By Nathanial Bates
I initially met Mr. Carter in 1972 as a former Georgia Governor seeking election to the presidency during a U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual meeting in Milwaukee, Wis. He was one of several speakers discussing urban and rural problems facing the nation. After his presentation, I had the pleasure of taking a photo and speaking with him for several minutes on a personal level regarding his candidacy.
Later during his campaign, I was reintroduced to an old friend Assemblymember Ben Brown of Atlanta who I became acquainted with while attending a National Black Conference of Elected Officials hosted by California Speaker of the House, Honorable Willie Brown. As an Atlanta Assemblymember, Mr. Brown was assigned to gather as much support for the Carter presidential campaign as possible.
As the campaign unfolded, few gave Mr. Carter much of a chance to win the democratic nomination. However, the June primary proved many wrong when he won the nomination.
After the nomination for president, Assemblymember Brown became one of the lead campaigners in organizing the “Carter for President” ticket. Soon thereafter, I was requested to meet with the assemblymember in San Francisco to discuss strategies for my participation in the campaign.
History reveals President Carter and Mondale ticket won in a close election. For my efforts, I along with three of my guests were invited by President Carter to my first inauguration in Washington D.C., where I again met the President-elect.
On or about 1977, California State Assemblymember John Knox who represented Richmond approached me to ascertain if I was acquainted with anyone in the White House that perhaps had any influence with the Carter Administration. I mentioned I was acquainted with the president as well as Mr. Brown who after the election had been appointed special adviser to the president. As a result I contacted Mr. Brown to set up meetings with staff at the White House, Department of Transportation and Sacramento Congressman Ben Johnson, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Once the dates and times were secured, San Francisco State Sen. John Forman, Knox and I were off to present our case for funding of a freeway from Albany to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.
The White House and various committees were attentive, cooperative while carefully reviewing our presentations. Once we concluded our arguments for the freeway, a promise was made in which they would respond within two weeks.
True to their word, within two weeks we were notified the Carter Administration had approved the project with 90 percent funding for the construction cost. Thus, the state would have to contribute only 10 percent of the funding. I question as to where the 10 percent state funding would come from and was advised it would come from the various toll bridges in the Bay Area.
While it should be noted Assemblymember John Knox was the spearhead and leader in securing funding for the freeway and certainly should have his name associated with the project, it should also be noted the significant participation by President Jimmy Carter and his administration.
Thus, has been my strong disappointed by the Biden Administration as well as the State Democratic and Congressional elected representatives in not providing leadership in not naming the freeway in honor of both Assemblymember John Knox and Jimmy Carter. This action could have easily been done by the state legislatures or by an executive order from either Gov. Newson or President Biden.
This past year Mayor Eduardo Martinez and I presented letters to our democratic elected state and federal officials requesting the name change, which was ignored. With a new administration being sworn in this month, just maybe President Donald Trump will be more receptive, respectful and responsible in responding to such a request.
In the meantime, may President Jimmy Carter rest in peace as we mourn the loss of a great individual who not only contributed significantly to the USA but globally as well.
Bates is a former mayor and eight-term City Councilmember who was first elected to the City Council in 1967 and most recently served in January 2023.
