Riley, other mayors talk infrastructure
By David Slade
The Post and Courier/File
Mayor Joesph P. Riley Jr.
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley was among a coalition of U.S. mayors who met with congressional leaders Monday in Washington to advocate a plan to create jobs by pumping federal money into infrastructure projects.
Mayors from around the nation said they have projects that would be ready to go during the next two years, if they had the money, that would boost employment and improve the nation's road, bridges, schools and water systems.
President-elect Barack Obama has called for spending hundreds of billions of dollars on just such a plan. He spoke of the need for one Sunday at a Chicago news conference and on NBC's "Meet the Press," but did not put a price tag on the plan.
The group of mayors in Washington on Monday included Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, among others.
Riley attended as past president of the United States Conference of Mayors.
On Monday, the organization released a more than 800-page report detailing infrastructure projects awaiting funding in cities around the nation.
"We're not asking for money for our budgets," Riley said in an interview Monday afternoon. "It's that we all have infrastructure needs in our communities.
"To get jobs on the street, shovels in the dirt, cities are the best vehicles to do that," he said.
The mayors met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and a number of committee chairmen.
In Charleston, Riley said infrastructure funds could help with a number of projects, ranging from long-awaited drainage improvement work to rebuilding schools.
The mayors want any money that may be approved as part of a stimulus package to go directly to cities, rather than through state governments. "That would slow things down and create a layer of bureaucracy and expense," Riley said. "There's no need to do that."
He said past experience in Charleston shows how spending federal money to improve municipal facilities not only helps the economy but also provides long-term benefits.
The Dock Street Theatre and Memminger Auditorium were both created as Works Progress Administration projects during the Great Depression.
The WPA was one of the 1930s New Deal programs created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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ColdBud (anonymous) says...
Why talk infrastructure when we can spend our time trying to make sure dogs and cats have seat belts on?
December 9, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
Doesn't Joe Riley look like Egghead Jr from the Fog Leghorn Cartoons?
http://www.gpdesenhos.com.br/imagens/...
December 9, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
We could certainly improve some of our bus stops quickly with a modest infrastructure investment. CARTA has a long list of places needing benches and shelters, as well as the planned intermodal center which would consolidate intercity bus, CARTA, satelite parking for the Airport and Amtrak service in North Charleston, creating a regional transportation hub. Plans for that facility have been complete for years and site preparation is largely complete. This facility is also on the railroad line which could connect Summerville and Charleston if that plan goes forward.
December 9, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
I'm still waiting for Little Joe to fix the downtown flooding like he promised thirty years ago!
December 9, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jhota (anonymous) says...
i thought the Dock Street Theatre was created in 1736 as a theater.
it was refurbished under the WPA.
December 9, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
"Rebuilding schools" is supposed to be done through the county budget, so why is he including other infrastructure needs that have little association with actual city funds?! Notice he did not address roads or rail, which is pretty ludicrous. I would imagine that if you want a federal government bailout, you would at least want more infrastructure that will stimulate more economic growth.
What about creating another freeway that leads out of the city to I-95, to allow better hurricane evacuations? Again, as I've stated before, the Glenn McConnell extension could become a business spur of a proposed interstate called I-14. It would become a restricted access freeway after the planned Long Savannah project, running east-to-west to Walterboro at I-95 and continuing to Augusta, where it is supposed to be built further into Alabama.
What about using infrastructure money to bury utility lines, install adequate street lighting, and creating more sidewalks for the streets and bridges? How about using that money for a much-talked-about rail line from S'ville to downtown (monorail, preferably)?
Regardless, no city needs to be asking the federal government for more money, but if you're going to do it, do it so it actually will make a difference with the city's appearance and help fulfill the city's transportation needs.
December 9, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Larz13 (anonymous) says...
I should have asked him about burying power lines downtown yesterday on the plane up to DC. He was 2 rows in front of me! Dangggit.
December 9, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SingleSexynSassy (anonymous) says...
Maybe if he gets his eyebrows arched it will open his eyes a little wider. JMO
December 9, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Larz13, that might have been a great opportunity. I know if I ever run into him, I'm going to address that issue as well as others.
December 9, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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