The letter to the editor…

The Dec. 14 Times “The Eye on the East Bay” column contained information about Hercules projects submitted in response to a request from the U.S. Conference of Mayors for “Ready-to-Go” projects.

The list was based upon the Hercules Capital Improvement Program list for projects that could go to construction in the next 24 months. It wasn’t a prioritized list.

There were eight project categories, including Community Development Block Grants for Infrastructure, schools, transit infrastructure, etc.

The list’s purpose was to demonstrate the magnitude of the projects and the potential jobs that could be created in the near term, as evidenced by responses from 400 cities nationwide.

That Hercules submitted the dog park and “Duck Pond Park” projects in the “Community Development Block Grants for Infrastructure” category doesn’t mean these projects will be funded, nor would they necessarily be Hercules priorities.

Other projects include construction of parking at the waterfront intermodal transit center; pedestrian path on San Pablo Avenue, connecting the Bay Trail to the Ridge Trail; improvements to Willow Avenue; street overlays, and construction of the Capitol Corridor Rail Station Track and Train Improvements.

Discussing these projects as “pork” or “writing to Santa” takes this list completely out of context.

Joe Eddy McDonald
Mayor of Hercules

Again, I am not sure that a letter to the editor was all that necessary (it only qualifies the argument and escalates the relationship). ‘Pork’ will always get bad press, no matter the quality of the pork, and regardless of what such spending may stimulate. Also not withstanding the existence of a pot of taxpayer funds being doled out to those who ask for it; might as well participate.