Alameda Creates Stimulus Wish List

KCBS
February 12, 2009

ALAMEDA, Calif. (KCBS)  -- As Congress works toward a final vote on the president's economic stimulus bill, Bay Area cities are already lining up for a piece of the $789 billion package.

Bay Area cities have turned in requests to fund dozens of projects. Alameda’s list includes $750,000 to repave basketball and tennis courts at Washington Park, along with two other parks. That would be welcome news for players.

”The ground is kind of hard and messed up. It messes up our shoes, and we get hurt on the ground sometimes. If it were a fresh basketball court it would be good because more people would come,” said one basketball player.

Critics wonder whether projects like that will really create jobs, but East Bay Congressmember Barbara Lee says she would like to see even more spending.

”To start under a trillion dollars for me was not a good thing, because here we end up now with under $800 billion,” said Lee. “My problem with the overall bill was that the tax cuts are too deep, and it’s not enough money.”

Some of the larger Bay Area requests include $300 million for a parking garage at Oakland International Airport, and $100 million for BART and high-speed rail expansion in San Jose.