Yes, the City of Santa Clara has become “mature,” and many of our long-loved facilities are dealing with age. We are aware that no structure, highway or facility lasts forever. With your help and vote, your city council wants to update Santa Clara’s aging infrastructure.
It is a bit embarrassing that we have ignored maintenance past normal repair and replacement schedules. And frankly, it takes a city council with courage and commitment to ask voters to fund repair and replacement for these projects. It is not because the council has been spending unwisely. Needed infrastructure replacement and repairs go beyond the annual city budget.
That’s where residents can come in and pick up the slack to make our city the envy of the Bay Area.
You have probably driven around town and noticed many city buildings like City Hall, the fire stations, the library and parks and playgrounds. Many of these structures were built in the 1960s with bond money approved by residents.
In fact, the last bond measure that dealt with infrastructure items was passed by voters in 1959.
A lot has transpired in Santa Clara during those 70 years. It has now become apparent that councils over the last half-century neglected to plan for the future. We did not keep up with growth and increasing maintenance requirements.
The results are evident. Just one example is the International Swim Center at Central Park that is so old it should be called Methuselah’s pool.
Our major roads and streets are suffering from old age. They have reached the point where repairs are inadequate.
Okay, you get the point. So, how do we fix the problems and pay for repairs and rebuilding?
The most rational answer is to pass an infrastructure bond issue to restore our city. The city estimates it will take $600 million dollars to repair the streets, update the fire stations, replace the swim center and renovate a number of city properties. Even the pared down version approved by the city council Tuesday night is $400 million.
This is a lot of money and, yes, previous councils should have acted sooner, and yes, there is a pothole full of reasons no action has been taken till now.
However, this council is acting. And if you wish for your own property values to increase, you will want to support this infrastructure bond with vigor. It will be on the November ballot.
What a reasonable investment and insurance policy to insure the value of your property by investing in the health and quality of life in your community, your neighborhood and your city.
