BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 44|
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CONSENT
Bill No: SCR 44
Author: DeSaulnier (D)
Amended: 6/18/13
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 9-0, 6/25/13
AYES: DeSaulnier, Gaines, Galgiani, Hueso, Lara, Liu, Pavley,
Roth, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Beall, Cannella
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Joe Eddy McDonald Memorial Overcrossing
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution names the Willow Avenue Overcrossing
over State Route (SR) 4 in Contra Costa County as the "Joe Eddy
McDonald Memorial Overcrossing."
ANALYSIS : This resolution is a tribute to the life of Joe
Eddy McDonald, who spearheaded a campaign to make SR 4 safer by
widening and dividing the highway in western Contra Costa
County.
Joe Eddy McDonald demonstrated a lifetime of public service and
a commitment to his community.
Mr. McDonald attended East Bay schools, graduating from Richmond
Union High School in 1964. Subsequently, he enlisted in the
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SCR 44
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United States Navy and served for two years. Mr. McDonald
received a degree in Business Administration from Contra Costa
College and completed professional development courses offered
by Duke and Harvard University's Schools of Professional
Studies. In 1966, Mr. McDonald began his career with the United
States Postal Service as a letter carrier. Shortly thereafter,
he was promoted to Postal Clerk and ultimately to Postmaster of
Hercules and Rodeo, where he served the last 19 years of his
career, retiring in 2002.
In 1994, Mr. McDonald lost his daughter and niece in a tragic
car accident on
SR 4. Mr. McDonald and his wife spearheaded a campaign to widen
and divide SR 4 in western Contra Costa County to keep others
from suffering the same tragic fate as his family. He collected
signatures, made presentations to governmental agencies, and
organized a community walk to the Hercules City Council meeting
on behalf of the project. Mr. McDonald's advocacy resulted in
securing $86 million for the project, and SR 4 is safer today
because of his efforts.
Upon retirement from the U.S. Postal Service, Mr. McDonald
served on the Hercules Planning Commission from 2002 to 2006.
He was elected to the Hercules City Council in 2006, serving as
Vice Mayor in 2008 and Mayor in 2009.
Mr. Whitehurst died at the age of 67 on June 9, 2012, at his
home in Hercules. He is survived by his wife, daughter,
granddaughter, and a host of other extended family members and
friends.
This resolution designates the Willow Avenue Overcrossing over
SR 4 in Contra Costa County as the "Joe Eddy McDonald Memorial
Overcrossing." The resolution further requests that the
Department of Transportation erect appropriate signs upon
receiving donations from non-state sources to cover the costs.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/8/13)
City of Hercules
Black American Political Action Committee of Contra Costa County
SCR 44
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JJA:d 8/8/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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