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KUSP LandWatch
News
Week of February 28, 2011 to March 4, 2011
Week of February 28, 2011 to March 4, 2011
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 February 28, 2011 to March 4, 2011
- Monday, February 28, 2011
Hot Topics This Evening
- Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Out And About
- Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Out And About Again
- Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Coastal Commission Pays Us A Visit
- Friday, March 4, 2011
Burning Garbage In Gonzales?
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, February 28, 2011 Hot Topics This Evening |
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In Monterey County, one member of the County Board of Supervisors holds regular public meetings, in a public location, thus giving any member of the public an opportunity to show up, without having to make an appointment, to raise questions and to find out what is on the Supervisor’s mind. That would be current Board of Supervisors’ Chair Jane Parker. Parker represents Seaside, Marina, and Salinas, and is serving her first term on the Board. As far as I know, no other Monterey County Supervisor makes this kind of a consistent public outreach effort. In Santa Cruz County, First District County Supervisor John Leopold does exactly the same thing. I commend them both, and encourage KUSP listeners to keep in touch with their elected officials. In our system of representative democracy, elected officials have been delegated governmental powers by the people, and they really do have the legal right to make decisions that have dramatic impacts on all of us. If we want to maintain “self-government” there is no shortcut to getting involved ourselves. Here’s a salute to Leopold and Parker, who are trying to make it easier for us to do that. This evening, Parker is hosting one of her “Hot Topics With Supervisor Jane Parker” meetings from 5:30 to 6:30 at Me-n-Ed’s Pizza, 880 Broadway in Seaside. You are invited! For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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| Tuesday, March 1, 2011 Out And About |
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If you click on the “Land Use Report” button on the KUSP website, you can track down the written transcripts of these weekday Land Use Reports. They almost always contain links to more information. You can also access a set of audio archives, and a set of “Land Use Links,” that direct you to government agencies and nonprofit organizations that are active in the land use arena. One of the organizations listed is the Elkhorn Slough Foundation. If you are not familiar with Elkhorn Slough, I encourage you to take a trip out there. It’s a National Estuarine Research Reserve, and one of the most amazing and under appreciated environments anywhere. It’s not “anywhere,” either. It’s easily accessible from Highway One as it goes through Moss Landing, and you can take the “back way” in, coming from Salinas Road, which intersects Highway One just south of Watsonville. The Elkhorn Slough Foundation seeks your membership and support, and members get to take part in some great outings. There is a Spring Birding Walk on Saturday March 12th, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30. There is a Native Plant Fair (open to everyone) on Sunday March 19th; and there is a Sunset Walk for new members on Wednesday, April 20th. Consider this my official invitation for you to get out and about in our wonderful Central Coast environment! For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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| Wednesday, March 2, 2011 Out And About Again |
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A lifestyle guru once told me (it was my son, actually) that I need to balance my incredible appetite for long meetings of governmental agencies with some real “outdoor time,” to experience that environment I’m always talking about. Yesterday, I was urging you to consider a trip to Elkhorn Slough. Today, let me urge you to get “out and about” again, by participating in some of the outings available through the Sierra Club. In the spirit of full disclosure, the law firm with which I am associated does legal work for the Sierra Club, which unlike many nonprofit organizations is not a “tax-deductible” nonprofit. By deciding to be a 501(c)(4) organization, instead of a 501(c)(3) organization, which can qualify supporters for tax deductions, the Sierra Club is able to engage in “political” and “policy” activity without any constraint. And of course they do that. Unless you are a member of the Sierra Club, though, you may not be aware just how much the Club has incorporated the “get outdoors” advice into the Club’s lifestyle. I think John Muir started the tradition. Many Club members don’t get that engaged in the political and policy side, but they are definitely down and dirty for work parties and hikes. There is a walk along the Old Mission Trail on Friday, March 4th. There is a walk to Mount Hamilton on March 5th. Get more information in today’s transcript. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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| Thursday, March 3, 2011 The Coastal Commission Pays Us A Visit |
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The California Coastal Commission, our premier land use and planning agency, is charged with protecting some of the most prized and pricey land in California. Next week, Central Coast residents will have an easy way to see the Commission in action. The Commission will meet on the 5th Floor of the Santa Cruz County Government Center, from Wednesday, March 9th through Friday, March 11th. There is a link to the Commission’s agenda in the transcript of today’s Report. Not on the agenda will be any consideration of the La Bahia Hotel demolition proposal. That demolition, of course, is to be accompanied by the construction of a new hotel, which would exceed the height limit generally applicable in the Beach Area. The City of Santa Cruz approved the project, despite this fact, and the Coastal Commission was going to have its say next week. Last Tuesday, however, Mayor Coonerty announced, that the “City” had requested that La Bahia be taken off the Commission’s agenda, apparently because the City wasn’t sure that the developer had the votes. It turns out that the City Council never actually discussed this, which means that the Mayor or some City staff person acted individually, claiming to speak for the “City,” even though the City’s elected City Council never got to consider the matter. Local residents who care about the La Bahia item are clearly going to be put at a disadvantage, since the Commission’s decision now likely won’t be made right here in Santa Cruz. For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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| Friday, March 4, 2011 Burning Garbage In Gonzales? |
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Turning our trash into air pollution might be a terrific idea. Think of all the energy that could be generated! As you might guess, from the way I am presenting the item, I am somewhat skeptical about burning garbage in the name of energy production. That is being considered, however, right here in the Central Coast Region, albeit the latest proposal has a “high-tech” component that is supposed to give us the energy benefits without any significant pollution impacts. A listener has told me that the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority has scheduled a public information meeting on Tuesday, March 8th, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Gonzales High School Gymnasium, located at 501 Fifth Street in Gonzales. The Solid Waste Authority is not planning to take public testimony. During the one hour scheduled for the meeting, the Authority wants simply to present information about converting 400 to 600 tons a day of solid waste, coming from three counties, into electricity, at a facility to be located at the Johnson Canyon Landfill, East of Gonzales. A so-called ”plasma gasification” process is proposed by Plasco Energy Group, a Canadian venture, hoping to qualify for federal tax subsidies and to get local approval for what will be a profit-making business for them. As I have often said before, “if you care, be there!” For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.
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Archives of past transcripts are available here
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