URGENT ACTION NEEDED — SCR 193 (Emperor Norton Tunnel) in Limboland

Hello, there.

An apt longer title for this update might be:

SCR 193 Is In the Assembly — But It's Stuck at Reception and The Only Person With the Power to Wave It Inside...Hasn't (Yet)

Notwithstanding the unanimous support for SCR 193 in the California State Senate, the opportunity for the legislature to make the Emperor Norton Tunnel a reality remains extremely fragile.

With the legislative session closing on August 31 — a week from this coming Monday — it's a do or die moment for our historic resolution to designate the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge tunnel through Yerba Buena Island as THE EMPEROR NORTON TUNNEL.

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Here's the state of play:

In order to move forward, SCR 193 needs a vote by the Assembly Transportation Committee.

But, rather than being referred directly to Assembly Transportation following this past Thursday's 39–0 passage by the full Senate, SCR 193 — having arrived at the Assembly — is being "held at desk" and is "pending referral" to the committee.

Why is SCR 193 in this limbo state?

Because, under Assembly rules, policy committees are not to meet between August 17 and August 31.

Under these same rules, only one person — the Assembly Speaker — has the power to "unrule" this rule and move SCR 193 OFF the desk by referring SCR 193 to Assembly Transportation and directing that committee to take up the resolution.

If Speaker Robert Rivas is to exercise his prerogative and refer SCR 193 to Assembly Transportation, he needs to make that decision within the next couple of days, so that the committee can meet early next week and SCR 193 has time — assuming passage by the committee — to reach the Assembly floor and receive a final vote by the close of the legislative session on August 31.

If the Speaker does NOT refer — and if (therefore) Assembly Transportation does NOT meet and vote on SCR 193 next week — the resolution will die at the Assembly desk.

So: It is vitally important that Speaker Rivas hear ASAP from supporters of SCR 193 urging him to refer SCR 193 to the Assembly Transportation Committee — and to facilitate the passage of SCR 193 in the current session.

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Especially if you are a California resident (but even if you're not)...

Please, if you haven't already: Write a joint email ASAP to

Assembly Speaker ROBERT RIVAS
assemblymember.rrivas@assembly.ca.gov 

Assembly Transportation Committee chair LORI WILSON
assemblymember.wilson@assembly.ca.gov 

cc: JULIUS McINTYRE (the Speaker's transportation policy analyst)
julius.mcintyre@asm.ca.gov

• Express your strong support for SCR 193.
• Focus the Speaker and Transportation chair's attention on the unanimous support for SCR 193 in the Senate — and on the unprecedented, historic opportunity of this "Emperor Norton Tunnel" naming on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Bay Bridge and its tunnel this coming November.
• Urge the Speaker to refer SCR 193 for a hearing and vote by the Assembly Transportation Committee as early as possible the week of August 24.
• Urge the Speaker AND the Transportation chair to schedule timely committee and floor votes that would facilitate the passage of SCR 193 in the current session that closes on August 31.

The Emperor Norton Trust's SCR 193 Action Guide has everything you need to send this email — including an email link to a pre-addressed sample email.

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We are confident that, IF Assemblymembers are provided with opportunities to vote on SCR 193, they will back the Senate, making Sacramento 4 for 4 on this measure — and the Emperor Norton Tunnel a reality.

BUT...

It is Speaker Rivas who holds the opportunity in his hands now. If he doesn't move, then neither will the resolution.

Many thanks for your ongoing support and help in this righteous effort.

JOHN LUMEA
The Emperor Norton Trust