget on roads more. And every one of the Supes said they would in June of 2015. Let’s remind them!
Here is the ask: Can you find the time to make one email, and one phone call per week for the next 4 weeks to each of the five Supes to request they spend more money on road repair in Sonoma County? If you can, I can guarantee this will have an effect-a positive one. Phone number for the County Supervisors is 707-565-2241. Here is emails for the Supes:
Supervisor Susan Gorin – Susan.Gorin@sonoma-county.org
Supervisor David Rabbitt – David.Rabbitt@sonoma-county.org
Supervisor Shirlee Zane – Shirlee.Zane@sonoma-county.org
Supervisor James Gore – James.Gore@sonoma-county.org
Supervisor Efren Carrillo – Efren.Carrillo@sonoma-county.org
That’s All Folks!
John Bly
