SCR 193 (Emperor Norton Tunnel) Clears First Vote, 13–0
Hello, there!
Senate Concurrent Resolution 193 — introduced last week by California State Senator Scott Wiener — would designate the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge tunnel through Yerba Buena Island as the Emperor Norton Tunnel. The Emperor Norton Trust is the citizen sponsor of this resolution.
In order to succeed in the legislature, SCR 193 must pass a series of four votes.
The first of these votes was held yesterday by Senate Transportation Committee.
Senator Wiener, a member of the Committee, had proposed that the Committee consider SCR 193 as a "consent" measure — meaning unanimous approval with no need for presentation or debate.
All 8 members present voted Yes, and the 5 non-present members sustained that decision — which means that SCR 193 formally passed on a unanimous 13–0 vote.
This handy win is an encouraging early sign.
After a brief check-in at the Senate Appropriations Committee to confirm that no state funds are attached to SCR 193, the resolution shortly will move to the Senate floor for the second of four votes. We'll publish the date of that vote once it's been set.
Assuming that all goes well in the Senate, the Transportation and floor vote sequence will repeat itself in the Assembly.
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AMONG THOSE who voted Yes yesterday were Senator Jesse Arreguin and Senator Tim Grayson.
Arreguin's Bay-adjacent district includes Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda. Grayson's district is immediately to the east of Arreguin's.
Between them, Arreguin and Grayson represent virtually the entire East Bay — from the water to Antioch, and from Hayward to Hercules.
It's hard to imagine this kind of East Bay elected support for an Emperor Norton naming tribute on the Bay Bridge 20 years ago.
Thank you, Senators!
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IF YOU ARE a California resident...
Please email your state Senator and Assemblyperson urging them to support and — if possible — co-author SCR 193.
Our Action Guide includes all the resources you'll need — including a link to a handy Find Your Rep tool, if you're not entirely sure who your state electeds are.
It may be that your Senator is on the Senate Transportation Committee (roster here). If so, now would be a great time to send a quick email to thank them for supporting SCR 193 and urge them to rally their Senate and Assembly colleagues to do the same.
One vote down and 3 to go — please keep pushing!
Cheers!
John Lumea
The Emperor Norton Trust