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KUSP LandWatch
News
Week of September 11, 2006 to September 15, 2006
Week of September 11, 2006 to September 15, 2006
KUSP provided a brief Land Use Report on KUSP Radio from January 2003 to May 2016. Archives of past transcripts are available here.
Week of September 11, 2006 to September 15, 2006
- Monday, September 11, 2006
Reducing Affordable Housing Opportunities
- Tuesday, September 12, 2006
RV Parking In Santa Cruz County
- Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Strange Days on Planet Earth
- Thursday, September 14, 2006
Santa Cruz Community Design Workshop
- Friday, September 15, 2006
Coastal Cleanup
The following Land Use Reports have been presented on KUSP Radio by Gary A. Patton. The Wittwer & Parkin law firm is located in Santa Cruz, California, and practices environmental and governmental law. As part of its practice, the law firm files litigation and takes other action on behalf of its clients, which are typically private individuals, governmental agencies, environmental organizations, or community groups. Whenever the Land Use Report comments on an issue with which the Wittwer & Parkin law firm is involved on behalf of a client, Mr. Patton will make this relationship clear, as part of his commentary. Mr. Patton’s comments do not represent the views of Wittwer & Parkin, LLP, KUSP Radio, nor of any of its sponsors.
| Monday, September 11, 2006 Reducing Affordable Housing Opportunities |
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The Santa Cruz County and San Luis Obispo County Boards of Supervisors provide what amounts to their complete agenda packet online, so you can read all the material that the Board members will be reading as they make their decisions. Monterey County doesn’t provide this material online, so it’s a lot more difficult, in Monterey County, to become informed about what’s being proposed. When information is power, failing to make relevant information available to the public is a way to disempower the public, as compared to the elected and non-elected officials (and others) who do have access to the information. Nonetheless, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors does at least list the items to be considered at its upcoming meetings, so you can know the general issues, if not the details, in time to do something about it. Tomorrow, on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors’ agenda, the Board is proposing to modify a requirement that certain already-approved affordable housing units be maintained as affordable in perpetuity. The Board is going to consider eliminating the affordability restrictions after thirty years, thus providing a windfall for the owner (nice thing if you’re the owner) but cutting back on long term affordable housing opportunities. If you have any thoughts about whether that’s a good idea, or a bad idea, check out Item #S-11 on tomorrow’s agenda. It’s scheduled for 1:30 p.m. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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| Tuesday, September 12, 2006 RV Parking In Santa Cruz County |
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The “police powers” of local government are extensive, flexible, and malleable. Sometimes, they are called “plenary.” In more normal language, local governments have the ability to make laws and regulations to react to almost any situation that has a bearing on the public health, safety, or welfare. And “welfare,” in this case, is very broadly defined. If you’re already starting to think about your vote in November, be aware that Proposition 90, which purports to address possible abuses of the government’s eminent domain powers, would in fact, for all practical purposes, make it impossible for a local government (or even the state government) to legislate in the area of the public “welfare.” Proposition 90 is a kind of “taxpayer trap,” because it would make the taxpayers pay affected property owners if any regulation affected them. And of course, virtually any regulation adopted does affect property owners. Today, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance that would regulate the parking of RVs in rural areas. That’s the use of the “police powers” to address a “welfare” type issue. Many persons around here probably think it’s good that government can do that. Since this is Santa Cruz County, the entire text of what’s being proposed is online. Find out more below. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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| Wednesday, September 13, 2006 Strange Days on Planet Earth |
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The Monterey Bay Aquarium is holding a series of educational sessions on global warming this coming Saturday, September 16th. During the sessions, the Aquarium will be showing the film, “Strange Days on Planet Earth: The One Degree Factor.” There will also be discussion groups and informational displays. The global warming sessions this weekend will not be at the Aquarium itself, but at its “Center for the Future of the Oceans,” located at 100 Heritage Harbor (near Fisherman’s Wharf) in Monterey. The first session will begin at 10:00 a.m., and the last one will start at 4:00 p.m. There is more information on the KUSP website. Just click on the Land Use Report link, and track down today’s transcript. I’d appreciate your comments and suggestions, as well. There’s an easy way to email me from the KUSP website. The public’s understanding of global warming is growing, and that’s critically important, because very small changes in the earth’s temperature can produce very BIG effects on the habitability of our planet, both for ourselves and other living things. Talking about a “One Degree Factor” is a way to spotlight what’s at stake. If you’re interested in becoming a global warming activist, get ready to engage in some aggressive land use policy work. How we pattern our future growth and development will have a lot to do with whether we are successful in reducing our global warming emissions. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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| Thursday, September 14, 2006 Santa Cruz Community Design Workshop |
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How we pattern our future growth and development will determine how successful we are (or aren’t) in reducing global warming emissions. Of course, as I am constantly saying, land use policy is one of our most effective ways, as a community, to create a future that is environmentally sound, economically productive, and that helps us achieve our social equity goals. Concern about how we deal with global warming is only one reason to get involved in land use policy making. My interest in drawing your attention to the importance of land use issues is not a surprise to frequent listeners. It seems to be my role in life to urge your participation in meetings, seminars, workshops, and other deliberative processes that can affect our future land use policies. So, get ready for your next assignment! According to former Santa Cruz City Mayor Don Lane, a group of sixteen persons has been “operating under the cover of darkness – meeting at night – and largely out of the public eye” to discuss land use policy for the City. This is not, however, a “sinister cabal,” but the City of Santa Cruz General Plan Advisory Committee. This Saturday, September 16th, you can get involved yourself, with the Committee, by attending a community design workshop at Gault Elementary School on Seabright Avenue. The workshop will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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| Friday, September 15, 2006 Coastal Cleanup |
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On Wednesday, I told you about a series of global warming workshops being held in Monterey on Saturday the 16th (that’s tomorrow), sponsored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Yesterday, I told you about the City of Santa Cruz community design workshop, which is part of its General Plan Update process. That workshop will also be held tomorrow at the Gault Elementary School, on Seabright Avenue, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (and a free lunch will be provided). Today, let me give you another idea for something you might want to do tomorrow. And this is something that will get you out into the natural environment that good land use policies can help protect. Tomorrow, Saturday the 16th, is “Coastal Cleanup Day,” throughout California, and there are a number of great ways you can get involved, wherever you live along the Central Coast. The California Coastal Commission is the coordinator of the statewide “Coastal Cleanup” effort, but there are official coordinators in each county, and I’ve provided a list of those local coordinators as part of the transcript of today’s Land Use Report. In addition, I’ve highlighted the websites of those organizations that are making a special effort to mobilize volunteers for this year’s “Coastal Cleanup.” You will find the links below to all the information you’ll need to be able to take part. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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Archives of past transcripts are available here
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