Published: February 07, 2008
Transcript of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Discussing Expedited Funding
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Thank you very much for your kind introduction. And I want to just say it's great to have everyone here today, especially Mayor Fargo, who has been a great, great leader and a great, great believer in all of this. And then we have also Lester Snow here, and Danny Curtin; I want to thank you also for being here today. Al Montna, thank you very much, and Supervisor Nicoletti, and - who else do we have? And me. Oh, yeah, I see myself here too. Very nice. (Laughter)
But anyway, it is great to be here, because - and you know, you're going to see me, when it comes to levee protection and building levees, many, many more times, because I think there is not enough work and enough, many times, to put the spotlight on that issue, because this is a subject that has been kind of not been paid attention to, and has been ignored for so many years.
I remember when I came into office - as a matter of fact, Al, you and I, we had conversations about the levees. And you said to me, "It is very important that you pay attention to the levees. It's not a sexy subject; people are not interested in levees." I remember you were telling me, "You will be talking about levees and people will just look at you. 'What are you talking about?'"
And sure enough, that's exactly what happened in the beginning, until in New Orleans we saw the disaster, and when they talked about that our levees are in worse shape than the levees in New Orleans. And then all of a sudden everyone started paying attention. And then the people have approved almost 5 billion dollars in bonds to rebuild our levees, because we needed to rebuild our levees.
And so I'm very happy about that, the progress that we have made, and that now we have over 100 levee sites that we have fixed, that were very dangerous, because we have to recognize the fact that our levees are more than 100 years old, and that our levees were built by farmers 100 years ago. They did a great job, but you know, with infrastructure you have to keep it up, and this is why it is very important that we keep our infrastructure intact and we do the upkeep all the time, if it is in transportation, if it is building schools, expanding our universities, or fixing our levees.
And so I am again very happy today that we are here and announcing that we are speeding up 211 million dollars in Proposition 1E bond money to improve our levees here and in three other sites, in three sites in Yuba and in Sutter Counties. Now, this money is very important; it's an important step in addressing the serious public safety concerns that we have. We have hundreds of millions of dollars of Natomas development in jeopardy.
You may recall that my office has announced just a month ago that we're speeding up 200 million dollars worth of environmental studies to get the levees improved and moving as quickly as possible forward in rebuilding more levees. And then we have seen now how important it is that we are fixing our levees because of the wet weather and the rainy season, that it is extremely important that we fix and keep fixing those sites that are vulnerable.
And of course for us it is more than just fixing the levees and creating public safety, but there is a second component there, and that is creating jobs, because we all know that our economy has slowed down because of the housing market, and because of the subprime mortgage crisis. Now we can put those people back to work. That is important. So, we're killing two birds with one stone, that is the great thing about this here.
We also want to urge, of course, the federal government to increase flood protection dollars for California in the next budget, and also to help us cut through the red tape so we can continue moving forward on many of those projects. We have already, like I said, fixed over 100 levee sites, and they're performing really well in protecting the people and protecting farms and protecting businesses. Since I have come into office we have fought for levee protection. And for our levees we declared a state of emergency, we invested nearly 5 billion dollars in flood protection bonds, and we signed bills to ensure safe growth in our communities.
If we are to grow our population and our economy we must do everything we can to protect the people, and to protect businesses, and to protect those farms. We are already seeing many benefits from our work, and we will continue working with the federal government and with local officials in order to continue building those levees and fixing those levee sites so that we have a prosperous future for our great state.
Thank you very much. And now the next speaker will be Lester Snow. Thank you very much. (Applause)
DIRECTOR SNOW:
Thank you, Governor. Obviously, a major part of what we're talking about today is investing in critical infrastructure. In flood, as in a number of other areas, we've seen decades of delay - and the Natomas Basin perhaps epitomizes that - a situation where we're playing catch up.
And I think it's important we have a little context to the grants that we're announcing today. In the past two years we have spent 280 million dollars on critical erosion sites, repairing those sites. You may recall the Governor declared an emergency to get moving on that. That investment just stabilizes the patient; it makes sure we don't get any worse from these critical erosion sites. Since then we have also spent tens of millions of dollars on evaluating the levees to make sure we understand where the critical sites are, where we need to invest our bond dollars.
We also have identified what we call 'early implementation'. Essentially, the Governor implored us to get bond money out the door as quickly as possible. So, rather than waiting for the budget to be adopted this year, we actually started the process of identifying projects that could move forward, and be able to fund them before the 2008 construction season. Had we waited, traditionally, for the budget to be approved, we would not be able to award these grants. We would be waiting for the improvements, probably for the next construction season, which means we'd be waiting for jobs until 2009. So we were able to expedite that.
The early implementation project here today is nearly 50 million dollars, to fortify this levee and raise it, to protect the north side. We also anticipate in the Governor's budget last this year another 190 million dollars to continue the protection of the Natomas Basin and improve the levee system.
Also, one of the speakers will probably talk about the project in Yuba County, 138 million dollars that not only provides 200-year protection, but actually will open up flood plain for habitat purposes. So it would be about 1,400 acres of habitat that will be created in addition to protecting existing and future residents.
I want to mention the Governor's proposed budget to the legislature for 2008-2009 will have an additional 170 million dollars for such early implementation projects where we have identified critical needs with projects that are ready to go, to hire people and improve safety.
We have 126 million to continue our levee evaluations and critical repairs. Every flood season we have additional erosion sites.
There will be 72 million dollars for statewide cost share for local and federal projects that are going on in the rest of the state.
Over 100 million dollars for the Delta. Roughly half of that will be for emergency preparedness in the Delta with those fragile levees. The other half, or roughly half, will be for improving the levees in the Delta.
We cannot afford to fail, and we cannot afford to fall behind. We're seeing the consequence of people not investing in essential infrastructure in the state of California. We've done this in flood; we are moving forward. It's going to create jobs. We need to do the same thing in water. We need to invest in our water infrastructure in the future.
It is my pleasure to introduce somebody who has been shoulder-to-shoulder with the Governor in terms of reinvesting in California and dealing with critical infrastructure; Danny Curtin, who is the head of the Carpenters Union. Danny? (Applause)
DANNY CURTIN:
Thank you very much. I know there are some carpenter leaders who might take exception to that, so scratch that last quote there, or last whatever. That's the way you think of me? Okay, fine.
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
We like you.
DANNY CURTIN:
I want to thank, very much thank the Governor for his emphasis on this whole issue of water, and all the people behind me, the leaders in this area. This is one area that really, really understands the nature of the problem and what needs to be done. It's hard to really imagine, when you look at such a beautiful day as today here in Sacramento - this is first of all winter, which defies comprehension. Second of all, if you look back here at this quiet little lazy stream - it's gorgeous, the sun is out - you'd never know there's a problem.
But nature has a way of turning the tables just when you least expect it, and when this water starts to come up to the top of this levee, if you look back behind you, there's Sacramento. A little break here, a little break there, and the next thing you know we have a regional crisis that threatens lives, threatens the economy. We've seen how that can happen; we don't want that to happen here.
The one thing about water that I do want to say, for those who are involved in developing water in California, California's water system is the marvel, one of the world's marvels, engineering marvels. People in California get up every day in an area that's relatively arid, particularly in Southern California, and they put their faucets on, they take their showers, and they would never imagine that ,without the kind of infrastructure development, without the kind of reinvestment, we can be this close to that whole system breaking down.
And again, I thank the Governor for recognizing that this is not a problem that happened today or yesterday; this has been a problem that's been going on for quite a long time. Not only is it protecting people in California, but of course the economic development that goes with water. You know historically, Biblically even, water is life. Without water there is no life. Without water there's no economy, there's no economic development, there's no growth, there are no crops. You just basically can close up shop and head home. So again, keep that in mind as these issues are being developed. I want to thank the people of California for voting for these bonds.
And lastly, it's not a red issue, it's not a blue issue. You've been hearing nothing but politics for the last couple of days. It's actually appropriate that we're here the day after the election talking about what government really does. And I'm really happy that the people behind me, many of whom are elected officials - the Governor, the Mayor, the City Councilmen, Members of the Board of Supervisors - keep their eye on what needs to be done. Forget the red, forget the blue, forget the constant bickering. This is the job of the people. The people behind me have never forgotten that, so I want to thank them for keeping their eye on the ball.
And with that, I want to introduce Al Montna, who is the Director of Levee District No. 1. And before I bring him up here, I want to let you all know that's the oldest levee district in California, formed in the 1860s. So, you know there's a little history on water wars and water fighting here, so I think Al is going to straighten that all out right now. Thank you very much. (Applause)
AL MONTNA:
Yes, Levee District 1 was formed by the legislature in the late 1800s to fight the devastating floods in Sutter County. Larry Montna, my cousin and I - Governor, our grandfather was one of the farmers helping build those levees in those days in Sutter County.
But Governor, the Levee District 1, the citizens of Sutter County and Yuba City, want to recognize you for this unprecedented effort to get this early implementation money out the door and on the ground. I can't tell you how many times I personally have stood on levees, with water at the top, trying to convince elected officials we have to do this. This Governor is going to do it under the leadership of Director Snow. For the first time we're going to carry this effort over time. You heard the commitment from the Governor to do that.
We're going to need the Governor's help in cutting the red tape that he was discussing, because we continually hit obstacle after obstacle to get equipment running and get the levees built. And I'll tell you, you give Arnold Schwarzenegger the chance, he'll say hasta la vista to this levee issue and flood problem in this state. Public safety and flood control are the key, and we have a gentleman here that's going to build it, the first time in my lifetime. And I'll tell you, Governor, you have all the support of all these people here to do that.
I now want to introduce my cousin, the Chairman of the Board of the Sutter County Supervisors, Larry Montna. (Applause)
LARRY MONTNA:
It's an honor to be here today to represent Sutter County. And if you guys look on the other side of the levee over there, in 1955 it broke, it was flooded over there, and it was also flooded in Yuba City at that time. I never want to go through another one of them. Thank the Governor and his staff and everything, that they give us money to assist us in Sutter County in improving the levees for the betterment of the people of Sutter County. And I can only say that Governor Schwarzenegger has done a marvelous job in helping us and helping the rest of the counties in Sacramento, and the surrounding ones also, achieve levee protection for the citizens of the state and of their districts.
And I'd like to introduce now Mr. Nicoletti. He's Vice-Chair of the Yuba County Board of Supervisors. (Applause)
JOHN NICOLETTI:
Thank you. I'd also, while I'm up here, just like to recognize our Chairman of the Board, Dan Logue. You know, we have been working on levee issues in Yuba County for an awful long time, and as Al pointed out, it's been for generations that we've been doing this. And so we don't make the assumption that we're going to have firsthand, hands-on work.
But between the Governor and Lester Snow and the Corps taking the time to come and visit with us, and be in our community firsthand, this has been an actual project that's three dimensional. We've seen and felt their efforts from the very beginning, and it really is an extraordinary time. It's really great to be a part of that.
And with that, I would just like to thank you for the opportunity to represent Yuba County here today. Half the water coming down our three rivers, through all their tributaries, are uncontrolled during high water events. So we sit by. And in Yuba County we've suffered flooding in the past. Public safety and protection of property were the reasons that we built the levees, but it's also the reason that we continue to armor them.
Today's levees are built far superior than the original ones, and we've reached in Yuba County a final leg in our difficult race against the force of nature. So together with the Governor, the state departments, the federal agencies, and the amazing progress that's been made, we're within sight of completing a levee armoring and a setback project that will be some of the nation's finest work in levee restoration, and we know we're doing it with some of the finest engineers in the United States.
But we must all work together, and California depends on us, the economy depends on us. And in Yuba County we're committed to doing our part. Thank you. (Applause)
If you haven't heard enough about levees, we have Mayor Fargo. (Laughter)
MAYOR FARGO:
Thank you for that wonderful introduction. Good morning to everyone. It's really my pleasure to be here, not only as the Mayor of Sacramento, but also as the Chair of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, and a resident of the Natomas Basin. Pretty much everything you see here behind you is the Natomas Basin, which doesn't end until you get to the Garden Highway. There are 70,000 people relying upon these levees in Sacramento.
And so we are here today really to thank the Governor, because frankly, I feel like at SAFCA no one has done more for flood protection for the Sacramento Basin that we have. We've spent over 400 million dollars, 100 million dollars in Natomas itself. We brought forward a lot of federal money, some state money.
But we're really here today to thank the Governor, in all honesty, because we've never had a governor who understood the importance of flood protection and treated these levees like the infrastructure that they are. These levees are as important as our storm drainage system, as our roads, as our water supply system. These levees protect lives and they protect the regional economy.
So for those reasons, the Governor recognized that, put together his infrastructure package for the entire state, and it included flood protection. That wasn't enough for him. He decided then to make sure that the money would be spent as soon as possible, because I think he shares my concern; every - we talk about construction seasons when we talk about flood control. I think about winters, because every construction season that we have to go through means we're living through another winter behind levees that need work.
So I really want to thank everyone here who has worked on flood protection. We have quite a regional team, as you can see. Not just Sacramento County; Yuba County, Sutter County, the entire region recognizes how important these levees are, and I think we're lucky to have a governor who does the same.
So with that, I'd like to ask Governor Schwarzenegger if he would like to come back and answer any questions that you might have. (Applause)
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Thank you very much. If you have any questions, please feel free. Yes?
QUESTIONS/ANSWERS:
QUESTION: (Inaudible) had proposed - you had supported term limits as a way to keep lawmakers in office, because then they have the experience to handle the complex issues. Now that voters have rejected that proposition, do you think it will be more difficult for you this year and next year with a freshman leader to tackle these big issues that the state has to confront?
GOVERNOR: We will work together and we will make every effort to bring all the stakeholders together, if it has to do with health care reform, if it has to do with creating more water storage and build more water delivery systems, if it has to do with education reform. All of those important issues, I think we have to work together. So the people have spoken; I think it's very clear that the people felt that the legislators have not performed well enough that they deserve a change there. And I think that this is what people came up to me on the street with. They said, "Why would you want to change the term limit when they haven't really produced anything last year, they haven't' really made the kind of progress that they should have made," and so on. So I think it's really the legislators themselves that have taken themselves out of those term limits. It was no the people, it was them. And so I think that we just have to move on now. I was a big believer that we should change it, but you know, I believe and I trust the people's opinion, and I think that this is what is great about our system.
Yes, please.
QUESTION: On the same terms, the elections - what do you think about the Indian gaming compacts passing? I'm sure it's a relief to you, because of all the money that we would have lost out had it lost.
GOVERNOR: I feel very good about that the people are approving our Indian gaming compacts. I think the people felt that we need the money, especially when we are in a fiscal crisis as we are in. And this is money that we can use for very important things like education, law enforcement, protecting the people, and all those things. I think it's money that we need, and there are 400, 500 million dollar a year that potentially can come in over the next 20 years. 9 billion dollars is a conservative estimate. It actually could be much more than that. Thank you. Yes, please.
QUESTION: Given the easy passage of 94-97, and the need for more revenues, do you see future expansion of Indian gaming down the road?
GOVERNOR: I think that there are many tribes that want to negotiate. There are many of them that did not want to pay the amount that we requested. Because as I said, I always said earlier that the Indian gaming tribes did not pay their fair share, and that when I become governor I will make sure that they will sit down at the table with us and they will negotiate so that they pay their fair share. And so there were four tribes that came forward and that were willing to pay their fair share. Now, there are others that have tried, and they were not willing. So now they will come back. I think they got the message, so now they will come back and they will negotiate with us, and they will pay their 15 to 25 percent of their take, because I think that's fair.
QUESTION: Governor?
GOVERNOR: Yes?
QUESTION: Governor, yes. Given that thousands of voters across the state, Decline to State voters, say that they were not able to get Democratic ballots, that they were told by poll workers they couldn't have them - first of all, and especially given your wife's support of Barack Obama and some of their campaign's concerns with these - first of all, is your office going to do anything about it? And do you think the Secretary of State registrars did enough to ensure that the poll workers made those ballots available?
GOVERNOR: I couldn't answer that, but I will check into that today to find out what the problems were so I can answer that question the next time I see you.
QUESTION: (Inaudible)
GOVERNOR: Yeah, of course. But we will check into it, what the problem was. Yes, please.
QUESTION: On the levee issue, do you have any plans of declaring any further emergencies on these levees?
GOVERNOR: If there is a need for it, yes, absolutely. But right now I'm happy that we can push the money out as quickly as possible. And as I said, that it has two main purposes; one is, you know, protection of the people, the businesses, the farmers and everyone, and at the same time to create jobs. I try to take the 29 billion dollars that we have available right now that is not yet appropriated, and take that money that has been approved by the people, and instead of spending that money and investing it in the future of California over a period of 10 years, do it over a period of 5 years. Get it out as quickly as possible. Speed up the projects, because it can get us quicker to rebuild the state and also it creates jobs, a tremendous amount of jobs, which people need right now.
QUESTION: Governor, we've got a question about the levees.
GOVERNOR: Yes, please.
QUESTION: Why do you continue to allow building here in Natomas when reports from the Army Corps of Engineers and the federal government suggest that these levees are not up to par? There is still some construction going on here, and it will until, I think, the end of this year.
GOVERNOR: Well, that's why we are here today to celebrate that because they're not up to par we are rebuilding the levees and we are fixing them. And out of the 170 some vulnerable spots we have already rebuilt and redone over 100 of them. So we are going to continue working to make them safe. That's what this is all about. You're absolutely correct, we have to make them safe and we have to make sure that people are building in the right areas. That's why I signed a bill to make sure that people are building in the right areas, and there is safety and flood protection and all of those things, because public safety is the most important thing.
QUESTION: Wouldn't a moratorium make sense?
GOVERNOR: No. No, absolutely not. That makes sense to you, but not to us. Okay, yes, please?
QUESTION: Back on term limits, if I may. The failure of Proposition 93 means that three of the four top legislative leaders are now lame ducks, and may face leadership challenges. Are you concerned that this could make it more difficult for you to negotiate a solution to a very difficult budget situation?
GOVERNOR: I think that they will work all of this out. I don't get involved in who is going to be the next Leader in the Assembly or in the Senate. They're going to work all this out. For me the most important thing is that we work together. Whoever is the leader, whoever is in there, Democrats and Republicans, it needs both parties to work together to solve our budget problem, if it is the midyear cuts that we have to make, if it is looking at the cuts that we have to make for the next fiscal year, and also looking at fixing the budget system that has gotten us into the mess in the first place, because it's very important to know that it is not the economy that is the main contributor to our problem. It's part of the problem. But the real problem is that we don't have a budget system in place where we put rainy day money aside when we have extra revenues. I think that's what we have to do so that we can then supplement - when there is a decrease in revenues we can supplement with the rainy day fund.
Okay, yes please.
QUESTION: (Inaudible) make sense to have a moratorium in Natomas because it's a revenue builder for building, and with the budget the way it is?
GOVERNOR: No. For us it is important to protect the people. That's why we want to continue building and rebuilding our levees. That's why it's important for us as a state to push out the money and to make the money available. And that's why it's important that the federal government works with us to put money into their budget to help us in building and rebuilding the levees, because the federal government has to come in with the matching funds, and they also help us cut through the red tape so we can build as quickly as possible. All of this will help with public safety, for protecting the farmers, protecting the people that live around here, and also the most important thing is to really rebuild California, because this is all helping us for the future of California, for our economic growth and everything. Our farmers are one of the most important things that we have here in our state.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
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