San Joaquin County Supervisor Robert Rickman – who represents the Escalon area on the county panel in District 5 – and members of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors joined partners from the San Joaquin County Council of Governments (SJCOG) and local cities last week for the annual OneVoice trip to Washington, DC. During this time, the OneVoice members met with federal elected officials and numerous federal agencies to advocate for the county’s fair share of resources, allocations, and grants. These meetings took place over several days in the nation’s capital and included requests for more than $196 million in funding for local priority projects.
These projects included the County’s top priority project of the Grant Line Road Corridor Improvement. The project is critical to improving air quality and congestion, improving safety, and improving the quality of life for residents of that area. The delegation also asked for funding for the State Route 99/120 Connector project to improve safety and traffic flow on this important corridor in San Joaquin County.
“As we have seen unprecedented growth in south county, many of our top priorities for the county are centered in that area,” commented Supervisor Rickman. “The Board is committed to securing resources for these improvements to ensure accessibility, improve traffic patterns and safety along these corridors. Public safety and infrastructure are two essential local government services. Thanks to Measure K tax revenue and development fees, we can provide local revenue to match state and federal funds to complete projects that impact our communities and quality of life.”
Supervisors Tom Patti and Steve Ding were able to meet with the Army Corps of Engineers to advocate for common sense water solutions for all Californians in their roles as the County’s representatives of the Delta Counties Coalition. They stressed the importance of the Delta to the economy, communities, and the region.
While in DC, the Board members also remembered and paid tribute to San Joaquin K9 officer Duke, who was killed in the line of duty in February 2023. K9 Duke was recognized by Deputy Stewart and 25 others who were there to honor Duke’s service and sacrifice. The recognition was held at the National Peace Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.
“As a retired law enforcement officer, I was proud to stand beside our local deputies as we paused to remember and honor the service and sacrifice of K9 Duke. Law enforcement officers make sacrifices that few see or understand to keep our communities safe, and it was my privilege to be there to represent the people of San Joaquin County to say thank you for their courage and commitment to public safety,” said Rickman.
The delegation members making the OneVoice trip said they were greeted warmly at each of the federal offices. Each member of Congress thanked the Board and city and local leaders for their willingness to work together to accomplish regional goals.
Large infrastructure projects, issues like homelessness, water conservation, and economic development, must be regional goals with regional solutions, the delegation members stressed.
The annual OneVoice trip and those making up the delegation serves as an example of how local leaders are committed to working together for the good of the people of San Joaquin County.
