Following Different Roads on Who Should Get Highway Work

* Why is (Sen.) Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) allowed to use space in The Times (Commentary, “Caltrans Engineers to Contractors--Our Way or the Highway,” May 8) to promote and lobby for her special-interest groups?

While she normally spends her time with builders and big-time developers, this time she is concerned with the plight of the local engineering firms and their inability to bid on state jobs. Specifically, she mentions Robert Bein, William Frost & Associates, big-time entertainers for (former officials of the) Rancho Margarita Water District.

Give me a break! Is Marian really concerned about the lack of jobs for our middle-class constituency, or is she once again pushing for her Mercedes-driving lackeys?

CLIFFORD A. CARD

Irvine

* I was very glad to read something I had wondered about since I arrived here three weeks ago. Why is Caltrans everywhere, and why don’t I see private engineers and surveyors doing highway work? I’m a land surveyor and party chief from Hartford County, Md., and have worked in the private sector for 12 years. I agree with Sen. Bergeson, many private firms are more sufficient and in some cases more accurate.

Hartford County and Maryland contract most work, although they reserve final approval. I can say from the surveying end that I accomplished with two people--myself and an instrument man--what the state needed four or more people to do and, in some cases, took longer. The private firms are used to scrambling for work and depend on a good reputation for getting more, thus are more streamlined, especially in communication between the office and field crews.

Open bidding for state contracts will help the economy and maybe get the roads open sooner. Maryland doesn’t get many earthquakes but we did survive one severe winter, and private firms will be asked to help put some roads back in service or get improvements.

Thank you, Sen. Bergeson, for your comments. It needed saying.

VINCENT COSTANZI

Anaheim

* Desperate times require desperate measures.

This is the excuse used by those whose cause is almost lost. Frequently, the desperate measures include the big lie. State Sen. Marian Bergeson’s ongoing effort to funnel tax dollars to private firms to work on state contracts without any competitive bidding is the latest example.

Many years ago, the people of this state overwhelmingly approved Article VII of the state Constitution. This created a merit civil service system, along with a body of work which the state government was assigned to perform to avoid a political spoils system which wastes money and invites corruption.

During the past four years, the Wilson Administration, spearheaded by legislation authored by Sen. Bergeson, has given $600 million in state contracts, without any competitive bidding, to private firms to design our freeways and highways. Historically, this function has been performed by engineers employed by Caltrans at half the cost.

Five times in the last four years the courts have told Gov. Wilson that these giveaway political patronage contracts violate the Constitution and the law.

Urged on by Sen. Bergeson, Gov. Wilson has ignored those court orders, continuing to waste tax money while his political appointees face contempt of court charges. However, the noose is finally tightening on these disgraceful, wasteful contracts.

Bergeson’s frenzied reaction was to introduce a proposed constitutional amendment which would exempt Caltrans from the Constitution; draft legislation which would require government agencies to charge artificially high prices if they can do the job cheaper than a private company; and write articles to The Times which aren’t even within hailing distance of the truth.

Contrary to her assertion, the Constitution does not prohibit Caltrans from contracting with private firms to perform freeway design and construction inspection. It simply prohibits giveaway contracts at inflated rates while the governor reduces the Caltrans staff which should be performing the job.

Caltrans engineers have been designing our freeways for decades. They know how to do it cheaper, better and faster than private firms, many of which are based in other states.

Caltrans currently has a hiring list of 2,500 California engineers waiting to be employed, but the governor is actually reducing Caltrans’ staff so others can do its work.

More than 40% of Caltrans’ employees are minorities, a much higher percentage than private firms.

BRUCE J. BLANNING

Executive Assistant

Professional Engineers in

California Government