Poll: Feds should fund river dredging work

Readers in an online Argus-Courier poll thought the federal government should continue to pay to dredge the Petaluma River and were opposed to a plan to make private river users help fund the project.|

Readers in an online Argus-Courier poll thought the federal government should continue to pay to dredge the Petaluma River and were opposed to a plan to make private river users help fund the project.

About 58 percent said the dredging project is the responsibility of the federal government.

Here are some of the comments:

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“The Feds are supposed to dredge, now they want more of our money. The state is supposed to fund our schools, but they want more of our money. The State and the county and the city are supposed to maintain our roads, now they want more of our money. Other than paying big fat salaries and unrealistic retirement benefits, what are they doing with the money they already get from us? Oh wait, there is none left after the salaries and benefits to fund the work that they are paid to do.”

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“The fact that the Petaluma River has suffered in negligence on its dredging is a testament to how very little those elected to the House of Representatives from here for decades actually care or cared about their constituents. Either that or they’re just incompetent. Or both.”

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“Should be that both of the above are responsible for upkeep. Especially commercial use.”

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“As long as it is ‘help’ pay. The federal government must pick up the bulk of the payment.”

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“The Feds should take care of it, but there should be a fee to those who use it commercially to help pay.”

for bridge maintenance, dock work, beautification, etc. Everyone should pay their share..”

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“Usable waterways are one of the infrastructure items that are and have always been the government’s responsibility to maintain (if they weren’t paralyzed). The commercial users are making far less due to the lack of dredging, and charging them for dredging may well put them out of Petaluma or out of business altogether. This is just another blow-back from the GOP’s absolute unwillingness to fund necessary services.”

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“The Feds should take care of it, but there should be a fee to those who use it commercially to help pay for bridge maintenance, dock work, beautification, etc. Everyone should pay their share.”

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“We pay taxes for such a service. The boaters will just go elsewhere. I have not brought my boat into the turning basin because of the hazards. If the city wants boaters to sail in for the weekend, they need to be accommodating. In the meantime, we will go to the Delta or Jack London Square.”

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“It’s the job of the Army Corps of Engineers, and they should do their job.”

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“Commercial users ought to pay to play. Recreational-users’ impacts on the river are much less, unless you create a fee that would also help pay for the trestle’s restoration.”

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