April 1, 2010
From the Bear Flag revolt to the modern Tea Party protests, Californians always seem to be upset at government. Correspondent Judy Muller looks at the roots of activism in the state, and discovers a new group, the Coffee Party, that's hoping to counter some of the more course discourse with a little bit of civility. Plus, supergroup U-2 is known for their social and environmental activism. Their guitarist wants to build a housing development on a pristine coastal ridge in Malibu. He says it will be eco-friendly and green, but a lot of locals are saying "no way." We get the low-down from LA Times columnist Steve Lopez. And humorist Brian Unger has a solution for solving California's problems: cut it up into five states, from Californiajuana in the north, to Californiego in the south. Finally, see if you can solve our visual puzzle, Name That Spot.
The "California Steamin'" piece was about as deficient in facts as was the piece on U2's The Edge.
It might be true that 74% of California voters are dissatisfied with the legislature, but it is categorically false that the "TEA Party" represents any sizable portion of this disgruntled constituency.
With Arnold Schwarzenegger reduced to cursing his own party publicly on their subservience to ideology, and surveys like this one, http://payam.minoofar.com/2010/03/15/california-voters-increasingly-tolerant/, suggesting that California is moving overwhelmingly to the center, it is misleading, at best, to focus on a powerless fringe group like the TEA "Party".
California is home to vanguard industries like high technology, higher education, medicine, oenology and biotechnology, to name but just a handful. It is safe to say that the majority of voters in the state demonstrate a clear understanding of how the Republican and TEA "Party" slogans will destroy this avant-garde oasis in survey after survey. So, Ms. Mueller should have tried harder.
And, no, mentioning an equally inconsequential group, the "Coffee Party", does not do the issue any justice.
This was a fluff piece befitting of the local news. If very many more of these appear on SoCal Connected, I will have to delete its entry in my DVR recording schedule.
Where you live may be hazardous to your health. SoCal Connected examines the intersection of community, environment and health.
jim smith says :
What is not mentioned by Mr. Evans is his plan to build a 20' wide road 6,480 ft. long to access his 5 parcels. There will be 100s of feet of tall walls on the road . In addition he plans to bring water down from the mountain top a distance of 1 1/2 miles . His easement for this water line requires that he provides hydrants for property owners further up the mountain which will lead to finishing developement of the entire mountain . All of his houses are planed
to be on prominent ridgelines . Malibu has a ridgeline ordinance that would prohibit what he is planning but his property is just over the County line and is exempt from the guidelines all Malibu residents are bound to . His house designs might blend into the land but all the infrastructure mentioned above most certainly will not . He is asking exceptions from standards others are required to follow on a scale that is astounding .