A Balancing ACT: Northern California and Southern California Chapters Weigh in on California Budget
In May, California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed cutting $600 million from the state’s Active Transportation Program, which funds pedestrian and micromobility planning and infrastructure. As it stands, the state is looking for resources to pull from to close a $45 billion dollar budget deficit and, just like last year, conflict over pulling funds from the Active Transportation Program versus the highway account arose. In response, ACT’s Northern California and Southern California Chapters penned a joint letter to the Assembly and Senate’s respective budget committees on behalf of their 380+ members expressing their strong opposition to cutting funds from the Active Transportation Program. The letter raised California’s climate goal of achieving net zero carbon pollution by cutting air pollution by 71%, greenhouse gas emissions by 85%, and gas consumption by 94%. It also highlighted how cutting funds from the Active Transportation Program would work against these interests.
ACT received a response from Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez’s office, informing us that both the Assembly and the Senate reject the Governor’s cuts to the Active Transportation Program. While it is not clear how the Governor will respond to this line item and what will eventually happen with the Active Transportation Program, the fact that both chambers are united on this issue is a promising sign. California members are encouraged to stay informed on this issue as it progresses.