Editorial: Don't let incentives decide bridge opening

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Created on Friday, 14 June 2013 14:42

State transportation officials must decide by July 10 whether they can meet the scheduled Labor Day weekend opening for the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. It is a decision that obviously must be driven by safety considerations – not by financial incentives offered to contractors working on the bridge.

Worried that incentives may trump safety, 14 Bay Area legislators signed a letter to the chair of the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee asking for "detailed and specific information about the financial incentives that exist" to meet the Aug. 31-Sept. 2 Labor Day weekend bridge opening target.

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Assemblymember Marc Levine Comments on Passage of State Budget

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Created on Friday, 14 June 2013 14:38

Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) released the following statement on the Legislature’s passage of the 2013-14 State Budget.

“This budget is unwavering in its commitment to pay down debt incurred during the recession and to reverse some of the painful cuts in core programs,” said Assemblymember Levine.  “Restoring funding for education is the highest priority in this budget as it delivers new dollars to every segment of public education in California. The budget ensures that nearly every K-12 school district receives more funding than last year and places every school district on a path to meet pre-recession funding levels.”

“We have replaced an impossibly complex statewide school funding method with a local control funding formula that empowers our schools. This approach places trust and responsibility in local school boards rather than Sacramento bureaucrats.”

Bay Area Legislators Request Bay Bridge Contracts Information

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Created on Tuesday, 11 June 2013 15:14

Legislators want to know financial incentives in place relative to opening date of Bay Bridge

Members of the San Francisco Bay Area delegation have requested information from the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee relative to the financial incentives that exist for the Labor Day 2013 opening of the new east span of the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge. This includes information about which companies benefit from incentives, a timeline of dates, amounts, and work completed that are tied to these incentives, as well as the reasons for the incentives and when the incentives were offered.

The request came in the form of a formal letter sent on June 10th to Steve Heminger, Chair, Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee.  The letter was circulated by Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) and Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord).

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Assemblymember Levine: Bay Bridge Safety Comes First

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Created on Monday, 10 June 2013 15:16

(San Francisco) – Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) says he’s wants to make sure “on time” bonuses for the contractors building the new span of the Bay Bridge don’t become an incentive to shortchange safety. KCBS Radio interviewed Assemblymember Levine about the potential conflict and filed this story:

Levine Honors Weaver’s Coffee & Tea of Wild Card Roasters

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Created on Monday, 10 June 2013 14:19

10th Assembly District Small Business of the Year

Today, Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) recognized Weaver’s Coffee & Tea of Wild Card Roasters as the Small Business of the Year in the 10th Assembly District.

“Weaver’s has won legions of fans throughout the Bay Area and beyond,” said Levine.  “It is my pleasure to present this year’s Business of the Year award to Weaver’s Coffee & Tea of Wild Card Roasters.”

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Salinas Agricultural Tour with California Food & Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross

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Created on Friday, 07 June 2013 08:57

(Salinas)—Assemblymember Luis A. Alejo (D-Salinas) today partnered with Western Growers to provide an opportunity for California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross to visit and meet with local agricultural growers and other elected leaders.   Karen Ross was appointed Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture in January 2011 by Governor Jerry Brown.

“A healthy agricultural industry and safe agriculture-related jobs are critical to California’s economic well-being. This tour is a great opportunity for our local leaders and state officials to learn about Salinas Valley agriculture and resources that can help insure that agriculture can thrive and grow,” says Alejo.

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California Bill Would Ban Smoking in Some Homes

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Created on Tuesday, 04 June 2013 08:35

The right to light up at home is in jeopardy for some California cigar smokers as a bill that would ban smoking in multifamily dwellings is gaining traction in the state's Assembly.

Introduced by Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, AB 746 seeks to amend the current state smoking ban by adding language that would prohibit smoking any type of tobacco product inside any residential property that contains "two or more units with one or more shared walls, floors, ceilings, or ventilation systems." In other words, apartment buildings, townhouses and condominiums would fall under the new legislation.

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Governor Orders Statewide Review of Caltrans

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Created on Saturday, 01 June 2013 11:49

Assemblymember Marc Levine calls for review to include look at agency's handling of netting under Petaluma River Bridge which activists say has killed hundreds of birds

Governor Jerry Brown has ordered a system-wide review of Caltrans aimed at assessing the transportation agency’s performance, communications and management.

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Levine Foster Youth Legislation Unanimously Approved by Assembly

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Created on Friday, 31 May 2013 15:58

The Assembly approved AB 1171 to create a pilot project giving foster children access to records

Yesterday, the Assembly with a 76-0 vote, approved Assembly Bill 1171 by Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-San Rafael). This bill will make it easier for foster children to access their medical records and other information documents they need.

"Without access to these documents, foster youth can have a hard time applying for jobs, receiving heath care services, and securing housing," said Levine. "Currently, foster youth are only provided with paper copies of these important records. Unfortunately, these documents can often get lost or stolen."

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Levine Online Education Legislation Unanimously Approved by Assembly

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Created on Thursday, 30 May 2013 09:40

The Assembly approved AB 386 to improve access and accountability for CSU online education

Today, the Assembly with a 68-0 vote, approved Assembly Bill 386 by Assemblymember Marc Levine (D-San Rafael). This measure is aimed at expanding access and improving accountability for online education at the California State University (CSU).

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