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$20 million headed to private firm for ferry service to S.F.
The allocation was tucked away in a $286.5 billion federal transportation bill that was approved July 29. The bill has been criticized by tax watchdogs for being laden with pork. By some estimates, the bill contained 6,371 special projects, designed to curry favor with local constituencies. The grant for the Point Sonoma ferry is raising eyebrows. Normally, a monetary bonbon of this size would go to a public agency, said Steve Castleberry, chief executive of the Bay Area Water Transit Authority. Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, says she wrote a letter in support of initiating ferry service from the port, which is located on the Petaluma River at the Sonoma and Napa county lines. But Woolsey says she did not recommend that the money be assigned to the North Bay Ferry Service, a company created last year by Sausalito developer, Harvey "Skip" Berg. Berg, the former owner of Sears Point Raceway, contributed $4,000 to Woolsey's campaign in 2003-2004. He and his wife, Brenda Berg, gave another $4,000 to her campaign in May. "It surprised me to see $20 million awarded to a private company," said Assemblyman Joe Nation, D-San Rafael. "It's nothing I've heard of before." Nation has announced he will challenge Woolsey in the June 6, 2006 , Democratic party primary. Woolsey says the part of the legislation that designates North Bay Ferry Service as the recipient of the funds was added after House members had approved the bill. "It was something not on my priority list, it was on another congressman's priority list, Don Young from Alaska ," Woolsey said. Rep. Don Young, a Republican, is chairman of the House-Senate conference committee that negotiated the final bill. Despite being the third-least populous state, Alaska received the fourth most in transportation bill special projects, worth $941 million, thanks largely to Young's efforts. Berg said he traveled to Washington D.C. several times to meet with legislators, including Young and Sen. James Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, who is chairman of the Senate's Committee on Environment and Public Works. Berg contributed $2,000 to Young's campaign coffers in June. J.T. Wick, who works with Berg, also contributed $2,000 to Young's campaign at the same time. Berg said he also contributed $1,000 to Inhofe's campaign. "When you're back there trying to get something done, that's sort of the entry fee," Berg said. Neither Young nor Inhofe could be reached for comment. The Bay Area Water Transit Authority was waiting until environmental studies on the proposed ferry service could be completed before seeking funding, Castleberry said. An endangered bird, the California Clapper Rail, lives in the area where the ferry would travel. Environmentalists are also concerned about the effects of dredging, which would be required. Barbara Salzman, a Marin Audubon Society leader, says it will be impossible to operate ferries from Point Sonoma without hurting the Clapper Rail and other wildlife, by altering mud flats and tidal marshes. "I've been dealing with this issue for years," Salzman said. "It is not only disastrous environmentally, it would be a boondoggle for public money." Berg, however, said that all the talk about politics is obscuring the real point: that a Point Sonoma ferry service could combine well with an envisioned commuter rail service between Cloverdale and San Rafael . "People will be able to travel by rail to the port and then take the ferry around the entire bay," Berg said. "That's going to reduce traffic on Highway 101 through Sonoma and Marin by taking those people off the highway." Water Transit Authority studies have indicated that as many as 1,300 passengers a day might ride a Port Sonoma ferry, if adequate parking were available, Castleberry said. Woolsey said that Berg will have to partner with a public agency, such as the Water Transit Authority or the Golden Gate Bridge District, to get the federal money. Berg disagrees, although he said he is considering doing just that. Berg is to receive $5 million over four years. The money is earmarked for the construction of a ferry terminal and the purchase of ferry boats. Possible destinations for the ferry include San Francisco , Oakland and the San Francisco Giants' SBC Park . The idea of ferrying people to the ballpark irks Salzman. "We're going to destroy all of that habitat, effect all this wildlife and give $20 million to private interests? It's outrageous," Salzman said. Projects proposed by Berg in the past have hit brick walls. Berg sued several Ross Town Council members after they rejected his proposal to build five homes on land adjacent to Natalie Coffin Green Park . Berg also struck out with a proposal to build 2,552 homes and almost 3 million square feet of commercial space on Hamilton Air Force Base. "I remember Skip Berg when he tried to develop Hamilton and was unsuccessful," Salzman said. "I wish him the same luck."
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