Editorial
The Vallejo Times Herald
Article Launched: 11/30/2007 08:55:52 AM PST

Assemblywoman Noreen Evans was the only state legislator who cast a dissenting vote in what may some day become known as the Great Vallejo Ferry Robbery.

That was Round 1.

Evans told the Times-Herald editorial board this week that in Round 2, she'll fight "tooth and nail" with local community leaders and the City Council to try and turn this backroom deal into a plus for Vallejo.

She'll need more than good luck.

Evans said she learned of the political rabbit punch thrown by state Sen. Don Perata and his cohorts only hours before the legislative railroad had gained so much steam there was little anyone could do to derail it. When the vote was taken at 2 a.m., she found herself alone in her opposition.

Now's her time to fight back. In signing the original legislation, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged the state to work with local entities to ensure that all interests are protected. An Evans aide said the governor's office included the admonition in part because Vallejo's mayor had urged a veto.

In Vallejo's case, at stake are millions in investments and projected revenues from the ferry system that serves tens of thousands of commuters every year.

Evans reminds us that state law requires Vallejo as a charter city to be paid for any losses stemming from the takeover. But exactly when that remuneration is made, and exactly how much it may be, might be subject to political interpretation - particularly during these incredibly tight fiscal times. And, given the short history of this heist, one should double-check for counterfeit bills.

Evans says she hopes there will be a campaign to show that Vallejo already has the basic infrastructure to become the hub of aftermath operations in the event of a terrorist attack on Oakland and/or San Francisco. Highway, waterway and railroad lines are already in place, though some overdue dredging of the Mare Island Strait would have to occur.

None of Vallejo's advantages, however, were even considered when Perata pushed through the takeover bill without consulting or even notifying Vallejo's leadership. And Evans says she's unsure if lawmakers outside the area will give Vallejo residents any more shrift down the road than when they pulled the rug out from them in September.

That's why she says she needs Vallejo officials to help her deal with the Legislature. To that end, the strapped city has dipped into its barren treasury for $100,000 for lobbying help on the ferry matter.

Evans says she expects to author the cleanup legislation to ensure that Vallejo's ferry interests are protected. To that end she has already urged that outgoing Vallejo Mayor Tony Intintoli, Jr. be named to the new panel - the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority - that will oversee the area ferry operations once they shift into state hands.

We wish Evans well in her venture. The lone voice against this legislation - even state Sen. Pat Wiggins voted for it without any real assurances - Evans said she still is entirely unclear why the ferry bill was so radically amended at the last minute.

There have been suspicions that Perata was helping out a major donor who started the first ferry service that serves his commercial and housing interests in Alameda. Evans said she's heard that speculation, but wants to move on to clean up the bill.

She said she'll proceed on the belief that fellow lawmakers who voted for the ferry bill will see the advantages of helping Vallejo. Since the city's interests were "overlooked" in the first round, however, she said she'll also be watching carefully.

"Trust, but verify," she said, will be her approach this time in how she faces her colleagues - at least a few in particular - in Round 2. Vallejo officials should be glad someone's being wary of a sucker punch.