How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
News
Sprawl development built far from city centers carries direct and indirect costs that pull resources away from existing neighborhoods, harming communities and natural habitats, according to a new report published today by the Center for Biological Diversity.
“The True Cost of Sprawl” analyzed the environmental harms — including pollution, wildfire risks and public health threats — that come with poor land-use decisions.
It found that suburban and exurban housing developments increase per capita infrastructure costs by 50%, pulling public funds from schools, parks, public transportation and other needs in existing communities for things like new roads and sewer systems.
“Fueling more sprawl is lucrative for developers, but it levies a hefty price tag for the rest of us,” said Elizabeth Reid-Wainscoat, a campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The disturbing trend of policymakers approving more exurban projects that exacerbate the climate emergency can be reversed with a few bold policy changes. Failing to address the true costs of sprawl will mean more land-use mistakes that lock us into a future of more smog, congestion and wildfire risk.”
Despite the harmful consequences, elected officials across California keep approving low-density housing far from existing communities as new sprawl developments are proposed.
In Solano County, a proposal to build a new city called California Forever would pave over wildlife habitat, threaten local water supply and increase air pollution in the region with tens of thousands of new commuters. The sprawling Centennial project, which was approved by Los Angeles County but rejected in court, would increase wildfire risk, destroy native grasslands and significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions. These developments would contribute to the extinction crisis by paving over natural areas while providing little affordable housing.
The report makes the following recommendations to policymakers:
• Protect and restore open space while directing development to urban infill areas.
• Permanently protect current affordable housing and set legally binding anti-displacement policies.
• Build development in areas free from toxic pollutants and away from flood and wildfire zones.
• Invest in public transit and affordable housing with climate-resilient features such as rooftop solar and drought-tolerant landscaping in the urban core.
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
“The True Cost of Sprawl” analyzed the environmental harms — including pollution, wildfire risks and public health threats — that come with poor land-use decisions.
It found that suburban and exurban housing developments increase per capita infrastructure costs by 50%, pulling public funds from schools, parks, public transportation and other needs in existing communities for things like new roads and sewer systems.
“Fueling more sprawl is lucrative for developers, but it levies a hefty price tag for the rest of us,” said Elizabeth Reid-Wainscoat, a campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The disturbing trend of policymakers approving more exurban projects that exacerbate the climate emergency can be reversed with a few bold policy changes. Failing to address the true costs of sprawl will mean more land-use mistakes that lock us into a future of more smog, congestion and wildfire risk.”
Despite the harmful consequences, elected officials across California keep approving low-density housing far from existing communities as new sprawl developments are proposed.
In Solano County, a proposal to build a new city called California Forever would pave over wildlife habitat, threaten local water supply and increase air pollution in the region with tens of thousands of new commuters. The sprawling Centennial project, which was approved by Los Angeles County but rejected in court, would increase wildfire risk, destroy native grasslands and significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions. These developments would contribute to the extinction crisis by paving over natural areas while providing little affordable housing.
The report makes the following recommendations to policymakers:
• Protect and restore open space while directing development to urban infill areas.
• Permanently protect current affordable housing and set legally binding anti-displacement policies.
• Build development in areas free from toxic pollutants and away from flood and wildfire zones.
• Invest in public transit and affordable housing with climate-resilient features such as rooftop solar and drought-tolerant landscaping in the urban core.
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Water Resources reported that Aeroflite Tactical Training CL415 will be occurring on Clear Lake between March 12 and 22.
During this training time, expect to see the scooper aircraft “practicing” their descent, scoop and ascent from various areas around Clear Lake.
Training is not expected to take place every day.
For more information call Water Resources at 707-263-2344.
During this training time, expect to see the scooper aircraft “practicing” their descent, scoop and ascent from various areas around Clear Lake.
Training is not expected to take place every day.
For more information call Water Resources at 707-263-2344.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, has introduced a resolution designating March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month in an effort to bring attention to an addiction affecting more than a million Californians and connect people with treatment.
“For anyone struggling with addiction — and that includes those facing gambling problems — awareness and access to services are critical,” said Sen. Dodd. “Problem gambling is not only an addiction, it’s a serious public health concern. So we must promote a better understanding and prompt people struggling with problem gambling to seek help.”
Sen. Dodd introduced Senate Resolution 67, creating California's month-long awareness campaign.
National Problem Gambling Awareness Month was established in 1972 by the National Council on Problem Gambling. Gambling disorder is classified by the American Psychiatric Association as an addiction that is similar to alcohol and drug dependence in many of the causes and consequences. The disorder is not only an addiction, but can include co-occurring physical and mental health issues.
“More than a million Californians will experience a gambling problem in their lifetimes,” said Robert Jacobson, the executive director of the California Council on Problem Gambling.
“Gambling addiction is a disease of the brain which can result in severely harmful financial, mental and even physical consequences to the gambler, and can also cause harms to individuals close to them – including their family, friends, and others who care about them,” Jacobson said. “We call it the hidden disease, because there are so few outward signs, which makes it all the more important to raise awareness about the help and prevention services available — at no cost — for those who have been harmed by their own, or someone else’s gambling.”
The Office of Problem Gambling and the UCLA Gambling Studies Program operate the California Gambling Education and Treatment Services, which has provided treatment for more than 17,000 problem gamblers and people with gambling disorder since 2009. The collaborative offers a wide array of services, including self-help workbooks, telephone counseling and outpatient and residential care.
Call the confidential, 24-hour problem gambling helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (426-2537). Or visit the website at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPG/Pages/opg-landing.aspx
Dodd represents the Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties.
“For anyone struggling with addiction — and that includes those facing gambling problems — awareness and access to services are critical,” said Sen. Dodd. “Problem gambling is not only an addiction, it’s a serious public health concern. So we must promote a better understanding and prompt people struggling with problem gambling to seek help.”
Sen. Dodd introduced Senate Resolution 67, creating California's month-long awareness campaign.
National Problem Gambling Awareness Month was established in 1972 by the National Council on Problem Gambling. Gambling disorder is classified by the American Psychiatric Association as an addiction that is similar to alcohol and drug dependence in many of the causes and consequences. The disorder is not only an addiction, but can include co-occurring physical and mental health issues.
“More than a million Californians will experience a gambling problem in their lifetimes,” said Robert Jacobson, the executive director of the California Council on Problem Gambling.
“Gambling addiction is a disease of the brain which can result in severely harmful financial, mental and even physical consequences to the gambler, and can also cause harms to individuals close to them – including their family, friends, and others who care about them,” Jacobson said. “We call it the hidden disease, because there are so few outward signs, which makes it all the more important to raise awareness about the help and prevention services available — at no cost — for those who have been harmed by their own, or someone else’s gambling.”
The Office of Problem Gambling and the UCLA Gambling Studies Program operate the California Gambling Education and Treatment Services, which has provided treatment for more than 17,000 problem gamblers and people with gambling disorder since 2009. The collaborative offers a wide array of services, including self-help workbooks, telephone counseling and outpatient and residential care.
Call the confidential, 24-hour problem gambling helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER (426-2537). Or visit the website at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPG/Pages/opg-landing.aspx
Dodd represents the Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa and Sacramento counties.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
More than 100 nonprofit organizations and other water advocates have signed on to a statement that urges California leaders to lean into conservation as the first line of defense against future droughts and unreliable precipitation patterns in this era of climate change.
Supporters of the statement range from environmental justice groups, including Clean Water Action, Community Water Center and Save California Salmon; conservation groups like the California Native Plant Society and the Center for Biological Diversity; labor group LAANE; and climate advocacy groups like Climate Resolve.
“Too many underserved communities have been unable to access the benefits of existing conservation programs,” noted Kyle Jones, policy and legal director with the Community Water Center. “Solutions like direct installation of water-efficient appliances and drought-resilient outdoor landscaping provide multiple benefits at the community level while helping to keep water bills down for households. It’s both possible and essential to make conservation work for low-income communities and communities of color.”
The California Legislature passed two laws in 2018 to Make Conservation a California Way of Life, and Governor Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy calls for conserving at least 500,000 acre-feet of water every year by 2030.
For context, 500,000 acre-feet is roughly equivalent to the amount of water used by the entire City of Los Angeles in a year or the amount of water that could be delivered by about nine new desalination plants similar to the Carlsbad plant.
“The groups that signed on to these principles recognize that investing in conservation, especially in urban areas, is the fastest and cheapest way for us to bring California’s water demand into balance with our increasingly unstable and unpredictable water supplies,” said Tracy Quinn, president and CEO of Heal the Bay and a longtime advocate for conservation. Quinn also serves as a Board Director of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the largest water supplier in the United States.
“The good news is, California has a tremendous untapped potential to reduce urban water use by 30% to 48% if we make the most of water conservation and efficiency opportunities,” added Heather Cooley, Director of Research with the Pacific Institute. “And from now through 2026, water districts have an extraordinary opportunity to take advantage of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support these investments.”
Compared to other major water supply projects, like seawater desalination and recycled water, water savings from conservation improvements can be realized faster and with fewer environmental impacts.
And conservation comes with a wide range of benefits, including reducing energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing habitat for native species, and lowering water bills for everyone — including low-income Californians.
“There are so many upsides to conservation,” added Martha Davis, Board Member with the Mono Lake Committee. “Thirty years ago, water conservation programs led by Los Angeles community groups helped save Mono Lake — one of our state’s most treasured natural areas – by reducing demand for imported water. Since that time, water agencies in many of the state’s urban areas have doubled down on improving their efficiency, but there still is so much more they can do. California needs more conservation — not less — now more than ever.”
For more information, go to https://conserve4ca.org/.
Supporters of the statement range from environmental justice groups, including Clean Water Action, Community Water Center and Save California Salmon; conservation groups like the California Native Plant Society and the Center for Biological Diversity; labor group LAANE; and climate advocacy groups like Climate Resolve.
“Too many underserved communities have been unable to access the benefits of existing conservation programs,” noted Kyle Jones, policy and legal director with the Community Water Center. “Solutions like direct installation of water-efficient appliances and drought-resilient outdoor landscaping provide multiple benefits at the community level while helping to keep water bills down for households. It’s both possible and essential to make conservation work for low-income communities and communities of color.”
The California Legislature passed two laws in 2018 to Make Conservation a California Way of Life, and Governor Newsom’s Water Supply Strategy calls for conserving at least 500,000 acre-feet of water every year by 2030.
For context, 500,000 acre-feet is roughly equivalent to the amount of water used by the entire City of Los Angeles in a year or the amount of water that could be delivered by about nine new desalination plants similar to the Carlsbad plant.
“The groups that signed on to these principles recognize that investing in conservation, especially in urban areas, is the fastest and cheapest way for us to bring California’s water demand into balance with our increasingly unstable and unpredictable water supplies,” said Tracy Quinn, president and CEO of Heal the Bay and a longtime advocate for conservation. Quinn also serves as a Board Director of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the largest water supplier in the United States.
“The good news is, California has a tremendous untapped potential to reduce urban water use by 30% to 48% if we make the most of water conservation and efficiency opportunities,” added Heather Cooley, Director of Research with the Pacific Institute. “And from now through 2026, water districts have an extraordinary opportunity to take advantage of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support these investments.”
Compared to other major water supply projects, like seawater desalination and recycled water, water savings from conservation improvements can be realized faster and with fewer environmental impacts.
And conservation comes with a wide range of benefits, including reducing energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing habitat for native species, and lowering water bills for everyone — including low-income Californians.
“There are so many upsides to conservation,” added Martha Davis, Board Member with the Mono Lake Committee. “Thirty years ago, water conservation programs led by Los Angeles community groups helped save Mono Lake — one of our state’s most treasured natural areas – by reducing demand for imported water. Since that time, water agencies in many of the state’s urban areas have doubled down on improving their efficiency, but there still is so much more they can do. California needs more conservation — not less — now more than ever.”
For more information, go to https://conserve4ca.org/.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson