Proposition 90 vs the bonds

The Los Angeles Times has a great article highlighting the negative impacts Proposition 90 will have an infrastructure construction here in California. Full story

Caltrans dispute continues to grow

The Orange County treasurer-tax collector, Chriss Street, believes that Caltrans is depriving the county of backtaxes on properties bought and sold using eminent domain. Street alleges that a Caltrans regulation implementing a state law on the subject, and in the process eliminating almost situations in which back taxes would be paid, is illegal. The regulation was not reviewed by the Office of Administrative Law before taking affect, as is the custom. Street has asked to Office to review the law now in order to establish its legality. Street has also contacted all other tax collectors using the California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors to join him in this effort.

Measure 37 Lessons

The SF Chronicle reports on how the outcome of Oregon's Measure 37 is being used by both the Yes and No campaigns on California's Proposition 90. Full story

Caltrans as slumlord?

An Orange County Register investigation alleges that Caltrans is in fact the largest slumlord in California. The cause? Aquisition of property for projects that were never built. Over 1/3rd of Caltrans' land inventory was purchased over 30 years ago. Of course, one needs to note here that some of this is for projects that Caltrans intended to build at that time and still may happen or be utilized for transportation capacity (i.e.: the large chunks of right-of-way land Caltrans owns for the 710 completion, the failure to complete that having more to do with litigation and politics than Caltrans). Full story

Azusa Arouses Public Opposition over Redevelopment Plans

Azusa has given its redevelopment agency the authority to use eminent domain over the areas immediately surrounding the future Gold Line station site. Many businesses are angered by this move. Full story