SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) released the following statement on the Governor’s veto of Assembly Bill 3005, the Expedited Dam Safety for Silicon Valley Act:
“I am deeply disappointed to see AB 3005 returned with a veto from Governor Newsom.
“My constituents and the greater Silicon Valley region are at risk of a catastrophic flood from a large earthquake due to the current conditions of the Anderson Dam. AB 3005 would have expedited the dam’s seismic retrofit project and was vital to ensuring the water supply and environmental benefits for the region expeditiously.
“The safety of my constituents is my highest priority. I want to thank the bill’s sponsor, Valley Water, many of my colleagues in the State Assembly and Senate, and also our Congressional delegation, all of whom worked hard over the past several months to craft and pass this important bill. We will be discussing next steps in the weeks and months ahead, to continue our work to protect our region from a catastrophic dam failure.”
The Governor’s veto message can be viewed here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/AB-3005.pdf
“There are no words to express my deep disappointment for the Governor’s veto of AB 3005,” stated Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel). “If the Anderson dam fails, it would be an absolute catastrophe for the residents of Morgan Hill and Silicon Valley. The measure was cooperatively drafted through regional efforts to maintain water supply and flood mitigation, and to ensure the protection of local residents, businesses and the environment. This project must move forward to ensure the safety of the region.”
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Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) represents California’s 30th Assembly District, which includes all or portions of the cities and towns of Aromas, Big Sur, Chualar, Gilroy, Greenfield, Gonzales, Hollister, King City, Morgan Hill, Salinas, San Martin, San Juan Bautista, Soledad, Spreckels, and Watsonville.