Infrastructure

By Todd Gloria

For too long we have heard there is no money for infrastructure. I believe it is time to start chipping away at the list of critical repairs and upgrades needed.

For many of us the answer is NO. This is just one way San Diego's deteriorating infrastructure affects our quality of life. Infrastructure that we can depend on day in and day out is a critical problem in District 3. The California Infrastructure Coalition gave San Diego low marks in its most recent Infrastructure Report Card: C- in storm water collection and treatment systems and a C in surface transportation, citing San Diego's lack of dedicated funding for maintenance and operations and its deferral of needed replacement and expansion projects due to financial problems.

In the suburban areas of the City, funds for infrastructure can be found through new development projects. In District 3, however, our older, urban neighborhoods have few sources of funding for infrastructure projects so our streets, street lights, sidewalks and water and sewer mains get ignored. It is an "out of sight, out of mind" policy that has produced a tremendous backlog of maintenance issues with very little funding to accommodate them.

What is the result of these failed maintenance policies? They affect our daily life in a variety of ways. Dark streets without sufficient street lights create the opportunity for crime. Badly maintained streets slow down our fire and emergency services. Aging water mains are at risk of breaking, creating flooding and property destruction. Buckled sidewalks are difficult to navigate, especially for residents in wheelchairs and our senior citizens, for whom a trip or fall could be devastating.

There is also the risk of a catastrophic failure in our infrastructure system. The Cabrillo Bridge in Balboa Park is on the same list of structurally deficient bridges as the I-35 Mississippi River Bridge that collapsed in August 2007, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100.

For too long we have heard there is no money for these projects. I believe it is time to start chipping away at the list of critical repairs and upgrades needed. As your City Councilmember I would:

Demand continuous and timely maintenance. Regular maintenance reduces the need for expensive repairs and extends the useful life of public facilities. The money saved should be reinvested in our neighborhoods on other community priorities.

Enforce City ordinances related to streets and trenching. A 2006 grand jury report found that our streets are not being properly repaired after trenches are dug, and that this lack of repair leads to sinking streets and potholes. The report revealed that the repair of trenching in the public right-of-way is done only when a complaint is received from a citizen. We must insist that this process is managed properly by the City and that all repairs are made and paid for by those doing the initial work.

Meet all requirements of the Consent Decree regarding sewage system upgrades and repair. San Diego is being required by the USEPA and the Department of Justice to do approximately a billion dollars worth of work to our sewage system over the next six years. We must closely monitor this process and make sure progress is monitored and reported not just to regulatory agencies, but also to the public, who is paying for this project!

Establish a fund of monies dedicated to infrastructure. San Diego doesn't dedicate any funds specifically to infrastructure, making the problem easier to ignore. Dedicating your tax dollars toward addressing these basic needs will ensure that we reduce the backlog of deferred maintenance.

Time and again, District 3 residents tell me that they want the City to prioritize funding for basic services like infrastructure. They want a Councilmember who will think long-term, consider all the factors, and diligently address the public facilities needs of our neighborhoods each and every day. I have heard you and I will be a champion for infrastructure on the City Council.