This blog was originally posted way back in 2010 (how times have not changed). This is a story about high-speed rail in California and it had so many comments, I've reposted almost every year for my new readers and to remind my old ones. But now, even after eight years, nothing seems to have changed and, in fact, political positions have sadly become even more locked in place as the costs continue to sky-rocket. Construction in the Southern San Joaquin Valley are uncontrolled and they do not know where it will end. And technologies, such as the electric car and the autonomous auto, will probably kill the thing before it can reach its potential.

Governor Brown, Moonbeam, is gone, officially he's gone over the rainbow and his hand selected successor will be soon sworn in. I'm not sure what Gavin Newsom's real position is on this railroad. I'm kind of thinking he's his own guy and wants new tech, not republished nineteenth century. It it weren't for the politics (one party rule) in Sacramento, this train would have died years ago. When you complain about the current state of things in Washington (just don't start), just look at what we have here.

The story has been slightly updated . . .

A Toy Train for Christmas

The Parts and Players:

Santa Claus (The Big Guy) – Washington D.C.

Santa’s Helpers (Men and Women in Elf Costumes) – State Governments

Billy (Good Little Boy) and Tiffany (Good Little Girl) – California, Florida, Washington State, Illinois, New York, et all

Sally (Not so Good Little Girl) –Ohio and Wisconsin

Toy Train – High Speed Rail

(Many of these children have during the last eight years opted out of this grand Christmas present. But I leave them in for history's sake.)

Our Scene:

Santa’s huge toy shop in one of the big department stores (not that there are many left); a long line of children wait to tell Santa what they want for Christmas.

The first child climbs up on Santa’s knee with the help of one of the elves. 

      “And what’s your name little boy?”

      “Billy, Santa Claus, Billy.”

      “Have you been good?”

      “Oh yes Santa, I have been very, very good.”

      “Excellent Billy, excellent, and what do you want for Christmas?

      “Oh Santa I want an erector set to build bridges and new infrastructure for my brother, a whole village of affordable dollhouses for my little sister, and a turkey with all the stuff and stuffing for my dad, see he’s lost his job.”

      “I’m sorry to hear about that, I’ll see what I can do. Billy, you want so much for your family and that’s good, very good, but Billy, what do you want for being so good?”

      Billy thought for a moment then turned his head to Santa with a huge smile. “Santa I want a toy train. It would be the most wonderfulous thing in the whole world, a toy train that I can play with, run the track all through my room and maybe even in the hallway. It just has to be the most special and wonderous train, all shiny and sparkly and new. And, oh, oh, Santa that would be so great and it would be real cool ‘cause none of friends would have a train like it and they all would wan’na come over and see it and play with me in my room. Please Santa, please. Mom says that they have them in France and China, even though I don't know where those places are.”

      “But Billy I gave you a set of Hot Wheels and racetrack a few years ago and a really cool airplane and terminal set last year. Aren’t they fun to play with anymore? How about a nice electric car?”

      “Nah, Santa. I broke the racetrack and the planes just aren’t any fun anymore, but a toy train would be real cool, did I say the other kids would wan’na come over and see it.”

      “Yes you did, but Billy, that is a very big toy for someone your size.”

      “No. I’m a big boy, see!” Billy puffed himself up real big.

      “Yes, I guess you are, now that you are all puffed up. Yes, Billy, Santa has to agree that you are a big boy now and can take care of such a wonderfulous toy. Santa will see what he can do. Just watch for a big ‘green’ box under your Christmas tree.”

      “Oh thank you Santa, thank you.”

      Billy, with the help of the elves (who were all smiling and singing, I've Been Working on the Railroad), climbed off Santa’s knee and slid down the slide into a huge pile of ‘green’ cotton candy. Billy was in heaven.

      The next child in line wasn’t sure about Santa, he was so big and his suit was all red and furry. The bells on all the elves (who were scurrying about still talking about the good little boy, Billy), jingled and jangled creating such a wonderous din. This all scared the little girl. When the elves helped her onto Santa’s knee, Santa wasn’t sure what was going to happen. He was afraid for his suit.

      “And what’s your name little girl?”

      “Sally,” she said quietly, still shaking.

      “That’s a pretty name, have you been a good little girl?”

      Sally thought for a moment. She looked at the Big Guy and all the elves dressed in 'green' elf costumes, 'green' cotton candy billowed all around them, it was a wonderous sight.

      “Santa, I have not been a good little girl. I have saved my lunch money and not given it to my friends at school like my teacher says I should. I used it to help my dad and I bought him a new tie, he was trying to get a job, and he did Santa, he was so happy. And I yelled at my brother when he bought some ice cream just after he had a whole mouthful of candy. So you see, I have not been a good girl.”

      “I see, yes Sally, those aren’t good things to do, you should always mind your teacher.”

      “Yes, Santa.”

      “But Sally, the elves and I know you can improve and be a better human being. I just know you want something for Christmas. Billy, that fine young man, who sat on this very knee just before you; see, he's playing in the 'green' cotton candy, said all he wanted was a toy train, all shiny and sparkly and new. Wouldn’t you want a toy train? Santa has a whole box full of them at the North Pole.”

      Sally thought for another moment then looked over at the next child standing in line, her name was Tiffany. She wore a bright dress and was all smiles. 

      “Can you hurry, Sally?” Tiffany demanded, stamping her shiny Mary-janes. “I just have to talk to Santa and, unlike you, I have been a very good little girl.” Even the elves could hear Tiffany’s strong Valley Girl accent.

      Sally looked back at Santa. “Santa, I really don’t want a toy train; I know that if I get it my parents will have to buy more track so that I can run it down the hallway and then I will have to get more cars and a new engine and then I will have to buy one of those fancy train stations and I will have to get a little bridge to run the train over the other tracks and then a crossing thing with arms that go up and down and then I will have to get a huge box to keep them it and besides, it will be fun for a little while, then I will get bored and want something new and then it will just sit around and be in the way and besides it will only go in a circle and not really go anywhere really fast.”

      Santa was shocked; not because she said it all in one sentence and one breath, it was because everyone wanted a toy train, that’s why he had a box full.

      “Sally, you just aren’t a very good girl; you only think of yourself and not others.”

      Sally was saddened to hear that from Santa who had always been a hero to her. 

      “Santa,” Sally said, “why don’t you give the toy train to Tiffany, she is always a good little girl and wears really nice clothes, nice shoes, has a wonderful tan, and always has a smile. I think she gives her lunch money to the teacher who uses it for good things. Yes, Tiffany is a good little girl, give her the toy train. She deserves it and besides I have heard that her parents are real rich and can buy her all the tracks and stations she wants.”

      Santa was very pleased, he had so many trains to give away and the line of good little boys and girls disappeared around the ‘green’ cotton candy mountain.

      Santa, pulled from his reverie, felt a tug on his sleeve; Sally looked up at him with her sad eyes. “Santa I really don’t want anything for myself, but if you can, my little brother wants a Red Ryder BB Rifle.”

      Santa was stunned and outraged beyond belief as to what his ears had heard. He pushed Sally slid off his knee and past all the 'green' cotton candy and watched as she crawled to the slide and started down its slippery surface. But she stopped just for second and took one last look at the Big Guy and all the wonderous elves and the piles of 'green' cotton candy and heard them exclaim ere she slid out of sight, “Sally, you’ll shoot your eye out.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Stay Tuned . . . .

Merry Christmas and What Do You Really Want/Need for Christmas?

 First of all, Merry Christmas to you and all your family, friends, and even those few who you see once or twice a year. Everyone deserves a Merry Christmas. And I sincerely hope that Santa brings you everything you deserve – and if coal, sorry, the price has dropped through the floor due to the clean air bill.

When this season rolls around I have some fun with an old (in the blog-a-sphere three years is old) blog, I just have to reprise my little bit on the high-speed rail. Many have not had the pleasure of the post but I do have to add that some have objected to the flat out theft from the wondrous Midwestern writer and humorous Jean Shepherd. I make no apologies.

And this year there seems to be some adults who now have come to see Santa, especially Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny who has told Santa and the elves in no uncertain terms  - "Show me the Money!"

A Toy Train for Christmas

The Parts and Players:

Santa Claus (The Big Guy) – Washington D.C. and California Governor Brown

Santa’s Helpers (men and women politicians in elf costumes) – State Governments and their minions

Billy (Good Little Boy) and Tiffany (Good Little Girl) – California, Florida, Washington State, Illinois, New York, et all

Sally (Not so Good Little Girl) – Ohio and Wisconsin and after late fall 2013, a California judge

Toy Train – High Speed Rail

Our Scene:
Santa’s huge toyshop in one of America's really big department stores; a long line of children wait to tell Santa what they really, really want for Christmas.

The first child climbs up on Santa’s knee with the help of one of the elves.

“And what’s your name little boy?”

“Billy, Santa Claus, Billy.”

“Have you been good?”

“Oh yes Santa, I have been very, very good.”

“Excellent Billy, excellent, and what do you want for Christmas?

“Oh Santa I want an erector set to build bridges for my brother, a whole village of affordable dollhouses for my little sister, and a turkey with all the stuff and stuffing for my dad, see he’s lost his job.”

“I’m sorry to hear about that, I’ll see what I can do. Billy, you want so much for your family and that’s good, very good, but Billy, what do you want for being so good?”

Billy thought for a moment then turned his head to Santa with a huge smile. “Santa I want a toy train. It would be the most wonderfulous thing in the whole world, a toy train that I can play with, run the track all through my room and maybe even in the hallway. It just has to be the most special and wondrous train, all shiny and sparkly and new. And, oh, oh, Santa that would be so great and it would be real cool ‘cause none of friends would have a train like it and they all would wan’na come over and see it and play with me in my room. Please Santa, please.”

 “But Billy I gave you a set of Hot Wheels and racetrack a few years ago and a really cool airplane and terminal set last year. Aren’t they fun to play with anymore?”

 “Nah, Santa. I broke the racetrack and the planes just aren’t any fun anymore, but a toy train would be real cool, did I say the other kids would wan’na come over and see it.”

“Yes you did, but Billy, that is a very big toy for someone your size.”

 “No. I’m a big boy, see!” Billy puffed himself up real big.

 “Yes, I guess you are, now that you are all puffed up. Yes, Billy, Santa has to agree that you are a big boy now and can take care of such a wonderfulous toy. Santa will see what he can do. Just watch for a big ‘green’ box under your Christmas tree.”
“Oh thank you Santa, thank you.”

Billy, with the help of the elves (who were all smiling and singing I've Been Working on the Railroad), climbed off Santa’s knee and slid down the slide into a huge pile of ‘green’ cotton candy. Billy was in heaven.

The next child in line wasn’t sure about Santa, he was so big and his suit was all red and furry. The bells on all the elves (who were scurrying about still talking about the good little boy, Billy) jingled and jangled creating such a wondrous din. This all scared the little girl. When the elves helped her onto Santa’s knee, Santa wasn’t sure what was going to happen. He was afraid for his suit.

 “And what’s your name little girl?”

“Sally,” she said quietly, still shaking.

“That’s a pretty name, have you been a good little girl?”

Sally thought for a moment. She looked at the Big Guy and all the elves dressed in 'green' elf costumes, 'green' cotton candy billowed all around them, it was a wondrous sight.

“Santa, I have not been a good little girl. I have saved my lunch money and not given it to my friends at school like my teacher says I should. I used it to help my dad and I bought him a new tie, he was trying to get a job, and he did Santa, he was so happy. And I yelled at my brother when he bought some ice cream just after he had a whole mouthful of candy. So you see, I have not been a good girl.”

“I see, yes Sally, those aren’t good things to do, you should always mind your teacher, they know everything.”

“Yes Santa.”

“But Sally, the elves and I know you can improve and be a better human being and we know you want something for Christmas. Billy, that fine young man, who sat on this very knee just before you; see, he's playing in the 'green' cotton candy, said all he wanted was a toy train, all shiny and sparkly and new. Wouldn’t you want a toy train? Santa has a whole box full of them at the North Pole.”

Sally thought for another moment then looked over at the next child standing in line, her name was Tiffany. She wore a bright new dress and was all smiles.

“Can you hurry Sally?” Tiffany demanded, stamping her shiny Mary-Janes. “I just have to talk to Santa and, unlike you, I have been a very good little girl.” Even the elves could hear Tiffany’s strong Valley Girl accent.

Sally looked back at Santa. “Santa, I really don’t want a toy train; I know that if I get it my parents will have to buy more track so that I can run it down the hallway and then I will have to get more cars and a new engine and then I will have to buy one of those fancy train stations and I will have to get a little bridge to run the train over the other tracks and then a crossing thing with arms that go up and down and then I will have to get a huge box to keep them it and besides, it will be fun for a little while, then I will get bored and want something new and then it will just sit around and be in the way and besides it will only go in a circle and not really go anywhere really fast.”

Santa was shocked; not because she said it all in one sentence and one breath, it was because everyone wanted a toy train, that’s why he had a box full.

“Sally, you just aren’t a very good girl; you only think of yourself and not others.”

Sally was saddened to hear that from Santa who had always been a hero to her.

“Santa,” Sally said, “why don’t you give the toy train to Tiffany, she is always a good little girl and wears really nice clothes, nice shoes, has a wonderful tan, and always has a smile now that her braces have been removed. I think she gives her lunch money to the teacher who uses it for good things. Yes, Tiffany is a good little girl, give her the toy train. She deserves it and besides I have heard that her parents are real rich and can buy her all the track and stations she wants.”

Santa was very pleased, he had so many trains to give away and the line of good little boys and girls disappeared around the ‘green’ cotton candy mountain.

Santa, pulled from his reverie thinking of all the good he can do, felt a tug on his sleeve; Sally looked up at him with her sad eyes. “Santa I really don’t want anything for myself, but if you can, my little brother wants a Red Ryder BB Rifle.”

Santa was stunned and outraged beyond belief what his ears had heard. He pushed Sally slid off his knee and past all the 'green' cotton candy and watched as she crawled to the slide and started down its slippery surface. But she stopped just for second and took one last look at the Big Guy and all the wondrous elves and the piles of 'green' cotton candy and heard them exclaim ere she slid out of sight, “Sally, you’ll shoot your eye out.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Stay Tuned . . . . . . . .

Nice Shade of Lipstick on that Pig

Now that the Bay Area is waking up to the fact the new bridge has done nothing to improve the traffic bottleneck that exists between the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, California woe be to the politicians that sold us this slab of bacon. The goal of traffic improvements, especially those that cost $6.5 billion dollars, is to improve traffic, yes? Don’t you think? 

Same as before - Count them

Yes, I was living in San Francisco when the Loma Prieta Earthquake shook the Bay Area (I was at Candlestick, truly we were). I watched the damaged Embarcadero Freeway torn down giving the city a whole new waterfront thus making the Giants ballpark viable and even the Mission Bay Area more accessible and better access to the core of the city immediately to the north. All these were strong positive answers to the mugging old Mother Earth gave northern California.

Two politicians, when they saw the concept for the replacement span, said NO! The old erector set of a bridge called the cantilever section needed replacing; that was the part of the seven mile span that failed during the quake. A beautiful clean concrete span was proposed to sweep up to Yerba Buena Island and then across the suspension span. Jerry Brown (then Oakland mayor and now California governor), and Willie Brown, (then San Francisco mayor and now glad-handing political sharpie) said, “Hold on, aren’t we the Bay Area? Don’t we deserve something better?” Chagrined and chastised CalTrans and the engineering community said “Alright,” and with typical California haste and waste pinned the redesign on the wall, received mayoral blessings, and with the help of China with steel and prefab parts gave us “The Bridge.” And it only took 25 years.

It fixed nothing. Not one lane was added and not an iota of improvement to the commute and the physical connection between San Francisco and Oakland. There were dreamers who said this bridge would do great things for the tourist trade and the regional transit trade, not! Sure they added breakdown lanes and a bikeway to nowhere, the lights are very cool, and yes you will no longer feel as though you are in some steampunk ride at Disneyland offered by the old cantilever section from San Francisco to Oakland. All for the better, except it’s not. There is a desperate need for some type of traffic stent to open up the east to west traffic and it will never be the Bay Bridge. 

Frank Lloyd Wright's Version -  1949

New Call for the Mid-Bay Crossing

Numerous studies, some going back almost a hundred years, cite the need for a mid-bay crossing somewhere between the two opposing airports of SFO and Oakland. Environmentalists immediately throw a fit and rouse their rabble to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Bay mud and the inevitable environmental Armageddon it would cause (witness the battle to add desperately needed runways at SFO). But this cross-bay connection would have profound and significant impacts on the artery that is the Bay Bridge. So much of the daily bridge travel passes through San Francisco and Oakland that only goes to other parts of the Bay Area a daily thrombosis develops straining the system.

Regional planning groups (ABAG et al) are demanding more density, more vertical construction, more housing, more jobs, more everything all to be forced into the urban core. When traffic is cited as a real problem for this utopian dream their answer is free bikes, free Muni transit, free BART, free bridge tolls. However, there is no free lunch.

This new east/west connection could carry a tremendous volume of almost everything. Traffic lanes obviously – probably five each way, a bike system that connects both sides of the bay, it could also carry BART trains reducing the downtown impacts in San Francisco (also a point of serious blockage throughout the whole BART system - one dead train here kills the system and makes the airports inaccessible). The current bridge carries more than 270,000 vehicles a day, if even 25% could be diverted it would be like adding lanes to the current bridge system. Environmentalists love to point out the lost hours (as if they really care) due to congestion and thrombosis, not to mention the yuck thrown into the air as these cars sit idling waiting for their turn on the ride. Yet if magically every one of these cars could instantly change to electric nothing would change, it still would clog up and in time be even worse

Tappan Zee Bridge Option

This bypass and mid-bay connection must be reconsidered for the long term growth and sustainability (I really hate that useless term) of the Bay Area. Consider the impacts on areas near SFO airport and the increase in densities and development nearer to Silicon Valley. Consider the increased development in and around Oakland’s airport. Both landing areas at each end are flat and eminently redevelopable and have main BART lines nearby. All that is needed is the will to move forward. We changed the direction of the replacement bridge by the whim of a mayor or two; why not take into consideration the Bay Area resident for a change.

Stay Tuned . . . . . . . .

A Toy Train for Christmas

Two years ago I posted this story about high-speed rail in California and had so many comments I thought I would repost for my new readers. But now, even after two years, nothing seems to have changed and, in fact, political positions have sadly become even more locked in place as the costs continue to sky-rocket.

A Toy Train for Christmas

The Parts and Players:

Santa Claus (The Big Guy) – Washington D.C.

Santa’s Helpers (Men and Women in Elf Costumes) – State Governments

Billy (Good Little Boy) and Tiffany (Good Little Girl) – California, Florida, Washington State, Illinois, New York, et all

Sally (Not so Good Little Girl) –Ohio and Wisconsin

Toy Train – High Speed Rail

Our Scene:

Santa’s huge toy shop in one of the big department stores; a long line of children wait to tell Santa what they want for Christmas.

The first child climbs up on Santa’s knee with the help of one of the elves.

      “And what’s your name little boy?”

      “Billy, Santa Claus, Billy.”

      “Have you been good?”

      “Oh yes Santa, I have been very, very good.”

      “Excellent Billy, excellent, and what do you want for Christmas?

      “Oh Santa I want an erector set to build bridges for my brother, a whole village of dollhouses for my little sister, and a turkey with all the stuff and stuffing for my dad, see he’s lost his job.”

      “I’m sorry to hear about that, I’ll see what I can do. Billy, you want so much for your family and that’s good, very good, but Billy, what do you want for being so good?”

      Billy thought for a moment then turned his head to Santa with a huge smile. “Santa I want a toy train. It would be the most wonderfulous thing in the whole world, a toy train that I can play with, run the track all through my room and maybe even in the hallway. It just has to be the most special and wonderous train, all shiny and sparkly and new. And, oh, oh, Santa that would be so great and it would be real cool ‘cause none of friends would have a train like it and they all would wan’na come over and see it and play with me in my room. Please Santa, please.”

      “But Billy I gave you a set of Hot Wheels and racetrack a few years ago and a really cool airplane and terminal set last year. Aren’t they fun to play with anymore?”

      “Nah, Santa. I broke the racetrack and the planes just aren’t any fun anymore, but a toy train would be real cool, did I say the other kids would wan’na come over and see it.”

      “Yes you did, but Billy, that is a very big toy for someone your size.”

      “No. I’m a big boy, see!” Billy puffed himself up real big.

      “Yes, I guess you are, now that you are all puffed up. Yes, Billy, Santa has to agree that you are a big boy now and can take care of such a wonderfulous toy. Santa will see what he can do. Just watch for a big ‘green’ box under your Christmas tree.”

      “Oh thank you Santa, thank you.”

      Billy, with the help of the elves (who were all smiling and singing, I've Been Working on the Railroad), climbed off Santa’s knee and slid down the slide into a huge pile of ‘green’ cotton candy. Billy was in heaven.

      The next child in line wasn’t sure about Santa, he was so big and his suit was all red and furry. The bells on all the elves (who were scurrying about still talking about the good little boy, Billy), jingled and jangled creating such a wonderous din. This all scared the little girl. When the elves helped her onto Santa’s knee, Santa wasn’t sure what was going to happen. He was afraid for his suit.

      “And what’s your name little girl?”

      “Sally,” she said quietly, still shaking.

      “That’s a pretty name, have you been a good little girl?”

      Sally thought for a moment. She looked at the Big Guy and all the elves dressed in 'green' elf costumes, 'green' cotton candy billowed all around them, it was a wonderous sight.

      “Santa, I have not been a good little girl. I have saved my lunch money and not given it to my friends at school like my teacher says I should. I used it to help my dad and I bought him a new tie, he was trying to get a job, and he did Santa, he was so happy. And I yelled at my brother when he bought some ice cream just after he had a whole mouthful of candy. So you see, I have not been a good girl.”

      “I see, yes Sally, those aren’t good things to do, you should always mind your teacher.”

      “Yes Santa.”

      “But Sally, the elves and I know you can improve and be a better human being. I just know you want something for Christmas. Billy, that fine young man, who sat on this very knee just before you; see, he's playing in the 'green' cotton candy, said all he wanted was a toy train, all shiny and sparkly and new. Wouldn’t you want a toy train? Santa has a whole box full of them at the North Pole.”

      Sally thought for another moment then looked over at the next child standing in line, her name was Tiffany. She wore a bright dress and was all smiles.

      “Can you hurry Sally?” Tiffany demanded, stamping her shiny Mary-janes. “I just have to talk to Santa and, unlike you, I have been a very good little girl.” Even the elves could hear Tiffany’s strong Valley Girl accent.

      Sally looked back at Santa. “Santa, I really don’t want a toy train; I know that if I get it my parents will have to buy more track so that I can run it down the hallway and then I will have to get more cars and a new engine and then I will have to buy one of those fancy train stations and I will have to get a little bridge to run the train over the other tracks and then a crossing thing with arms that go up and down and then I will have to get a huge box to keep them it and besides, it will be fun for a little while, then I will get bored and want something new and then it will just sit around and be in the way and besides it will only go in a circle and not really go anywhere really fast.”

      Santa was shocked; not because she said it all in one sentence and one breath, it was because everyone wanted a toy train, that’s why he had a box full.

      “Sally, you just aren’t a very good girl; you only think of yourself and not others.”

      Sally was saddened to hear that from Santa who had always been a hero to her.

      “Santa,” Sally said, “why don’t you give the toy train to Tiffany, she is always a good little girl and wears really nice clothes, nice shoes, has a wonderful tan, and always has a smile. I think she gives her lunch money to the teacher who uses it for good things. Yes, Tiffany is a good little girl, give her the toy train. She deserves it and besides I have heard that her parents are real rich and can buy her all the tracks and stations she wants.”

      Santa was very pleased, he had so many trains to give away and the line of good little boys and girls disappeared around the ‘green’ cotton candy mountain.

      Santa, pulled from his reverie, felt a tug on his sleeve; Sally looked up at him with her sad eyes. “Santa I really don’t want anything for myself, but if you can, my little brother wants a Red Ryder BB Rifle.”

      Santa was stunned and outraged beyond belief what his ears had heard. He pushed Sally slid off his knee and past all the 'green' cotton candy and watched as she crawled to the slide and started down its slippery surface. But she stopped just for second and took one last look at the Big Guy and all the wonderous elves and the piles of 'green' cotton candy and heard them exclaim ere she slid out of sight, “Sally, you’ll shoot your eye out.”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Stay Tuned . . . .

A Gauntlet in the Shopkeeper’s Face

An Entrepreneur Preparing for the Approval Process

Graphic by LeiaMAC

 

The gauntlet has been thrown by Jerry Brown at the face of the California business community, he has fundamentally said, “Pay up or I will hole the ship of state and we will all go down together.” As a believer in the market forces of competition and growth I am embarrassed by all of this politicking and finger pointing. It’s like Gordon Gecko in the movie Wall Street, but in this case it’s the state government saying, “Greed is good.”

The only way the state of California can get out of this mess, and many other states as well, is to grow out of it, not kill the goose that lays the eggs (at whatever price gold is these days). Bureaucracies, by their inherent DNA, need to control and manage what is set before them, whether it’s fishing licenses or building permits, traffic flows or general plans. And each of these requires staffing, directors, and funds. And if the funds aren’t there, then fees. During my many years as a planner and urban designer I have seen a set of plans for a simple single family house, on an approved lot, go from being approved over the counter to a six month exercise in futility, frustration and fees. I have seen loved communities designed and built in the 1950s in just months; now just the planning and approvals take four and five years before the first grader hits the site. I have seen derelict quarries in desperate need of recycling into better uses, destroyed through votes of the people – people who have nothing vested in the outcome.

Call me Pollyanna. I know there are solutions out there, and they will come when we are desperate enough. The state needs to not just adjust regulations and ordinances, it needs to abolish them, and they will, just wait. Throw them in the political landfills they so adamantly protect.

Growth will only come from the entrepreneurial class, not the big publicly traded retailers and manufacturers. It is these dreamers that will pull the state out of the mess we are in. It is the pizza shop owners, the corner grocers, the nail salons and hairdressers, the trendy new shops for shoes and clothing, the burger joints and the other poster children seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It’s the growth of small businesses that will make all the difference. It’s in the desire of almost every immigrant that came to this state, now free from the massive regulations and corruption of their native home, to start a business. Indian videos, Persian treats, Islamic religious art, sushi restaurants and taco trucks, most started by immigrants – everyone employs people, everyone pays taxes, everyone moves the state forward. 

Guy Fieri, the face that helped launch a thousand businesses

I’m reminded of a story I read years ago as applicable today as then. Four very rich men where asked how they would invest $50,000. The first said CDs, the second, more aggressive said the stock market – blue chips, the third said treasuries - you can’t go wrong. The fourth paused and thought for another few seconds and the said, “I would go to the Houston airport, stand outside the international terminal and lend it to the first Korean immigrant I met.” It has been this way for centuries; unfortunately this is being destroyed, especially in this state. We are being burned at the stake by the public unions and civic projects. Enough.

Taxes must be paid and collected, they are critical to the operation of every road and port. And some regional facilities must be subsidized (hold one moment while I slap myself), like transit, safety, and fire. But when taxes are used to slow or even stop growth they are wrong. A businessman would as soon move his new company out of state than pay a tax that is unfair. And Mr. Brown is being very unfair, he using extortion to please the bureaucracy.

Our urban areas are under very dire threats from shifting demographics, age issues, and changes in buying patterns and habits. Yet communities throw barricades up and then these capitalists shrug and go somewhere where they are wanted. Marin County’s loss of a Lucas Film soundstage may be Vallejo’s gain. What retailers and manufacturers decided that Texas was a better business climate than California? We will never know, they don’t write back.

As an example I’m trying to get a number of apartment complexes built in the Bay Area. One is being sued by the carpenters union over environmental impacts (yeah, like that’s the reason), another is faced with approval fees that make each apartment cost almost $40K more – with no benefit. And the utility hookup fees to these units are running over $15K each - for the privilege of paying your monthly water bill forever. And the stories about building code inspectors and delays are legendary. We can’t build our way out of this mess without the removal of obstacles. But each obstacle has its political champion, its director, its staff, its fees and its holy ground. It will be a long and difficult road.

Stay tuned . . . .