Land Use/Open Space

Angry Citizens Push TANC For More Answers

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?

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

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

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.