NO on Proposition 90

First of all, I'm no fan of California's initiative process. In the best of circumstances I believe it leads to piecemeal legislation, and is still beholden to the moneyed interests that it was meant to circumvent. In the worst of circumstance, it is a vehicle for out of state commercial interests and real estate developers to wage a wholesale war on our way of life. Proposition 90 is so bad that I regret having to give any space in my blog to talk about it. It will gut the planning and zoning process currently carried out by local government, and cause irreparable harm to our environment, our communities and our individual rights.

It certainly seems reasonable that large groups of people living together should establish basic laws that promote the general welfare and protect the resources that sustain them. Throughout our history we have organized ourselves to protect agricultural and environmental resources that ensure that future generations will be able to live as we do. However, Proposition 90 would remove the protections we have built for our environment. If passed, it would erode our ability to pass laws protecting natural resources, ensuring water quality and supplies, and regulating growth and development.

Our communities and our infrastructure will be hard-hit if Proposition 90 passes. Lawsuits brought under Proposition 90 would cost our local governments billions of dollars, forcing deep budget cuts for public safety, law enforcement, education and transportation. Proposition 90 will make it more difficult to enact new consumer-protection and anti-crime laws. Proposition 90 would restrict capital investment projects in the state, including flood control, school construction, utility system upgrades, highway expansions and mass transit projects.

Proposition 90 would also erode individual property rights. Because local governments would no longer be able to enact zoning regulations the way they do today, no one will be protected against a Wal-Mart or a subdivision of McMansions next door. Citizens will no longer be able to determine how our communities develop. Developers will no longer have to live up to our democratically set standards. Decades' worth of community plans and growth management will go down the toilet.

This is why pretty much everybody in the state of California opposes Proposition 90. It's so sad - and simply ridiculous - that we all have to spend our money and work so hard just to turn back a handful of evil out-of-state speculators. Please vote NO on Proposition 90 on November 7.

If you would like to go the extra mile and help encourage good planning, and not just fight bad planning in California, I urge you to check out the Planning and Conservation League, one of the many good advocacy groups that our state has to encourage stronger California communities.