This article in today’s Bee makes a good point that now that the ridership on mass transit is going up due to gas prices, is not a good time to cut funding for it; rather raising it might be more in order as the increased ridership could go away as fast as it came if the new riders find the service shoddy.
The continued progress on the Railyards is heartening, as this new money indicates—though the city did not support it as their priority—making another point about the mayoral election, which the challenger is sure to raise.
The County budget moves towards completion and with this continuing deficit, the budget of the Parkway, already suffering under a multi-year maintenance deficit of about $1.5 million annually, will sink further in the hole.
The solution we have proposed for stabilizing funding for the American River Parkway is to establish a nonprofit organization to contract with a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) of local government entities, to manage the Parkway and provide a supplemental fund raising capability through philanthropy, which you can read more about on our website’s news page in our press release from January 18, 2008. it's the second one down.
This is the model being used by the Central Park Conservancy to manage Central Park in New York and the Sacramento Zoological Society to manage the Sacramento Zoo.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Folsom Lake & Sacramento International Airport
The Sacramento Bee reports that Folsom Lake is emptying before summer even gets a good start and it is a continuing sad commentary on the public leaderships seeming inability to construct the necessary water storage a growing state and region demands.
Along with the obvious water storage solution for our area, the building of Auburn Dam, still supported by groups—including us—like the Auburn Dam Council, there is another that would solve the water problems for the larger region and that is the raising of Shasta Dam to its originally engineered height of 200 feet higher than it now is, tripling its water supply, which this 2004 article from the Sacramento Bee describes.
But public leadership has moved to build upon another crucial infrastructure; the Sacramento airport and the new plans look wonderful, very appropriate for the capital of the state with one of the largest economies in the world and with this new facility will finally live up to its name.
Along with the obvious water storage solution for our area, the building of Auburn Dam, still supported by groups—including us—like the Auburn Dam Council, there is another that would solve the water problems for the larger region and that is the raising of Shasta Dam to its originally engineered height of 200 feet higher than it now is, tripling its water supply, which this 2004 article from the Sacramento Bee describes.
But public leadership has moved to build upon another crucial infrastructure; the Sacramento airport and the new plans look wonderful, very appropriate for the capital of the state with one of the largest economies in the world and with this new facility will finally live up to its name.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Future, Sandbags, Midtown, Trail, & Homeless Housing
An excellent article from the Wall Street Journal reminding us that while it is crucial to think about and plan for the future, it is foolish to allow those plans to interfere with the importance of the present, especially when disaster strikes that has not been prepared for.
The New York Times has a great article about sand bags, that primitive form of fighting floods that still works; just people, shovels, bags and sand, often from the same river the people shoveling are trying to stop from destroying their communities.
An article in the May/June issue of Via Magazine extols midtown and, in the July/August issue, a letter from a visitor from Utah comments on our Parkway bike trail:
“A trail from the capital
“Your Sacramento story (“Capital Gains”) missed one of the area’s greatest hits—and the best urban trail in the West. The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail starts in Old Sacramento and runs 35 miles along the American River, through parks, over bridges, and past deer, rabbits, and many bird species.
“Richard Miles: Toole, Utah”
Unfortunately, as an article in today's Sacramento Bee reveals, the county has agreed with the city and voted to allow a large complex of housing for the chronic homeless, who are, as the article notes: “defined as people with mental or physical disabilities who have been on the street for a year or who have been homeless at least four times in the past three years.”
A 74 unit motel on Stockton Blvd will be converted to homeless housing, construction to start in 2009, finished in 2010, and will almost certainly degrade the surrounding area, which is too bad.
Scattered site housing is a much better way to handle this issue rather than concentrating it in one area, and we wrote a commentary on concentrating services for the chronic homeless, published in the Bee and posted to our website.
The New York Times has a great article about sand bags, that primitive form of fighting floods that still works; just people, shovels, bags and sand, often from the same river the people shoveling are trying to stop from destroying their communities.
An article in the May/June issue of Via Magazine extols midtown and, in the July/August issue, a letter from a visitor from Utah comments on our Parkway bike trail:
“A trail from the capital
“Your Sacramento story (“Capital Gains”) missed one of the area’s greatest hits—and the best urban trail in the West. The Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail starts in Old Sacramento and runs 35 miles along the American River, through parks, over bridges, and past deer, rabbits, and many bird species.
“Richard Miles: Toole, Utah”
Unfortunately, as an article in today's Sacramento Bee reveals, the county has agreed with the city and voted to allow a large complex of housing for the chronic homeless, who are, as the article notes: “defined as people with mental or physical disabilities who have been on the street for a year or who have been homeless at least four times in the past three years.”
A 74 unit motel on Stockton Blvd will be converted to homeless housing, construction to start in 2009, finished in 2010, and will almost certainly degrade the surrounding area, which is too bad.
Scattered site housing is a much better way to handle this issue rather than concentrating it in one area, and we wrote a commentary on concentrating services for the chronic homeless, published in the Bee and posted to our website.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Disabled, Brazil, Energy & Wild Green
New rules governing access for disabled is very good news and one place that is in dire need of improved access is the Parkway.
An excellent article from the Wall Street Journal examining the difference between the response to plans to drill for oil off the coast of Brazil versus the United States, which reveals a significant fact that I was unaware of (regarding the importance of whether government or private enterprise wants to develop oil areas in the outcry from environmentalists), but makes perfect sense in the context of the position on government as held by the environmentalists versus that of private enterprise.
The president of our organization had a letter published today—“What a fine energy mess we’re in”—which reminds us, as we do tend to forget, that the environmentalists have been pretty much in charge of infrastructure development now for a long time, and it is time to look at the results of those policies, which are pretty dismal.
We do have cleaner air and water, and open space is now treasured much more so than in the past and credit is due; but, for the past several decades environmentalist lawsuits have virtually stopped the building of the necessary infrastructure—like dams, canals and roads—to capture and move water and people around our ever growing country.
A new related book is also out—Green Gone Wild—also by a local writer, about how the use of law suits around the Endangered Species Act, has become counter-productive and exists as much now to refill the coffers of the organizations using its regulations to restrict private property owners from exercising their property rights, as to ensure protection of habitat and wildlife.
I've just finished it and it is a great read, and a crucial read, for those of us interested in a balanced approach to protecting and preserving our natural resources.
We really can have it all, booming economies and vibrant natural areas providing sanctuary to wildlife and humans alike.
An excellent article from the Wall Street Journal examining the difference between the response to plans to drill for oil off the coast of Brazil versus the United States, which reveals a significant fact that I was unaware of (regarding the importance of whether government or private enterprise wants to develop oil areas in the outcry from environmentalists), but makes perfect sense in the context of the position on government as held by the environmentalists versus that of private enterprise.
The president of our organization had a letter published today—“What a fine energy mess we’re in”—which reminds us, as we do tend to forget, that the environmentalists have been pretty much in charge of infrastructure development now for a long time, and it is time to look at the results of those policies, which are pretty dismal.
We do have cleaner air and water, and open space is now treasured much more so than in the past and credit is due; but, for the past several decades environmentalist lawsuits have virtually stopped the building of the necessary infrastructure—like dams, canals and roads—to capture and move water and people around our ever growing country.
A new related book is also out—Green Gone Wild—also by a local writer, about how the use of law suits around the Endangered Species Act, has become counter-productive and exists as much now to refill the coffers of the organizations using its regulations to restrict private property owners from exercising their property rights, as to ensure protection of habitat and wildlife.
I've just finished it and it is a great read, and a crucial read, for those of us interested in a balanced approach to protecting and preserving our natural resources.
We really can have it all, booming economies and vibrant natural areas providing sanctuary to wildlife and humans alike.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Low Income Housing
There are two housing issues we have been commenting on recently, and while both appear to be related and indicating mutual support, they are not, and require different responses.
Providing housing throughout the community for the chronic homeless who make up the largest group illegally camping in the North Sacramento area of the Parkway, which we wrote about in a Commentary published in the Bee and which we have posted to our website, is an issue we support as it is the preferred option to the practice—currently being used by Sacramento—of concentrated housing for the homeless in one area.
Concentrated housing in this regard has a tendency to degrade the neighborhoods it is in and also reduces the effectiveness of the necessary policy of helping the chronic homeless begin to rebuild their lives as the peer impact of living within large groups of other chronic homeless will tend to dilute the development of the individual internal work needed to begin that rebuilding process.
This new issue, of requiring developers to make 15% of all their projects contain housing for low income, in an editorial from the Bee today, is not an issue we would support as it creates yet another layer of regulation around the builders of communities further shaping the type of communities they can build, and has the potential to drive many developers from a city that continues to need the kind of public income generating development that the private housing market is asking for.
It is an issue, which while perhaps laudable in its aspiration, could be disastrous in its implementation.
Providing housing throughout the community for the chronic homeless who make up the largest group illegally camping in the North Sacramento area of the Parkway, which we wrote about in a Commentary published in the Bee and which we have posted to our website, is an issue we support as it is the preferred option to the practice—currently being used by Sacramento—of concentrated housing for the homeless in one area.
Concentrated housing in this regard has a tendency to degrade the neighborhoods it is in and also reduces the effectiveness of the necessary policy of helping the chronic homeless begin to rebuild their lives as the peer impact of living within large groups of other chronic homeless will tend to dilute the development of the individual internal work needed to begin that rebuilding process.
This new issue, of requiring developers to make 15% of all their projects contain housing for low income, in an editorial from the Bee today, is not an issue we would support as it creates yet another layer of regulation around the builders of communities further shaping the type of communities they can build, and has the potential to drive many developers from a city that continues to need the kind of public income generating development that the private housing market is asking for.
It is an issue, which while perhaps laudable in its aspiration, could be disastrous in its implementation.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Jobs, College & Tiger
A report in the Bee looks at the types of jobs that might be needed over the next several years in the Sacramento region and they are mostly service jobs, which indicates a growing population and healthy economy, but comes with some educational caveats.
Drexel University is planning a major college in the foothills in the near future while establishing a graduate presence downtown Sacramento—in partnership with one of Sacramento major development families—and that is very good news.
And my goodness, how about that Tiger!!!
What a great Father's Day gift, for him and all the rest of us fathers watching the US Open who now get to watch 18 more holes today, a very good thing!
Drexel University is planning a major college in the foothills in the near future while establishing a graduate presence downtown Sacramento—in partnership with one of Sacramento major development families—and that is very good news.
And my goodness, how about that Tiger!!!
What a great Father's Day gift, for him and all the rest of us fathers watching the US Open who now get to watch 18 more holes today, a very good thing!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Water, Water, Everywhere
Two opinion pieces in the Bee today, one from a farmer who understands the huge amount of water that is sent through to the ocean every year could be used during dry years—like this one is shaping up to be—to water his crops and help feed the world, if we had more storage available.
The other from an environmentalist who feels that since part of the state is desert, the state’s culture and lifestyles should be shaped by that reality.
Human beings have been causing deserts to bloom for millennia and the blooming of the California desert has been possible by dams and canals.
The abundance of water that falls in the north state needs to be captured, stored, and moved around the state when needed, and we have the technolgy to do it.
One obvious solution is the raising of Shasta Dam to its originally engineered height of 200 feet higher than it now is, tripling its water supply, which this 2004 article from the Sacramento Bee describes.
The floods in the Midwest—though they appear to be receding in Iowa anyway, according to this article from the New York Times—have been reported to be 1 in 500 year floods and it gives credence to the public policy long advocated by knowledgeable flood prevention professionals, that any city located near major rivers should have flood protection at the 500 year level.
This is the level many cities in the country have already obtained, though Sacramento still struggles to reach a 100 year level.
New Orleans had a 250 year level when it flooded, and virtually every other major river city in the country has a 500 year level. To see this in a graph go to the Department of Water Resources report: FloodSafe California: Rebuilding the System, Reducing the Risk and look at page 13.
The other from an environmentalist who feels that since part of the state is desert, the state’s culture and lifestyles should be shaped by that reality.
Human beings have been causing deserts to bloom for millennia and the blooming of the California desert has been possible by dams and canals.
The abundance of water that falls in the north state needs to be captured, stored, and moved around the state when needed, and we have the technolgy to do it.
One obvious solution is the raising of Shasta Dam to its originally engineered height of 200 feet higher than it now is, tripling its water supply, which this 2004 article from the Sacramento Bee describes.
The floods in the Midwest—though they appear to be receding in Iowa anyway, according to this article from the New York Times—have been reported to be 1 in 500 year floods and it gives credence to the public policy long advocated by knowledgeable flood prevention professionals, that any city located near major rivers should have flood protection at the 500 year level.
This is the level many cities in the country have already obtained, though Sacramento still struggles to reach a 100 year level.
New Orleans had a 250 year level when it flooded, and virtually every other major river city in the country has a 500 year level. To see this in a graph go to the Department of Water Resources report: FloodSafe California: Rebuilding the System, Reducing the Risk and look at page 13.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Global Drying, Transit, & Salmon Strongholds
An thoughtful article from the Wall Street Journal examining the relation of the huge planetary need for much more arable water, along with the already huge—and currently threatened in our state—need for water for human and environmental use.
This Bee editorial from today makes one good point that just when public transit is being used by a lot more people—due to high gas prices mostly—is not the time for the legislature to reduce funding but to try and get it back up to a level it can accommodate the growth, though without raising new taxes; which would cause an already over-taxed citizenry in perilous economic times, even more hardship.
This commentary on the concept of preserving salmon stronghold rivers sounds good, but, as always with ideas like this, the details are crucial and the article is painfully short on them.
The most important question that needs to be asked of all of the water related issues involving the salmon (and all aquatic life); “Is the primacy of the human need for water maintained or are the needs of the salmon (or other aquatic life) established as a priority?”
This Bee editorial from today makes one good point that just when public transit is being used by a lot more people—due to high gas prices mostly—is not the time for the legislature to reduce funding but to try and get it back up to a level it can accommodate the growth, though without raising new taxes; which would cause an already over-taxed citizenry in perilous economic times, even more hardship.
This commentary on the concept of preserving salmon stronghold rivers sounds good, but, as always with ideas like this, the details are crucial and the article is painfully short on them.
The most important question that needs to be asked of all of the water related issues involving the salmon (and all aquatic life); “Is the primacy of the human need for water maintained or are the needs of the salmon (or other aquatic life) established as a priority?”
Friday, June 13, 2008
Parkway Fire, Mayoral Race, & Drought
A grass fire broke out in the Parkway near Negro Bar, and firefighters have contained it, and still on scene.
It appears that the election will be a runoff between the two major contenders in November.
We are officially in a state of drought, according to the governor’s proclamation, and as we noted in an earlier blog, along with the obvious solution for our area, the building of Auburn Dam, still supported by groups—including us—like the Auburn Dam Council, there is another that would solve the water problems for the larger region and that is the raising of Shasta Dam to its originally engineered height of 200 feet higher than it now is, tripling its water supply, which this 2004 article from the Sacramento Bee describes.
It appears that the election will be a runoff between the two major contenders in November.
We are officially in a state of drought, according to the governor’s proclamation, and as we noted in an earlier blog, along with the obvious solution for our area, the building of Auburn Dam, still supported by groups—including us—like the Auburn Dam Council, there is another that would solve the water problems for the larger region and that is the raising of Shasta Dam to its originally engineered height of 200 feet higher than it now is, tripling its water supply, which this 2004 article from the Sacramento Bee describes.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Space, Moms, & Policing the Homeless
Aerojet, a Sacramento company, is responsible for some of the recent space-based research being conducted by NASA, through the development of its Delta propulsion systems at its Rancho Cordova location, and that is a very good thing.
This story in today’s Bee, is a wonderful example of the treasured bounties of the American River Parkway, and a reminder of how much it would benefit the Parkway walkers to have a dedicated pedestrian trail for moms walking babies in strollers, the elderly, and all other Parkway pedestrians who would benefit from being able to walk without worrying about speeding cyclists, who would also deeply appreciate having their own separate trail and not have to worry about hitting someone.
Having separate paths is only possible with a new infusion of money, and in today’s government budget climate, especially with the county cutting money from the Parks budget, it is not a current possibility.
However, with the type of plan we have long suggested for the Parkway: create a public/private partnership with a nonprofit organization to manage the Parkway—which could also raise supplemental funding philanthropically—via a contract with a Joint Powers Authority of local government; this is the type of a project that could certainly attract philanthropic funding.
Another story in today’s Bee regards the police officers who have been especially solicitous of the homeless, treating them with the dignity and helpful service they certainly deserve, but in terms of the illegal camping on the Parkway, which has rendered the ability of the adjacent communities of North Sacramento to safely use their area of the Parkway, it is important to remember that public safety is a priority.
This story in today’s Bee, is a wonderful example of the treasured bounties of the American River Parkway, and a reminder of how much it would benefit the Parkway walkers to have a dedicated pedestrian trail for moms walking babies in strollers, the elderly, and all other Parkway pedestrians who would benefit from being able to walk without worrying about speeding cyclists, who would also deeply appreciate having their own separate trail and not have to worry about hitting someone.
Having separate paths is only possible with a new infusion of money, and in today’s government budget climate, especially with the county cutting money from the Parks budget, it is not a current possibility.
However, with the type of plan we have long suggested for the Parkway: create a public/private partnership with a nonprofit organization to manage the Parkway—which could also raise supplemental funding philanthropically—via a contract with a Joint Powers Authority of local government; this is the type of a project that could certainly attract philanthropic funding.
Another story in today’s Bee regards the police officers who have been especially solicitous of the homeless, treating them with the dignity and helpful service they certainly deserve, but in terms of the illegal camping on the Parkway, which has rendered the ability of the adjacent communities of North Sacramento to safely use their area of the Parkway, it is important to remember that public safety is a priority.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Budgets, Big Fix, & Mayoral Votes
Well, it looks like the Parkway’s budget (part of parks and animal control), already running a serious deficit for the past several years, may be spared serious cuts in this year’s deficit reductions, but much will depend on what emerges from the public hearings which begin Thursday, June 12th.
Another note is that of the five local governmental jurisdictions adjacent or close to the Parkway: Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County and Sacramento City, only the final two are showing deficits this year.
The Big Fix on 1-5 is right on schedule, but the mayoral vote count is heading into ‘hanging chad’ territory with the current plans to release an update total this Thursday, though not yet the final total.
Thursday June 12th will be the 10th day since the vote on Tuesday June 3rd.
Another note is that of the five local governmental jurisdictions adjacent or close to the Parkway: Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County and Sacramento City, only the final two are showing deficits this year.
The Big Fix on 1-5 is right on schedule, but the mayoral vote count is heading into ‘hanging chad’ territory with the current plans to release an update total this Thursday, though not yet the final total.
Thursday June 12th will be the 10th day since the vote on Tuesday June 3rd.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Water, Homeless & the County Budget
Farmers in the valley are already cutting back on crop plantings as they will not have enough water to nourish the crops through harvest, as this article from the Fresno Bee notes, and that is not good for California, or the rest of the world who depend on California agriculture.
Along with the obvious solution for our area, the building of Auburn Dam, still supported by groups—including us—like the Auburn Dam Council, there is another that would solve the water problems for the larger region and that is the raising of Shasta Dam to its originally engineered height of 200 feet higher than it now is, tripling its water supply, which this 2004 article from the Sacramento Bee describes.
Another park, Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City is struggling with the crime related to the many homeless who congregate there, as this article from the Salt Lake Tribune vividly reveals, and they have developed programs to address it based on the principle that by encouraging legitimate usage of the Parkway, the illegitimate usage will be reduced, essentially the same concept we propose for the North Sacramento area of our Parkway struggling with many of the same issues.
Though not specified in this article in the Bee today, the shrinking of the county budget will probably also shrink the already too lean Parkway budget, and if so, that will be a very bad thing, but let us hope that proves not to be the case.
The budget hearings begin today.
Along with the obvious solution for our area, the building of Auburn Dam, still supported by groups—including us—like the Auburn Dam Council, there is another that would solve the water problems for the larger region and that is the raising of Shasta Dam to its originally engineered height of 200 feet higher than it now is, tripling its water supply, which this 2004 article from the Sacramento Bee describes.
Another park, Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City is struggling with the crime related to the many homeless who congregate there, as this article from the Salt Lake Tribune vividly reveals, and they have developed programs to address it based on the principle that by encouraging legitimate usage of the Parkway, the illegitimate usage will be reduced, essentially the same concept we propose for the North Sacramento area of our Parkway struggling with many of the same issues.
Though not specified in this article in the Bee today, the shrinking of the county budget will probably also shrink the already too lean Parkway budget, and if so, that will be a very bad thing, but let us hope that proves not to be the case.
The budget hearings begin today.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Public Private Partnerships & Water Supply
Today’s Bee has an excellent profile of an advisor to our governor who understands the importance of involving the private sector in public works, particularly the sadly underfunded work of keep the states’ infrastructure up and running and able to keep pace with population and business growth.
Dan Walters presents an incisive picture of the gridlock surrounding the development of new water supply over the past four decades and it is a sad story of public leadership failure that few can find rhyme or reason for.
We explored the issue in relation to the failure to develop one part of that needed water supply—Auburn Dam—in our 2006 research report and discovered a strong connection with the religious element core to the environmental movement, which is addressed in pages 19-31 of the report.
Dan Walters presents an incisive picture of the gridlock surrounding the development of new water supply over the past four decades and it is a sad story of public leadership failure that few can find rhyme or reason for.
We explored the issue in relation to the failure to develop one part of that needed water supply—Auburn Dam—in our 2006 research report and discovered a strong connection with the religious element core to the environmental movement, which is addressed in pages 19-31 of the report.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Fires in the West
As we continue into the fire season here in California, a central event, the Yellowstone Fires of 1988, remain as a learning tool for what needs to be considered in the strategy we continue to evolve and use.
The author makes this compelling point in this excerpt from his article Yellowstone Fires of 88’
“In the American West, we live in a new world of fire--a world that appeared in 1988.
“The 1988 fire season seemed an aberration. It was among the hottest years on record. The drought across North America was the worst since the 1930s. In the former Dust Bowl states--from Montana to Nebraska and Kansas to Texas--farmers reported dark clouds of dust as their topsoil blew away. By June 1, the Soil Conservation Service estimated 12 million acres were damaged by wind erosion.
“Record temperatures hit cities across the country. American companies sold 4 million air conditioners and could not keep up with demand. Congress held hearings on the greenhouse effect and climate change.
“Twenty years later, conditions like those of 1988 are the norm. In 2006, 9.5 million acres burned, followed by 9.3 million acres in 2007. With six out of the last eight years among the worst fire seasons since 1960, it is "the indefinitely bad season," says Tom Boatner, the Bureau of Land Management's just retired chief of fire operations and a 30-year firefighting veteran.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and its 2,500 scientists from around the world have concluded that the wholesale burning of fossil fuels has contributed to the warming, drying, and longer fire seasons we are experiencing today. If it continues, the forests, which capture 20 to 40 percent of the carbon that scientists say contributes to the climate’s change, will burn and turn from net carbon sinks to net carbon sources, according to scientists from the U.S. Forest Service and University of Washington.”
The author makes this compelling point in this excerpt from his article Yellowstone Fires of 88’
“In the American West, we live in a new world of fire--a world that appeared in 1988.
“The 1988 fire season seemed an aberration. It was among the hottest years on record. The drought across North America was the worst since the 1930s. In the former Dust Bowl states--from Montana to Nebraska and Kansas to Texas--farmers reported dark clouds of dust as their topsoil blew away. By June 1, the Soil Conservation Service estimated 12 million acres were damaged by wind erosion.
“Record temperatures hit cities across the country. American companies sold 4 million air conditioners and could not keep up with demand. Congress held hearings on the greenhouse effect and climate change.
“Twenty years later, conditions like those of 1988 are the norm. In 2006, 9.5 million acres burned, followed by 9.3 million acres in 2007. With six out of the last eight years among the worst fire seasons since 1960, it is "the indefinitely bad season," says Tom Boatner, the Bureau of Land Management's just retired chief of fire operations and a 30-year firefighting veteran.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and its 2,500 scientists from around the world have concluded that the wholesale burning of fossil fuels has contributed to the warming, drying, and longer fire seasons we are experiencing today. If it continues, the forests, which capture 20 to 40 percent of the carbon that scientists say contributes to the climate’s change, will burn and turn from net carbon sinks to net carbon sources, according to scientists from the U.S. Forest Service and University of Washington.”
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Business, Environmentalism, Priorities & Governance
The business climate in California, according to the new report from the California Chamber of Commerce, is, as we all know, not so good, but there is a guarded optimism, and while the four key factors companies like about doing business in California remain strong; climate, quality of life, market access, and creative culture, the downsides; government regulation, costs of doing business here and a less than stellar educational system, also remain.
The concept of environmentalism as religion, which we addressed in our 2006 report (pp. 19-31), is touched on by in a recent book review (in the concluding paragraphs) and the writer reaches the conclusion that, except for the hysteria over global warming which distracts from the more commonly accepted and sound environmental concepts, the secular religion of environmentalism is more good than bad, and, as he presents it, is a concept worth mulling over.
There are so many things that need doing in our world that setting priorities to ensure the continued health and well-being of everyone on the planet is often a complicated and contentious task, but the Copenhagen Consensus Center does just that and their global priorities will surprise you.
Two of the newer cities in the region (Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova) will show budget surpluses this year, while the oldest (Sacramento) shows another deficit and that leads to an obvious question about governance. What are they—the cities with surpluses—doing right?
The concept of environmentalism as religion, which we addressed in our 2006 report (pp. 19-31), is touched on by in a recent book review (in the concluding paragraphs) and the writer reaches the conclusion that, except for the hysteria over global warming which distracts from the more commonly accepted and sound environmental concepts, the secular religion of environmentalism is more good than bad, and, as he presents it, is a concept worth mulling over.
There are so many things that need doing in our world that setting priorities to ensure the continued health and well-being of everyone on the planet is often a complicated and contentious task, but the Copenhagen Consensus Center does just that and their global priorities will surprise you.
Two of the newer cities in the region (Citrus Heights and Rancho Cordova) will show budget surpluses this year, while the oldest (Sacramento) shows another deficit and that leads to an obvious question about governance. What are they—the cities with surpluses—doing right?
Friday, June 06, 2008
Hunger, CC, Water, & Prop 13
One of the crucial arenas in which human ingenuity and technology has played a major role in elevating the fortunes of the poor of the world, is in the development and distribution of more food to feed the hungry, which has come about primarily through what is known as the Green Revolution, and this article by a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate reminds us of that success and the importance of building on it.
In a great reminder of how successful has been the collaboration between the public and private sector in the area of transportation, the big fix on 1-5 is moving along right on schedule under CC’s leadership, even with the troubles that have arisen, as this article notes.
A major project, already approved by the County and city of Rancho Cordova, runs into environmental trouble, and water is the key issue, reminding us once again of how crucial it is to develop additional water supplies for our region and the clearest fix is to build the Auburn Dam.
A recent presentation to the American River Authority—a possible local government support organization—reveals the progress made.
Proposition 13, as this commentary in today’s Bee notes, is a classic—and still very well-regarded—example of the public assuming leadership around an issue that elected public leadership could not, and it remains a wonderful example of why the initiative process is a very good thing.
In a great reminder of how successful has been the collaboration between the public and private sector in the area of transportation, the big fix on 1-5 is moving along right on schedule under CC’s leadership, even with the troubles that have arisen, as this article notes.
A major project, already approved by the County and city of Rancho Cordova, runs into environmental trouble, and water is the key issue, reminding us once again of how crucial it is to develop additional water supplies for our region and the clearest fix is to build the Auburn Dam.
A recent presentation to the American River Authority—a possible local government support organization—reveals the progress made.
Proposition 13, as this commentary in today’s Bee notes, is a classic—and still very well-regarded—example of the public assuming leadership around an issue that elected public leadership could not, and it remains a wonderful example of why the initiative process is a very good thing.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Oil, the Hills, & Downtown Lights
The invisible hand of capitalism arises to meet the challenge of high priced oil, as it is arising to satisfy the demand for green technology, and this is a very good thing for all of us and is the great secret driving most of the world to our shores still, for capitalism—supply and demand—is a great way to increase the freedom and comfort of human beings.
There was a time not so long ago when moving to the foothills surrounding Sacramento was a way to escape the bad air and bad traffic of the valley and live surrounded by sparkling blue skies, pristine water, and mellow drives.
While the water and drives might still be found, the blue, clear skies have largely evaporated, as this article from today’s Bee reveals.
It appears there are some ambitious plans to light up the downtown mall in a decidedly New York way.
There was a time not so long ago when moving to the foothills surrounding Sacramento was a way to escape the bad air and bad traffic of the valley and live surrounded by sparkling blue skies, pristine water, and mellow drives.
While the water and drives might still be found, the blue, clear skies have largely evaporated, as this article from today’s Bee reveals.
It appears there are some ambitious plans to light up the downtown mall in a decidedly New York way.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Trains, Automobiles & Subsidiarity
California is a state admirably suited for train travel, as this article from the San Francisco Chronicle notes, with its long profile and scattered metro areas which trains could link to quite nicely, and by using the type of high speed trains that Japan has been using, and perfecting, for decades, the trip from Sacramento to San Diego could take about three hours.
The principle of subsidiarity reminds us that sometimes it is better to do things without the often over-planned help from outside, and that is a lesson New Orleans is reliving as it rebuilds from Katrina, as chronicled in this article from City Journal.
And with the help of Brad Pitt, Harry Connick Jr., Habitat for Humanity, and the stimulus of the determined resistance to the attempt by the local government to dictate how the houses in New Orleans could be rebuilt, the principle is thriving and the city is rebuilding.
The principle of subsidiarity reminds us that sometimes it is better to do things without the often over-planned help from outside, and that is a lesson New Orleans is reliving as it rebuilds from Katrina, as chronicled in this article from City Journal.
And with the help of Brad Pitt, Harry Connick Jr., Habitat for Humanity, and the stimulus of the determined resistance to the attempt by the local government to dictate how the houses in New Orleans could be rebuilt, the principle is thriving and the city is rebuilding.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Cap & Trade
The Wall Street Journal looks at a cap and trade bill—the senate’s response to global warming—that is now coming up and finds it a real windfall for politicians, which if anything should make us shudder somewhat more than normal when congress finds a solution that will really solve it (whatever it is this time around) for good.
“Sponsored by Joe Lieberman and John Warner, the bill would put a cap on carbon emissions that gets lowered every year. But to ease the pain and allow for economic adjustment, the bill would dole out "allowances" under the cap that would stand for the right to emit greenhouse gases. Senator Barbara Boxer has introduced a package of manager's amendments that mandates total carbon reductions of 66% by 2050, while earmarking the allowances.
“When cap and trade has been used in the past, such as to reduce acid rain, the allowances were usually distributed for free. A major difference this time is that the allowances will be auctioned off to covered businesses, which means imposing an upfront tax before the trade half of cap and trade even begins. It also means a gigantic revenue windfall for Congress.
“Ms. Boxer expects to scoop up auction revenues of some $3.32 trillion by 2050. Yes, that's trillion. Her friends in Congress are already salivating over this new pot of gold. The way Congress works, the most vicious floor fights won't be over whether this is a useful tax to create, but over who gets what portion of the spoils. In a conference call with reporters last Thursday, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry explained that he was disturbed by the effects of global warming on "crustaceans" and so would be pursuing changes to ensure that New England lobsters benefit from some of the loot.”
“Sponsored by Joe Lieberman and John Warner, the bill would put a cap on carbon emissions that gets lowered every year. But to ease the pain and allow for economic adjustment, the bill would dole out "allowances" under the cap that would stand for the right to emit greenhouse gases. Senator Barbara Boxer has introduced a package of manager's amendments that mandates total carbon reductions of 66% by 2050, while earmarking the allowances.
“When cap and trade has been used in the past, such as to reduce acid rain, the allowances were usually distributed for free. A major difference this time is that the allowances will be auctioned off to covered businesses, which means imposing an upfront tax before the trade half of cap and trade even begins. It also means a gigantic revenue windfall for Congress.
“Ms. Boxer expects to scoop up auction revenues of some $3.32 trillion by 2050. Yes, that's trillion. Her friends in Congress are already salivating over this new pot of gold. The way Congress works, the most vicious floor fights won't be over whether this is a useful tax to create, but over who gets what portion of the spoils. In a conference call with reporters last Thursday, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry explained that he was disturbed by the effects of global warming on "crustaceans" and so would be pursuing changes to ensure that New England lobsters benefit from some of the loot.”
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Environmentalists, Ammonia, & Water Supply
The point Charles Krauthammer makes in this superb column is accurate on many levels, including how he describes the position of many Americans on global warming—including mine—in the opening paragraph of his new column where he states:
“I'm not a global warming believer. I'm not a global warming denier. I'm a global warming agnostic who believes instinctively that it can't be very good to pump lots of CO2 into the atmosphere, but is equally convinced that those who presume to know exactly where that leads are talking through their hats.”
He also goes on to make the case that some environmentalists are attempting to take control of much more of the economic and social sectors—though some current controls are very appropriate—through more government action.
It appears that the sewage treatment system for Sacramento has become inadequate and not up to the standards metropolitan areas of this size and growth should have and that has led to an over-abundance of ammonia in the Sacramento River, thus in the Delta, which might—though scientists are still not sure—be causing problems with certain species of fish.
Here is another opinion piece trying to continue the narrative of some environmentalists that dams are obsolete solutions to water supply, a contention that flies in the face of a common sense strategy that capturing and storing water from large seasonal storms for use when times go dry should never become obsolete, unless prudent thinking itself becomes so.
“I'm not a global warming believer. I'm not a global warming denier. I'm a global warming agnostic who believes instinctively that it can't be very good to pump lots of CO2 into the atmosphere, but is equally convinced that those who presume to know exactly where that leads are talking through their hats.”
He also goes on to make the case that some environmentalists are attempting to take control of much more of the economic and social sectors—though some current controls are very appropriate—through more government action.
It appears that the sewage treatment system for Sacramento has become inadequate and not up to the standards metropolitan areas of this size and growth should have and that has led to an over-abundance of ammonia in the Sacramento River, thus in the Delta, which might—though scientists are still not sure—be causing problems with certain species of fish.
Here is another opinion piece trying to continue the narrative of some environmentalists that dams are obsolete solutions to water supply, a contention that flies in the face of a common sense strategy that capturing and storing water from large seasonal storms for use when times go dry should never become obsolete, unless prudent thinking itself becomes so.
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