Wednesday's early morning sneak attack on the Vallejo Ferry system during the state Legislature's waning moments must not be ignored.
As in the case of any sneak attack, many questions remain.
And we're all waiting for answers.
Among those questions: Who was in on this 11th-hour move by Sen. Donald Perata to combine the Alameda and Vallejo ferry systems into one entity, placed under state control?
Why was this done so late in the session that the affected cities couldn't effectively react? Or, was that the point?
And when Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, who represents Vallejo, objected to this obvious railroad job, why were her Assembly colleagues unwilling to back her up?
And, if this consolidation of the two ferry systems is so critical to the region, why were the bill amendments not kept above board and subject to public hearings, scrutiny and feedback?
And ... and ... and...
An aide to Sen. Perata insists that the ferry move, now before the governor, is neither underhanded nor nefarious. "There is not an intention to seize assets here," Alicia Trost said. "We want to consolidate for disaster preparedness, to get all this under one umbrella."
We'll buy the consolidation purpose, but as one ferry rider asked, why the sudden rush? It's been 18 years since Loma Prieta, and six since 9/11. Was this a concept that suddenly dawned on Sen. Perata and the bill's author, state Sen. Tom Torlakson of Antioch, only in the last few days?
The bill's original language called for a coordinated use of the ferries as alternative transportation after a disaster, such as an earthquake or terrorist attack.
The reworked version, however, extends control far beyond emergencies, to how much ferry passengers are charged, and who oversees the system.
The original Senate Bill 976 made sense; the amended version invites skepticism that apparently was not evident to some of those who represent Vallejo. Sen. Pat Wiggins said she was willing to support the takeover measure despite possessing only a hazy understanding of its purpose because she was assured by Sen. Perata that there would so-called clean-up legislation to address later concerns.
Such clean-up legislation indeed may be introduced, and it may indeed deodorize what this piece of rotten backroom dealing is beginning to smell like.
Sen. Wiggins, however, should have demanded more information and stronger reassurances before casting a vote for something she knew so little about and that could so vitally affect Vallejo and Solano commuters.
Deeply troubling is that officials such as Vallejo's mayor and city manager learned of this legislative snowball long after it began its unstoppable descent.
As Mayor Tony Intintoli told Sen. Perata in a quick note on Tuesday, "There are numerous issues that will need to be addressed to ensure that we do not jeopardize our existing ferry service, transit system and economic stability of our city."
If the governor signs this legislation - and he should not - Vallejo's representatives must ensure that the interests of the city and all of the county's ferry commuters are protected.
And they must ensure the protection in a public way that is as wide open as the San Pablo Bay. |