General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJeffJackson (NC Dem for US Senate) on importance of passing infrastructure bill:
Jeff, its about water.
Thats what I love about mayors - they always cut to the chase.
People tell you what they want. Mayors tell you what theyve *gotta* have.
We just finished eight town halls in counties east of I-95, and we heard a clear theme from the mayors who joined us: water, sewer, and broadband.
Yes roads, yes bridges - but water, sewer, and broadband. Theyre overlooked because theyre underground, but theyre crucial to creating so many other opportunities.
You can lump them together and call them subsurface infrastructure, but its really about laying an economic foundation. And if youre missing one piece, youre not going to build much on top of it.
Example: People talk about the lack of affordable rental options. Then the mayor says, We cant build an apartment complex on a well and a septic tank. Gotta have water and sewer. Thats whats holding us back.
Then someone asks, How can we keep young people from leaving? Before I can answer, a mayor says, Cant keep em here without broadband. Just not possible. Gotta have it.
These things are expensive, and lots of our rural counties dont have the tax base to really build out water and sewer on their own. They need state and federal partners to do it.
But heres the thing: We spent $2 trillion in Afghanistan. And the vast majority of that was unnecessary.
If just 0.5% of those funds had found their way to the rural counties east of I-95 (or west of Asheville, for that matter), youd have a brand new economic foundation across the entire region. Water, sewer, and broadband would be strong enough to support all kinds of business growth, from entrepreneurs to major industries.
Youd be looking at a dramatic upgrade in the economy of the region. Lives would be much better, and probably longer.
And thats roughly the amount that were slated to get as a state if the bipartisan infrastructure bill passes. But heres the thing: Its going to be spread across the whole state.
(Incidentally, all three of our states GOP Senate candidates said they would have voted against it - because its too big of an investment.)
Bottom-line: If this infrastructure bill passes, were going to be able to make large investments in our state. Thats a good thing and its going to mean a lot for a lot of people. But were still going to have major unmet infrastructure needs, particularly in rural counties. Finding ways to help those counties invest in their economic foundations is going to remain a priority.
And that means mayors need to keep telling senators what they need, and we need senators who will listen.
- Jeff Jackson
Jackson just posted this on FB, probably Twitter, too.
KNR
blm
(113,013 posts)and to the point.
Niagara
(7,565 posts)This infrastructure bill is imperative.
blm
(113,013 posts)the nations entire future depends on it passing. Democrats cant ignore this and expect to win elections in 2022-24.
Niagara
(7,565 posts)Is going to find this boring, or at least I certainly hope they don't. Generally, we know or should know how imperative this bill is.
While I was reading your OP, it reminded me of a lesson that I read once and I currently can't find it. I'll try again tomorrow after I've had some sleep.
blm
(113,013 posts)The only way they can find interest in it is if they can use it to fuel a rift between Democrats.
Demsrule86
(68,469 posts)it makes me really angry. It is an important bill and if it doesn't pass we will undoubtedly lose the House. We may anyway of course, but at least give Democrats in moderate districts a fighting chance. We lose the House and we get nothing going forward.
Poiuyt
(18,116 posts)It's about time we're doing this.
BTW, if we hadn't been neglecting it for so long, we wouldn't need such a big bill. But we didn't, so we do.