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Objectives
The Bay Planning Coalition (BPC) has initiated a campaign
to promote the protection, maintenance, and improvement of our
public infrastructure and reduce the potential for the massive
economic and environmental consequences and human suffering that
could arise from infrastructure failure.
The BPC,
with its collective expertise in business, land use, engineering,
regulatory issues, and environmental and construction-related
industries, is asking America’s business leaders to join us in
requiring better disaster preparation, planning, and investment,
and improve the risk-benefit decision-making by our government.
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Background
Natural disasters are inevitable; yet the magnitude of human suffering and environmental and economic loss can be controlled through adequate preparation. Neglect of public infrastructure not only creates an unacceptable risk on a personal scale to our families, homes, businesses, but on a macro scale, it threatens our economy, our environment, our communities, our very way of life.
Many disaster scenarios are predictable. An August 2001 report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identified the three most likely destructive events that could strike the United States: 1) terrorism in New York City, 2) a hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast, and 3) a major earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area. Midway through 2005, two of the three events have now occurred, and have proven we are not adequately prepared.
Experience tells us recovery is uncertain and costs are extraordinary. Long after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, a moderate seismic event with its epicenter 50 miles from San Francisco, reconstruction of the Bay Bridge, the Bay Area’s urban lifeline remains unfinished and rebuilding costs – in the billions of dollars – as yet untold. Meanwhile, water supplies for all of California remain imperiled, along with energy supplies, flood control, transportation, and many other essential public services.
As responsible business leaders, it is incumbent upon us to act in the best interests of our employees, investors, and customers by promoting adequate and timely investment in our public works now.
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Why BPC
We appreciate our geographic and environmental vulnerabilities.
We understand our public infrastructure weaknesses.
We are the ones who will be called upon to perform the emergency repairs and rebuild the roads, levees, pipelines, etc.
We recognize the current gaps in government planning, permitting and funding.
We are a 21-year old business organization that has successfully forged partnerships between industry, government and non-profits.
We are convinced that business can lead a coalition to achieve INFRASTRUCTURE SAFETY.
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