Media Release |
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For Immediate Release: |
Contacts: |
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE GROUPS OPPOSE PROPOSITION 1B (October 16, 2006) – Today,Environmental Health Coalition in San Diego, Labor/Community Strategy Center and Bus Riders Union in Los Angeles, Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice in Riverside County, and Urban Habitat in the San Francisco Bay Area announced their opposition to Prop 1B. The measure purports to be for “transportation,” but in fact is a $20 billion give away to the highway, trucking, and port industries—public money used to expand private property and a massive expansion of air pollution, toxic contaminants, and greenhouse gases. FIVE GOOD REASONS TO OPPOSE PROP 1B:: #1: Prop 1B increases pollution and contaminates our air and our lungs. This bond pretends to offer “air quality improvements” but instead, 95% of the money would be used to increase truck traffic and expand freeways and port operations. Only $1 billion out of $20 billion will be used to improve air quality, but NO MONEY will be given to clean up the air that has already been so contaminated, and no money will be given to improve the health of those who have already suffered. #2: Prop 1B funnels public money to private corporations. The main beneficiaries of this bond are the corporations who rely on trucks, trains, ships and other cargo-handling equipment to move and sell their goods. More railroads, more trucks, more ships, more warehouses – all with public funds. The result: toxic and diesel pollution, entire neighborhoods destroyed by warehouse expansion and polluting trucks. More profits for the private companies, while our children continue to breathe in the toxic air these industries create. #3: Prop 1B is a dream for the highway, auto and trucking lobby, and a nightmare for our health. At least $14 billion of this bond/tax will go towards highway and road construction. More cars and trucks. More asthma, emphysema and cancer. More global warming. We need a moratorium on highway and port expansion. #4: Prop 1B provides nothing for the bus system, nothing for the transit dependent except racial discrimination. Only 20% of this bond goes towards public transportation but NONE of it can be used for operations (such as lowering bus fares, reversing service cuts or adding service). Throughout California, inner cities face depleted bus systems. #5: Prop 1B will drain money from critical social services! This $20 Billion Bond is the biggest in California’s history. General Obligation Bonds are loans from wealthy lenders to the State. They are paid back with interest from the general fund. Every year when the bill comes due the legislature pays the interest and principal with funds that are needed for schools, hospitals, and social services.
Organizational Contact Information: Diane Takvorian Damon Azali, Francisca Porchas Penny Newman AJ Napolis, Marc Caswell
Volunteer with EHC's Voter Empowerment Project
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