“Right Thing to Do” in California

“What is the right thing to do?”  This question weighs on the mind of many of us as we adapt to changing conditions in the economy and the environment.  But very few of us are making decisions that determine what is the right thing to spend millions of dollars on.

The Secretary of Labor Hilary Solis is in the unique position of determining on a daily basis where the nation’s money should go.  How can available funds be used to help create jobs, improve people’ quality of life, address immediate catastrophe, and encourage citizens’ ingenuity?

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an $11,267,940 National Emergency Grant to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts following heavy storms that caused high winds and excessive precipitation throughout California from mid-December 2010 through early January 2011.

“Storms, flooding and mud flows have caused extensive damage to roads, wastewater treatment plants, trail bridges and trails throughout California,” said Secretary Solis. “Such events can exact a high toll from communities. Providing grant assistance to Californians to aid recovery is the right thing to do.”

Awarded to the California Employment Development Department, these funds will be used to create temporary jobs to assist recovery efforts following the damage caused by severe winter storms that occurred from Dec. 17, 2010, through Jan. 4, 2011.

What will be the right thing to do when those temporary jobs end?  Are there ways that this temporary problem solving could develop into something more permanent?