Land Use/Open Space

Wolk and Yamada Pull Support For Delta Bill

Wolk and Yamada Pull Support For Delta Bill

By David GreenwaldSeptember 12, 20098 comments

Wolk-Yamada

by Dan Aiello –

Delta representatives Senator Lois Wolk (D-Woodland) and Assembly member Mariko Yamada (D- Solano), withdrew their authorship and support of S.B. 458 following extensive amendments to the legislation by Senate President Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) which both legislators opposed.

Wolk’s action came in response to being notified by Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) that her legislation would be amended in a Conference Committee with provisions Senator Wolk and the five Delta counties opposed. Wolk has been replaced with Senators Steinberg and Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) as the authors of SB 458.

 

Senator Wolk Angrily Withdraws Authorship of Delta Bill

Senator Wolk Angrily Withdraws Authorship of Delta Bill

By David GreenwaldSeptember 10, 200910 comments
LoisWolkIt is becoming more and more clear that the path has already been set out to increase water exports out of the Delta.  The Water Conference Committee set up by Senator Darrell Steinberg last week excluded Senator Wolk, Assemblymember Mariko Yamada and the other legislators who represent districts in and around the Delta.

When Wolk became notified by Senate Pro Tem Steinberg that her legislation, SB 458, establish a Delta Conservancy would be amended in the Water Conference Committee with provisions that she and the other Delta counties opposed, she withdrew her authorship.  She has been replaced with Senators Steinberg and Joe Simitian as the authors of SB 458.

Battle Lines Drawn on Water: Peripheral Canal, Governance and Financing Highlight State Water and Delta Hearings

Battle Lines Drawn on Water: Peripheral Canal, Governance and Financing Highlight State Water and Delta Hearings

By David GreenwaldAugust 19, 20095 comments
statecat.pngThe legislature returned this week from their August break by taking up what is undoubtedly the most contentious topic this side of the budget, and perhaps even including the budget, water and what to do about the Delta.

Facing the legislature are five bills, packaged together to address critical issues of facing California Water and the Delta.  Tuesday was largely an informational that saw the issues laid forth.

Delta Protection and Peripheral Canal Issues Emerge as Crucial to Region

Delta Protection and Peripheral Canal Issues Emerge as Crucial to Region

By David GreenwaldJuly 28, 200910 comments

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Daily Democrat Editorial’s Criticism of Senator Wolk Unfounded –

On July 10, the Woodland Daily Democrat ran an editorial criticizing the efforts of local legislative leadership to address the dangers facing the Sacramento Delta.  The editorial argued that while Delta protection might be important, the budget was the top priority, and clearly all 120 legislators must have been involved in the 24/7 pursuit of budget negotiations.

The Vanguard would argue that it is impractical for all legislators to spend their complete attention on a single issue–even an issue as important as the budget.  Moreover, there are other issues facing the state.  Discussion in Sacramento has suggested that once the budget issue was resolved–and it was for better or for worse last week–the most important issue was going to become the delta, water, and the peripheral canal.  Our representatives in Sacramento need to take the lead on this issue as Yolo County is one of five Delta Counties.  Senator Lois Wolk as well as Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada deserve credit rather than blame for working on this issue that is crucial to both the 5th Senate District, the 8th Assembly District, and indeed all of California.

PG&E Trying to Make Fight For Public Power Nearly Impossible

PG&E Trying to Make Fight For Public Power Nearly Impossible

By David GreenwaldJuly 24, 200919 comments
PGE_Campaign_Ad
In 2006 the public was allowed to vote on two measures in Yolo County and there were two counterpart measures in Sacramento County to allow Yolo County residents to discontinue using PG&E as their power company and join SMUD.  SMUD represented a cheaper and more environmentally friendly approach through its public owned, not-for-profit enterprise.  In a rare show of unanimity among local elected officials, nearly every elected official from the Yolo County board of Superivisors, the city Councils of Davis, Woodland, West Sacramento, and Winters, and even school boards all supported the move.

PG&E seeing its livelihood threatened proceeded to dump over 11 million dollars into a campaign to discredit the efforts of SMUD and scare the daylights out of residents in Sacramento County.  It worked.  One of the ballot measures in Yolo County passed and the other failed by a small margin of votes.  However the ballot measures were overwhelmingly defeated in Sacramento County.

Angry Citizens Push TANC For More Answers

Angry Citizens Push TANC For More Answers

By David GreenwaldJune 9, 20093 comments
by Stephen N. Cole,
President, El Macero Homeowners Association –

Since March 25, 2009, I attended two City sponsored information meetings hosting TANC and three TANC Scoping meetings. The fundamental difference between a TANC Scoping session and a City hosted information meeting is that at a Scoping meeting TANCs only employee Mr. Beck, or a TANC consultant, presents TANCs canned Power Point presentation from a prepared script.

The small amount of time remaining in a Scoping session goes to the audience to ask their questions. TANCs primary answers in response to most Scoping questions are to have the person submit their written comments as EIR/EIS CEQA responses to Mr. David Young of WAPA. At the June 1, 2009 sat anonymous Mr. Young taking copious notes. The well-managed City of Davis meeting would not have happened at all if it were not for the devoted perseverance of both Jim Provenza and Don Saylor.

As Regional and State Growth Rates Fall, What Will Be the Impact on Davis?

As Regional and State Growth Rates Fall, What Will Be the Impact on Davis?

By David GreenwaldDecember 28, 200848 comments

The Sacramento Bee reported back on December 18, 2008 that the regional and state growth rates have fallen to its lowest levels in more than a decade.

In six counties surrounding Sacramento which include Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Placer, El Dorado and Sacramento Counties, the growth rate from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008 was only 1.39%. Separately, Yolo County grew at 1.46 percent adding around 3,000 people. Placer was the fastest growing county in California at 2.6 percent. Sacramento grew at a rate below the statewide level at 1.11 percent.

Groups Line Up in Opposition To Mike Thompson for the Interior Position

Groups Line Up in Opposition To Mike Thompson for the Interior Position

By David GreenwaldDecember 9, 200833 comments

Most conventional wisdom has Congressman Mike Thompson as one of two finalists for Secretary of the Interior in President-elect Obama’s new cabinet along with Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva. Grijalva is the son of migrants and an outspoken critic of the Bush administration’s federal land policies.

The Oregonian argues that while hunting and fishing groups like Congressman Thompson environmentalists and other liberals are lining up against him.

“Thompson, whose district runs from the wine country of Napa Valley to the Oregon border, is favored by hunting and fishing groups that like the fact that he’s an avid sportsman. And the League of Conservation Voters gives him solid voting scores. In fact, Thompson won national publicity back in 2002 when he held a press conference in front of the Department of Interior with 500 pounds of fish killed by low waters in the Klamath River.”

Looking to Local, Regional, and National Transportation Goals

Looking to Local, Regional, and National Transportation Goals

By David GreenwaldNovember 25, 200868 comments

There was an interesting note in the Davis Enterprise yesterday about the rising Capitol Corridor ridership. Ridership jumped by nearly 20% over this time last year. Truth is, iti’s the 10th consecutive year that ridership has increased.

Gas prices are only one factor in this equation, congested roadways and stressful commutes have played a role as well according to the article.

One of the huge keys to our future will be solving our transportation puzzle. There are some who believe that Americans will never give up their cards. They might be right. The real question is whether you can get them to drive less in cars that are more energy efficient.