The Conversation / Public works projects

Dean Cortopassi, a wealthy Stockton area farmer and businessman, is sponsoring a ballot initiative that would require a public vote for any state public works project that would cost more than $2 billion.

Last Sunday, Dan Morain wrote about Cortopassi and his plans to put the initiative on next year’s ballot (“Not just another rich guy with an idea”; Forum, Sept. 27).

Morain wrote that Cortopassi, who has spent $4 million to gather signatures for the ballot measure, says the initiative is not targeted at one specific project, but Cortopassi “clearly dislikes” the plan to build high-speed rail and twin tunnels through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

For the Conversation, we asked readers: What do you think of Cortopassi’s idea? Should every major public works and infrastructure project be put to a separate a vote?

Steve Holderness – We live in a democratic republic for a reason; this is the reason. This initiative is not a good idea. I now live in Arkansas where there is too much direct democracy. It hamstrings the ability of our government to do its job. We elect representatives for a reason; if you don’t like their decisions, vote them out of office.

Carl Ramstrom – How about an initiative that ends all initiatives, once and for all? These things are always worded in such a way that the average person has no way of knowing what the initiative is really aimed at.

Maureen Rowland – Anti-taxers have already left our infrastructure in a dilapidated inadequate condition.

Steve Neill – All spending should be transparent, including all expenses for every elected office. Our earned money is taken in taxes, and we should know where it’s spent.

Andy Alexis – Say goodbye to our infrastructure if government can’t borrow the huge amounts of money for such projects as the highway system or the California aqueduct.

This story was originally published October 3, 2015 at 5:00 PM with the headline "The Conversation / Public works projects."