Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Dear Oakland City Council,

The Sierra Club Northern Alameda County group strongly urges Oakland to continue to sell Measure U bonds to fund street repaving and improvement projects in Oakland. As a leading environmental organization, we understand the critical importance of investing in sustainable infrastructure that benefits both people and the planet. Oakland’s high traffic fatality rate and severe injury rate are unacceptable, and Measure U bond sales will fund street repaving that will reduce traffic injuries and fatalities. Measure U bond sales will also reduce financial risk for Oakland. If we fail to maintain our streets and sidewalks, the current budget will not cover the costs of paving, street repair, and street safety improvements beyond 2024. Not only will the costs of repair compound, but unsafe streets will indirectly cost Oakland more money through increased emergency calls that strain the already overburdened police and fire departments that are facing budget cuts. Street repaving also reduces Oakland’s legal liability: from 2018 to 2023, Oakland paid $27 million to those injured in crashes caused by potholes. Unsafe streets and potholes pose a risk to public safety, create costly repairs down the line, and continue to destabilize the city’s finances. It is essential that we prioritize these critical infrastructure projects to ensure the well-being of Oakland.

As an environmental organization, we are particularly concerned about the impacts of poor infrastructure on our community's air quality and overall health. By prioritizing Measure U bond sales, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging active transportation and public transit.

The Sierra Club Northern Alameda County group strongly recommends that the Oakland City Council continue to sell Measure U bonds to fund street repaving and improvement projects. In addition to Measure U bond sales, we urge the City Council to consider innovative financing solutions to solve the budget crisis such as parking fees, which can help increase government revenue while encouraging environmentally friendly behaviors. These investments will improve public safety and promote sustainable transportation options that reduce our community's environmental footprint. By adopting a multi-modal transportation approach that prioritizes pedestrian, cyclist, and public transit infrastructure, we can create a safer, more livable city for all residents.

Thank you for your consideration.

Maxwell Davis, Chair
Sierra Club Northern Alameda County Group