For Transportation Solutions, Look to Private Sector
For Transportation Solutions, Look to Private Sector
Editor,
Regarding the comment by George Dias, San Juan Bautista city councilman and COG chairman, in the story “Local Roads Denied State Funds” (Feb. 17):
Saying that truck traffic is “wrecking” San Juan Bautista is hardly credible.
To me “governing” is leading. Where have local government leaders been while the trucking industry has “wrecked” towns like San Juan Bautista?
What has COG done about it? Anything?
COG didn’t lift a finger in the fight over deregulation of the trucking industry, starting with the Motor Carrier Reform Act of 1980, culminating with the ICC Termination Act of 1995.
When four states’ attorneys general, together with other opponents of deregulation, challenged deregulation’s final thrust into the heart of local jurisdiction, COG did not act.
In 1996 COG did not join with the anti-preemption defense. For COG now to say that they believe that trucks are wrecking towns is a sad commentary on the function of governing.
For additional details, see Kelly V. United States, No. 95-1226 (4/29/96), cert. denied, 116 S. Ct. 1566, 134 L. Ed. 2nd 665 (1996) and California Legislature’s response to California Vehicle Code 34600-et seq, the “Motor Carriers of Property Act” of 1996.
In sum, deregulation means federal preemption of authority, followed by federal abdication to regulate, leaving local government to watch.
Having witnessed Congress cut off COG’s legs, and tied its arms behind its back, I think that we still have our heads, and ought to use them. So, why not use our brains to outwit the consequences of deregulation?
The answer, to part of the problem, is as I’ve been saying for more than 15 years, intermodal options for movement of tonnage into and out of the Central California Coast Region.
Shame on local leaders for not acting to utilize existing technology for private-sector, non-taxpayer funded transport infrastructure options.
Joseph P. Thompson
Tres Pinos
