08/24/2021
It seems like only yesterday I had to challenge misinformation, half truths, and untruths offered by my recent opponents as well as organizations outside of Collingswood who want to exert influence in town.
Here we go again.
The charge: that I am against President Biden's Build Back Better agenda because I support immediate action on a $1 TRILLION infrastructure bill that is ready to be passed and would support our town, our state, our country, and alsonthe union workers I represent.
Here is my response to their post.
--RL
I see the silly season of half truths continues. Not for a minute will I apologize for working for , the Laborers' International Union of North America, a progressive and aggressive labor union, the union with the most diverse membership in all of the building trades, the union who has partnered with cities and non-profits in establishing innovative local hire programs, re-entry programs, and a guarantee that workers receive a living wage, benefits, and a safe workplace for their labor. I won't appologize for an apprenticeship program that offers members a free education (no student loans!), a union that has been on the forefront of immigration reform and, yes, infrastructure investment.
Now, once again, lets talk about your dishonesty with the people of Collingswood.
Here is LIUNA's position which also happens to be my position. I think it is risky and reckless to high jack an historic, $1 trillion bipartisan-supported infrastructure bill in order to create leverage for a $3.5 trillion reconcilliation packakage that I (wait for it) also support.
The fact is that this infrastructure bill is more than three times as large as the largest infrastructure program ever passed and would provide in New Jersey alone at least $13.5 billion in funds to repair our roads, bridges ($7.9 billion), public transportation ($4.1 billion), build a network of EV charging stations ($104 million with a chance at $2.5 billion more), deliver clean drinking water ($1 billion), prepare for more impacts of climate change, cyber attacks, extreme weather events ($35.5 million), and more. Oh, and based on FHWA studies that shows that 13,000 jobs are supported for every $1 billion invested in infrastructure, New Jersey stands to gain 175,000 jobs. Remember Amazon HQ2 and cities climbing all over each other to offer bigger and bigger tax breaks? That was for 25,000 jobs. This is 175,000.
New Jersey has more than 6,700 structurally deficient bridges, residents pay an extra $713 a year in transportation costs due to disrepair, towns like Collingswood pay more in federal taxes than they get back in support, and we have a single 111 year old rail tunnel into New York that is already a nuisance and could be a tragedy. China spends 5.5% of their GDP on infrastructure and we spend .5%. We all deserve better, we deserve more, and an agreement is on the table--with Democratic and Republican support--and should be passed now. Get it done and then let's move on to the reconcilliation bill which is also, in my mind, desperately needed but harder to pass. Something, something bird in the hand beats two in the something, something.
Last thing I will say, even though I don't agree with the strategy to hold up the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to also pass a wider package, I understand it. I think it is too risky of a gamble, and others do not. Plain and simple.
What I WON'T do is spin a lie for political gain. We COULD be on the same page of passing both the $1 trillion infrastructure bill and the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill but you choose to make villains of people who are 95% on your side but disagree with the process.
On a professional level, I support my union and its members who want to Build Back Better by literally building better. The infrastructure bill means food on their table, a home, college for their kids. They don't have the luxury of exercising patience while people play a game of chicken with their careers and lives. Happy to join them to spread that message.
On a commissioner level, Collingswood needs more federal (and state) support to repair and modenize our own infrastructure. Our needs way exceed our means. This legislation would offer more than we ever received ever before. I just don't want to risk it when a bipartisan agreement is there for the taking.
Keeping my commissioner hat on: always happy to talk issues. [email protected].
