Stimulus not enough infrastructure investment
By The Bakersfield Californian
We began 2009 debating how the nation should go about stimulating our economy and creating jobs, and particularly the role of infrastructure investment. A year later, the discussion has turned to the successes and failures of the resulting American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and again, the role of infrastructure investment.
The urgency of channeling the stimulus funds into the economy meant that the funds went primarily to maintenance and "shovel ready" projects that would have otherwise been delayed. The Associated Press recently conducted an analysis of local investments versus rises or declines in the unemployment level. They concluded that, despite the investment, unemployment remained unchanged. I find this to be disappointing.
We have yet to see any solid data on the number of jobs that were saved or the long-term impact on business development. It's important to keep in mind that infrastructure investment -- not just the transportation spending mentioned in the AP piece, but all infrastructure spending -- amounted to less than 10 percent of the $787 billion stimulus package.
While further analysis is still needed to quantify the impact of the stimulus spending, it does seem to have made a difference. However, the short-term commitment envisioned as part of the stimulus is only one piece of the puzzle. If a long-term plan isn't put into place -- one that includes sufficient funding levels and a dedicated revenue source, such as the desperately needed six-year authorization of the surface transportation system -- it could amount to nothing more than an ineffective bandage.
ANTHONY N. LUSICH
Bakersfield
Most CommentedMost Popular
A forceful Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood announced at a tense press conference Thursday that David Sal Silva, whose death earlier this month raised questions about use of force by deputies, died as a result of hypertensive heart disease and was not only intoxicated but had methamphetamine...
The death of a man in custody following a prolonged struggle with Kern County Sheriff's deputies and CHP officers and the subsequent fracas over confiscated witness cellphones have gained international attention and raised concerns here that the incidents could tarnish the county's emerging...
The Kern County Sheriff's Office is out of control. That's one conclusion many people will draw based on the events of the past two weeks and in the context of recent years.
A draft city ordinance that would have restricted abortion in Bakersfield was placed on hold Monday when the Bakersfield City Council's Legislative and Litigation Committee voted 3-0 to table its discussion indefinitely, and instead, ordered the drafting of a resolution that could be less...
Blood stains are still visible on the sidewalk at the corner of Flower Street and Palm Drive, where a Bakersfield man struggled with as many as nine officers and later died this week.
A forceful Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood announced at a tense press conference Thursday that David Sal Silva, whose death earlier this month raised questions about use of force by deputies, died as a result of hypertensive heart disease and was not only intoxicated but had methamphetamine and other drugs in his system at the time of his death.
Classes were canceled at Bakersfield High School Monday after three small bottle bomb explosions struck campus, authorities said.
David Sal Silva’s screams seem like they will never stop.