:: Bee Blogger ::

:: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 ::

Earth Destroyed, Women, Minorities Hardest Hit Part VII

The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Judge won't slow railyard project

" . . . The federal case seeks to overturn a waiver the city obtained allowing it to skip a federal environmental review. (Attorney) Merin argues that because the Alkali Flat neighborhood is historic, largely minority and poor, it is entitled to special protections under federal law and, therefore, merits a federal review.

'When you're dealing with a fragile minority community, you have other duties that come into play," Merin said. "All those things and another half-dozen or so should have resulted in (federal officials) at least considering the project, instead of granting a categorical exclusion.' . . . "

The arrogance, the supercilious limousine liberal attitude that so-called "minority communities" are "fragile" and need "special protection." Alkali Flat is an injection of redevelopment projects in a transitional, drifting and deteriorating part of town. Alkali Flat is to" community" as a strip mall is to Main Street. And we know, of course, that the "other duties that come into play" are duties never approved by any vote, but decreed by liberal dogma and the threat of mob rule unhindered by any troublesome reminders of Equal Protection. THis is the latest cynical move by trial lawyers to recruit a Clinton federal judge to help them throw this development project into a minefield studded with a combination of environmental and racial demagoguery. Don't expect Mayor Fargo to fight too hard - she's in the process of approving a million dollars of city money to pay off the trail lawyers in the phoney ADA "clear the sidewalks" suit.

:: doctorfixit 6:46 AM [+] ::
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The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Housing bill passes 2nd Assembly test
The Bee: " Steinberg's plan would make local governments set aside more new construction for the poor.
By Mary Lynne Vellinga -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PDT Thursday, May 1, 2003
" . . . Sacramento Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg's "groundbreaking effort " to make local cities and counties build more housing for the poor on Wednesday passed the second of its legislative tests. . . . Steinberg is attempting to turn the Sacramento region into a national pioneer in the production of "affordable" housing by requiring that 10 percent of the new housing built in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado, Sutter and Yuba counties be within reach of low-income residents. . . . "

The Truth: Steinberg has been a relentless enemy of private property in the Sacramento area throughout his political career. His latest socialist scheme is an unconstitutional uncompensated taking of property. Government intrusion in the marketplace, under the guise of "affordable housing", makes housing less affordable for everyone. Developers raise the price on their market-price homes, making them less affordable, to balance the losses that government forces on them for selling below-market "affordable" units. People who barely exceed the arbitrary income limits pay the mortgages for those who are lucky (or dishonest) enough to get preference. Is this an incentive to work harder for more income? The below-market units also lower the market value of the surrounding units. Add the cost of bureaucracy to run the programs, and it is clear that everyone, including "the poor" would be much better off if the government stopped meddling.

:: doctorfixit 12:10 AM [+] ::
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Sprawl For Paul
From Mark Paul today we hear the liberal mantra "we can't build our way out of traffic congestion".

Paul's solution? Tax your way out of congestion. If we draw a line around Sacramento and tax each car that comes into town $10, fewer cars will come in. He calls this "market based driving". Brilliant. We should draw a line around his articles and charge $100 to read them.

Sorry Mr. Paul. If you knew anything about real markets, you would know that in a real market, you get something for your money. Real markets are also based on free choice. Please don't ruin a perfectly good concept with liberal spin. Paul also says the gas tax system is broken. Gas taxes are huge in California, the reason we aren't getting anything for our money is obvious - pay your $10 to Mr. Paul, go into downtown Sacramento, and catch the freak show at Caltrans where 100,000 unionized bureaucrats are sleeping with their eyes open.

With 600,000 new immigrants each year, no new roads built since the 1960's, and no roads being repaired in California, building our way out of congestion is the only solution, and in order to get results we should be looking at privatizing Caltrans out of business.

:: doctorfixit 6:57 AM [+] ::
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Earth Destroyed - Women, Minorities Hardest Hit - Part III

The most laughable front page headline I've ever seen:

"OPENLY GAY POLICE CHIEF BATTLES CRIME, STIGMAS"

:: doctorfixit 8:37 PM [+] ::
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Sprawl For Paul

Bee Editorial Page Editor Mark Paul has an axe to grind - see how many times you can count the word "sprawl" in his Sunday Forum section editorials. He and the other downtown liberals hate the suburbs - they want to force everybody to live in rat cages downtown. Lving downtown might not be so bad - if you could get rid of the liberal busybodies who make it hell on earth.

So all you sprawlers out there - Let's all Sprawl for Paul!

:: doctorfixit 12:11 PM [+] ::
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