Press Releases
Monterey County Citizens for Safe Transportation Hold Conference in Support of Measure A
MONTEREY, Calif. - May 16, 2006 - Today, during a press conference held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Honorable Leon E. Panetta, Julie Packard, Monterey Bay Aquarium executive director, Salinas Mayor Anna Caballero, Tino Arellano, communications director, WestMed Ambulance Services, Monterey Mayor Dan Albert, numerous local dignitaries and citizens voiced their support of Measure A. The press conference called by the Monterey County Citizens for Safe Transportation (MCCST) brought together distinguished guests, public safety, transportation, senior and social service advocates and the community, reminding citizens of Monterey County that now is the time to take local control over state and federal transportation dollars.
Measure A will improve safety and traffic flow on Highways 1, 68 and 156, make Highway 101 safer, fill hazardous potholes, improve local bus service and expand transportation services for elderly and the disabled. The Measure will levy a 1/2 of one percent sales tax for 14 years, secure state and federal matching funds and create a Citizens Oversight Committee. Chuck Della Sala, co-chair of the MCCST, stated that, "Monterey County must ensure safety is improved on local roads, highways and school routes for future generations. It is our responsibility to make sure that our children, parents and grandparents are safe when out on the road."
During her brief address, Julie Packard commented that, "The Monterey Bay Aquarium supports Measure A because we believe that it is such an essential step, not only for the future of the high quality of life for the folks that live here, but also for a thriving tourism economy which is of course so essential to our very existence here in the county."
Following Packard, the Honorable Leon E. Panetta spoke, recounting his immigrant parent's commitments to investing in the county's infrastructure, "my parents worked hard, they sacrificed, they invested and they worked to ensure that their children would have a better life." He concluded, "ultimately it takes our commitment to make the investments, make the sacrifices in order to ensure that we improve those roads and provide for that safety to that our children can have a better quality of life. That is what Measure A is all about."
Salinas Mayor Anna Caballero explained the reliance of county agricultural commerce on our roads, "Measure A is very, very important because it provides for the match required to get state and federal funds to come to our county. Without Measure A, those funds go to other communities." Caballero also expressed how Measure A supports public transportation projects for youth, seniors and essential workers.
Tino Arellano, WestMed Ambulance Service communications director and 12-year veteran Paramedic added, "I've responded to very tragic accidents, especially along the Highway 101/156 corridor, incidents that could have been prevented with proper highway safety improvements. Measure A will reduce accidents and make local transportation safer by expanding transportation services for senior citizens, for people with disabilities, and make for safer routes to schools. That is why we support this measure."
City of Monterey Mayor Dan Albert made closing remarks stating, "sometimes there are issues in which Monterey County cities don't agree, this truly is one instance that there is something we all agree on. We agree that Measure A should be passed, it should be supported, not only for safety but also for stress."
Numerous leaders from throughout the county, representing a cross-section of interests were at the conference to show their support. Distinguished guests included: MCCST co-chairman Ralph Rubio, City of Monterey councilmember Libby Downey, Sand City Mayor David Pendergrass, Del Rey Oaks Mayor Joe Russell and councilmember Jerry Edelen, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board trustee and MCCST committee member Carlos Noriega, former president of Grower-Shipper Association Basil Mills, past-president and head of hotel and restaurant employees union Local 438 Leonard O'Neill, King City Mayor Pro-Tem Sue Kleber, Greenfield Mayor John Huerta, Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Brenda Roncarati, Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Beverley Meamber and board president Dennis Donohue, Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce president Moe Ammar and Community Housing Improvement Systems (CHISPA) president and CEO Alfred Diaz-Infante.
A partial list of current endorsers of Measure A include: The Monterey Bay Aquarium, Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, Monterey County Hospitality Association, Monterey County Business Council, CHISPA, Central Coast Center for Independent Living, Monterey County Carpenters Local 605, The Building and Construction Trades Council of Monterey/Santa Cruz Counties, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Grower-Shipper Association of Monterey County and the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association.