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Will Eminent Domain 'Reform' Remove Environmental Protections?

Just came over the wire...

New Legal Analysis Warns Bait and Switch 'Eminent Domain' Initiative Threatens Important Environmental Protections, Including California's Landmark Global Warming Legislation (AB 32)

Sacramento, CA - A new, independent legal analysis warns that the so-called "California Property Owners and Farmland Protection Act" (CPOFPA) could have a devastating impact on laws and regulations intended to protect the environment and to combat global warming. The analysis warns that the initiative could hinder implementation of Assembly Bill 32, California's landmark law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The measure would also roll back rent control protections and result in other adverse consequences.

The landlords sponsoring this measure are falsely claiming that their initiative has no "regulatory takings" impacts or impacts on the environment. This new legal analysis proves otherwise.  The analysis was independently commissioned by the California League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. It was written by one of the state's leading environmental law firms, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, and warns that the CPOFPA "appears to impair a broader class of environmental protections than did Proposition 90."

For complete legal analysis visit http://www.clcveducationfund.org/.

Taking The Initiative On Traffic - A New Twist On Stopping Growth

Ventura County, home of the SOAR (Save Our Agricultural Resources) measure and slow growth politics may be trailblazing for a new political tool designed to further limit growth -- Ballot measures restricting growth by tying development to traffic congestion.

This is an interesting development for the key reason that Ventura County is recognized as a bellweather county in state politics.  It is largely a "quality of life" Republican swing county (we used to call them "country club" Republicans). It's a coastal county that typically votes for the winner of Gubernatorial and Presidential contests -- whether Democrat or Republican. As such, this county is an unusually good barometer of how well an initiative will fare across the state.  Ventura votes for environmentally friendly issues, is largely slow growth, anti-tax and elects a mix of centrists and conservatives at most levels of government. In other words, if you want to pass an initiative in California -- poll it in Ventura County first.

That may be what proponents of two new measures are doing for next November -- and it's curiously reminiscent of tactics tried in the past...

GASB - Where Politicians Fear To Tread

You know an issue is looming large when the San Francisco Chronicle begins to challenge public employee unions. John Diaz, one of the more respected editorial board writers in the state, has penned a great article on what pension reform means and why the political will does not exist for what is unarguably a train wreck in the making if nothing is done - and quickly.

The article titled: "Where politicians fear to tread" is an indictment on our current system - both state and local - that refuses to have a discussion about the elephant in the room. In a state reknowned for governing by crisis, the delay on this issue may set a new standard for sticking our collective heads in the sand to avoid the day of reckoning.

Unfortunately, its becoming clear that that day is already here.

Rancho Palos Verdes Officials Overwhelmed By Public Information Act Requests

The quiet oceanside community of Rancho Palos Verdes has been roiled by a mountainous information act request that will have city staff expending resources to the tune of at least $20,000 and hundreds of staff hours in order to comply (a big number for a city this size). The tactic of overwhelming city staff and attempting to bring city operations to a halt by public information act request is one that is often discussed in some political circles but seldom used because of the obvious public backlash and waste of taxpayer dollars that follows such a request.

Curious that those gadfly's who are most concerned about the expenditure of taxpayer dollars are often the most likely to flush taxpayer dollars down the drain. That would be a storm drain in this cities case, as the issue of financing outdated storm drains in the city has become the bane of local gadfly's existence in RPV. Read here about Rancho Palos Verdes travails with Public Information Act Requests

The law firm of Bell, McAndrews and Hiltach submitted a request for information to the city of Rancho Palos Verdes on behalf of an "anonymous" client. Though the firm did claim that the resident(s) did live within the city. Isn't that courageous?

Rancho Palos Verdes just finished a municipal election in which all three incumbents were re-elected and a defeat of a referendum on a needed storm drain was passed by a ten-point margin. It was believed that the election would end any debate by decisvely voting confidence in the current council and its decision to improve its dilapidated storm drains.

Apparently not. Sour grapes, it seems, will be the meal of choice in RPV. At least for a while...or at least as long as the courageous souls who are looking to waste taxpayer money in the city choose to boldly remain "anonymous". 

More News About Public Salaries From Santa Rosa

Here at California City News we're committed to following headlines around the state as they relate to the traditional media's new focus on public salaries. As you'll recall, CCN reported on a recent Supreme Court decision making municipalities subject to disclosing salary information on certain classes of public employees.

We've been covering this trend as more and more newspapers make public their cities employees salaries. And make no mistake, salary levels will affect public opinion as more and more news outlets cover the story. Watch for public opinion to change as pension reforms dicussions heat up and salaries become more and more the topic du jour.

This topic ain't going away folks.

From the Santa Rosa Press Democrat

City Technologies Are Creating New Policing Privacy Issues

   CCN found this article from a city in Florida considering new experimental technologies that may become commonplace - or outright rejected - that would allow for the immediate identification of possible suspects through fingerprinting technology. Thats right - fingerprinting suspects and running their criminal history right from the dashboard of a police car. Does immediately fingerprinting people violate their right to privacy?

We'll follow the story as it develops but rest assured that Civil Libertires groups, privacy advocates and law enforcement organizations will be weighing in heavily on this issue.

The Ten Coolest Towns In America

What makes a small town unique? What gives it that added something that draws national significance to travelers from around the country?

While no California Cities made the cut this year, Budget Travel Magazine lists the "coolest" ten cities in America - all focused on travel minded consumers looking for something unique, without having to spend a small fortune.

And, "yes" these cities do have that special something that make a stop in their downtown a destination point, but we're a little surprised that not a single California City made the cut. Read the article and prepare for next year...

You Were Warned!

The Sac Bee's Capitol Alert has posted a story "Locals fear budget axe," relating to the potential for the state to, yet again, sieze local government funds to meet its $10 billion shortfall.

But what about Prop 1A, you might be asking?  Well, as CaliforniaCityNews reported back before Thanksgiving, despite the best efforts of locals to protect themselves, you never can tell what Sacramento will concoct next.  Most ominous from the Bee stroy..."Neither the legislative leadership nor Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who led the push for Proposition 1A, has ruled out transferring local monies to the state."

New Twist on Vallejo Mayoral Race

Solano County Supervisor Osby Davis has emerged victorious -- by all of three votes -- in a recount of the Vallejo mayoral race.  This win is notable, not only as Osby will become the first African American mayor of the Bay Area city, but also because his opponent, Gary Cloutier, was arrested mere hours before the election.  The arrest, for public intoxication outside a bar in Palm Springs, no doubt impacted the race, which Cloutier was originally thought to have won by just four votes. In an interesting twist, Cloutier was actually sworn in before a recount overturned the election. He served for two days as mayor before vote tally's came in showing that Davis was the real winner of the race.

New Member of the CaliforniaCityNews Family

CaliforniaCityNews has to take moment to congratulate dear friends Amy Brown and Randy Perry on their bundle of joy... Jack Brown Perry, born Tuesday night.  Amy, of the Sacramento lobbying firm Dunlap, Van Vleck and Brown and former League of California Cities lobbyist, went into a labor at the retirement party for CSAC's Steve Keil.  Goes to show what can happen when county folks get involved.  Congrats go Amy and Randy... god help us all.