People Power Endorses Bill Monning for Assembly
Based on an extensive questionnaire and a well attended forum, People Power Members have endorsed Bill Monning for California Assembly. Monning clearly understands and shares the values of People Power and has the experience needed to make him a true champion of sensible transportation in Sacramento. While People Power has a deep appreciation for Emily Reilly's consistent support of sensible transportation, members at the forum thought that Mr. Monning's longstanding and extensive experience with statewide institutions and legal frameworks will make him a more successful champion at the state assembly.
Monning does "not support any of the Highway One Widening Proposals." He does support local and high speed rail proposals, with appropriate environmental mitigations, and has a list of other thoughtful and serious ways to reduce vehicle miles traveled. He supports "incentives for city centered growth—up not out", and a requirement of "parking cash out options for commuters who do not utilize parking spaces for fossil fuel burning vehicles."
The decision was a difficult one, as Emily Reilly has a proven voting record of supporting sensible transportation at the Santa Cruz City Council and the Regional Transportation Commission. A vote she cast at the local Transportation Funding Task Force matches her survey response with regard to global warming: "Any effective response to global warming must include major transportation changes. Funding must be tied to carbon reduction or in some cases neutrality."
Candidate Barbara Sprenger also had many insightful things to say about transportation, including a recognition of its tie to land use policies: "We must plan for the future and build around transit corridors. Smart development is key to enabling the residents of our state to live within our resources." Given this kind of recognition, People Power members were baffled by her continued support for widening Highway One.
Candidate Questionnaire Responses
Click the following links to download a PDF of the State Assembly candidate's responses to the People Power questionnaire.