SCR 193 (Emperor Norton Tunnel): Delayed — Not Dead
Hello, there.
"Hope against hope" and all that — but it's been clear from the moment the California State Senate unanimously passed SCR 193 on August 20 that the Assembly leadership had no real interest in expediting the resolution and facilitating its passage in the 2025–2026 legislative session that ended late Monday.
So, while it's extremely disappointing that the session came and went without SCR 193's receiving a single vote in the Assembly, it's not surprising. The measure had no champions in the Assembly echelons where it would have needed them.
But, it is for precisely this reason — the Assembly never voted on SCR 193 — that the current situation cannot — and must not — be characterized as a "loss" or a "defeat."
To the contrary: With 9 organizational endorsements and unanimous passage in the Senate, The Emperor Norton Trust's Emperor Norton Tunnel proposal is in an exponentially better position — stronger, more viable — than it was only 4 months ago, when it had none of these things to its credit.
On the legislative side, this is due largely to the efforts of two people in addition to Senator Scott Wiener, the lead author of the resolution: (1) the Senator's longtime district director Jeff Sparks, who had the vision to see the potential in our proposal and who made the case that led the Senator to take this up; and (2) the Senator's transportation policy analyst Raayan Mohtashemi, who provided us with timely updates at every stage and sound advice on how to respond most fruitfully in real time.
Next stop: 2027!
The Trust now is working to ensure that SCR 193 is reintroduced in the legislature as soon as possible after the beginning of the 2027–2028 session in December 2026.
The petition title has been duly updated: CA State Lawmakers: Pass SCR 193 (Emperor Norton Tunnel) in 2027
Of course, we won't be able to finalize the lead author and co-authors who will carry this forward until after the election in November.
We'll be using the extra lead time to seek additional endorsements. We hope to be able to attract additional co-authors as well — including from the East Bay.
And we'll be looking to help those "Assembly leaders" better understand why Emperor Norton is relevant — and why honoring him is important.
If you have intelligence about any of this — legislative process; possible allies in the legislature; prospective endorsers — please drop us a line at john@EmperorNortonTrust.org.
Thanks to Assemblymember Catherine Stefani for co-authoring SCR 193.
Thanks to the organizations who have endorsed this project.
And many thanks to all who follow us here and elsewhere for your continued support of this effort to secure a long-overdue naming tribute for Emperor Norton — and a Nortonian talisman of regional civic memory and identity — on the Bay Bridge.
Best,
JOHN LUMEA
The Emperor Norton Trust