Agriculture Daily News 10/31

A new study suggests that building massive homes on agricultural lands reduces the property's economic vitality. The study provides ammunition to county planning officials, who want to discourage wealthy landowners from building mansions, rather than farms, on agricultural lands. Officials have proposed an update to the Marin Countywide Plan that would restrict housing on agricultural property to 2,500 square feet or less. Critics say the data, taken in 2003, is no longer applicable. Marin Independent Journal 10/30/07

 

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District will re-introduce grazing to two former ranches within the preserve this winter as a naturally efficient way to manage weed buildup and cut back on wildfire risk. The grazing will serve another purpose as the animals will feed on the invasive, non-native grasses that are conquering fields of native California grasses. The sight of animals grazing on district lands is rare, but will become more common over the next five to 10 years. SJ Mercury 10/31/07

 

Federal officials raided seven locations in the East Bay yesterday morning that were connected to a medical marijuana dispensary in Hayward, officials said. Two men were arrested. Oakland Tribune 10/31/07

 

First spotted in California in 2004, Japanese dodder has popped up in at least 13 counties, state officials report. The worst infestations have occurred in the Sacramento area. Although no one knows for sure, some officials say they think travelers to Asian countries brought the plant to the United States not knowing the consequences. In Contra Costa County, officials have found Japanese dodder in 28 sites, many of them in West County. Contra Costa Times 10/31/07

 

After nearly a year of debate and discussion, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's health care reform bill finally goes before a legislative committee today. SF Chronicle 10/31/07

 

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to support a controversial project that would replace an aging fossil fuel plant on Potrero Hill with a newer fossil fuel plant. The board voted 8-3 as a symbolic gesture to show support for the plans, which would require the nod from several state agencies. The new plant would be much smaller and would only be used when there is high demand for power in the city, but some people question the general wisdom of building a power plant that operates on fossil fuel. SF Chronicle 10/31/07

 

A suit was filed Tuesday by the Santa Cruz City Council and Santa Cruz County against the state over the aerial spraying of the light brown apple moth. Both governments contend that the state has failed to conduct an environmental assessment of the pesticide, CheckMate LBAM-F, whose long-term health effects have never been studied and which has never been sprayed in an urban setting on such a large scale. Santa Cruz Sentinel 10/31/07

 

California's hay haulers say they would like to put cargo securement practices in place that have been approved as safe by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), however the results of the study have not yet been approved by the California Highway Patrol. California Farm Bureau Report 10/31/07

 

A coalition of water users threatened to sue the state on Thursday for legal restrictions that protect striped bass, a non-native fish. The Coalition for a Sustainable Delta says protecting the bass doesn't make sense because the fish eat native species, including Delta smelt. Though not native, some experts consider striped bass to be a favorable species. Recordnet 10/26/07

 

 

 

 

Transporation Daily News 10/31

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to support a controversial project that would replace an aging fossil fuel plant on Potrero Hill with a newer fossil fuel plant. The board voted 8-3 as a symbolic gesture to show support for the plans, which would require the nod from several state agencies. The new plant would be much smaller and would only be used when there is high demand for power in the city, but some people question the general wisdom of building a power plant that operates on fossil fuel. SF Chronicle 10/31/07

 

The city of Fresno has agreed to pay $5.8 million plus interest to settle a dispute over a controversial sale of airport property to Gap Inc. Under the agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration, quietly reached in July, the city will make payments over 10 years into a fund it can use for improvements at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. In a deal started in 1997, the city sold about 200 acres to Gap for $2. But following an FAA audit, federal authorities contended that the city had a duty to sell the property at market value and reinvest the money into the airport. The settlement agreement accomplishes that purpose, city and federal officials said. Fresno Bee 10/30/07

 

A new study by researchers at the University of Southern California and the California Air Resources Board found that up to half of Los Angeles residents' total exposure to harmful air pollutants occurs while people are traveling in their vehicles. "If you have otherwise healthy habits and don't smoke, driving to work is probably the most unhealthy part of your day," said one scientist involved. Science Daily 10/30/07

 

Ontario's privacy commissioner is launching an investigation into the installation of thousands of security cameras throughout Canada's largest public transit network following a complaint by an international privacy watchdog that the system would violate the privacy of Toronto commuters. Yesterday $5.4 million was earmarked by BART to upgrade and install new cameras on their lines. The Globe and Mail 10/25/07

 

Measures adopted by the California Air Resources Board last week included restrictions on shipping companies, as well as manufacturers and trucking companies. One of the six measures calls for cargo ships to shut down their engines while docked at port and use so-called cold ironing facilities. Some shipping industry members have mentioned that they prefer the current voluntary measures that involve switching to low-sulfur fuels. Sustainable Shipping 10/30/07

 

Pleasanton soon may file a lawsuit against the city of Livermore for approving an increase in operations at their city airport without first analyzing potential environmental effects. The Livermore City Council unanimously approved a contract with a private operator in June to manage fuel sales and 65 new hangars at the Livermore Municipal Airport, despite, critics say, not conducting an environmental review. The Public Works Department said the consensus among airport officials is that an environmental review isn't needed until a final, specific plan is submitted by the new operator. SJ Mercury 10/31/07

 

 

 

Transporation Daily News 10/30

Crude oil for December delivery traded as high as a record $93.80 a barrel yesterday on the New York futures market before settling at an all-time closing high of $93.53, up $1.67. Many blame the prices on a weak dollar. LA Times 10/30/07

 

Three San Francisco-based environmental organizations, the National Resources Defense Council, Arc Ecology and San Francisco Baykeeper, sued in federal court Monday to force the U.S. Maritime Administration to dispose of most of the ships in the Suisun Bay reserve fleet. The suit claims the ships that make up what is known as the mothball fleet have "ceased being useful for transportation and are now just floating junkyards" full of toxic materials, polluting San Francisco Bay and its tributaries. However, the Maritime Administration has cited that they could not clean the hulls in San Francisco Bay without violating California environmental regulations. Nor could it move the ships out of the bay without breaking Coast Guard rules. SF Chronicle 10/30/07

 

Independent gas stations are suffering along with the rest of us because of inflated gas prices. On average, retailers across the nation made "a penny or two per gallon in pretax profit" in 2006, according to a study by the Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing. Despite record high prices, profit margins are at their lowest level since 1983, the association said. Contra Costa Times 10/30/07

 

BART will spend $5.4 million to upgrade and expand its security camera system to help protect Bay Area transit riders from terrorist attacks and everyday crimes, officials said Monday. The regional rail agency will deploy the cameras in stations, on the trains, along tracks, in the Transbay Tube, in parking lots and at other facilities. The new system will make use of sophisticated software that allows the cameras to detect such suspicious activity as an unattended backpack on a boarding platform or trespassers in areas off limits to the public. SF Chronicle 10/30/07

 

The latest green car goes under the UC Davis microscope today: a hybrid sedan modified to recharge from a standard 110-volt electric outlet. It can travel as far as 20 miles on batteries before drinking a drop of gasoline, or get 100 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-electric mode. Transportation experts at the school will be testing the appeal of battery driven cars with their new fleet of 10 "plug-in hybrids." During the next two years, the 10 UC Davis cars -- converted Toyota Priuses -- will be loaned to 100 families in Northern California for six to eight weeks each. The drivers will be surveyed about their automobile preferences and attitudes before, during and after they use the cars. The UC Davis analysis of their experiences will constitute the first comprehensive consumer report on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. UC Davis News 10/30/07

 

 

Agriculture Daily News 10/30

The so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a stew of plastic and marine debris that floats an estimated 1,000 miles west of San Francisco, is a shape-shifting mass far too large, delicate and remote to ever be cleaned up, according to a researcher who recently returned from the area. But the government is considering plans to try to clean up the mess, including flying unmanned planes over to survey the area. The debris - which he estimates weighs 3 million tons and covers an area twice the size of Texas - is made up mostly of fine plastic chips and is impossible to skim out of the ocean. The sun breaks down the plastics into small pieces and, in some cases, into particles as fine as dust, which fish confuse as food. SF Chronicle 10/30/07

 

This year's Central Valley fall salmon run is worrying both fishermen and biologists, who say fewer of the prized chinook are out in the ocean or making it up the rivers to spawn. Some runs might have as few as 20 to 25 percent of the fish normally expected by this time of year, data show. The salmon run could just be a little late this year, say state Fish and Game Department officials. Low levels of krill, tiny marine invertebrates that the fish eat, could be to blame, or low river flow. SF Chronicle 10/30/07

 

Local environmental groups filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Sacramento Superior Court challenging the city of Sacramento's planned annexation of 577 acres of farmland for the planned Greenbriar housing project. The groups allege that LAFCO erred when it certified the environmental review for the 3,500-home Greenbriar project and allowed the city of Sacramento to take the land into its sphere of influence - the first step toward annexation. Sacramento Bee 10/24/07

 

Santa Cruz County is planning to sue the state in an effort to prevent spraying aimed at eradicating a crop-destroying moth. The Board of Supervisors approved moving forward with a lawsuit by a 4-1 vote. The suit against the California Department of Food and Agriculture is expected to be filed on Wednesday. SJ Mercury 10/29/07’

Inadequate agricultural inspections at U.S. points of entry have caused members of Congress to express grave concern about the nation's increased vulnerability to invasive pests and diseases. Testimony before a House Agriculture subcommittee outlined just how badly the system is broken since border agricultural inspections were transferred in March 2003 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to the Department of Homeland Security. The hearing on the current inspection problems underscored calls for transferring agricultural inspections from DHS back to USDA. California Farm Bureau Federation 10/24/07

 

A broad smoking ban takes effect next month in Belmont, between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. The anti-smoking ordinance, one of the strictest in the nation, makes it illegal to smoke in parks, outdoor eateries, doorways, construction sites and even in private apartments. A ban on smoking within twenty feet of any doorway or window effectively restricts most of the city's sidewalks. Critics fear the measure will keep visitors outside of Belmont’s shops and restaurants. AFP 10/30/07

 

 

Agriculture Daily News 10/29

As Gov. Schwarzenegger and lawmakers debate ways to lower the ranks of the uninsured, San Joaquin Valley health leaders say the effort will fall short unless the state fixes one of the region's biggest health care problems -- a doctor shortage that is reaching a crisis. Nothing in the plan guarantees access to doctors. Rather, the administration is counting on increased Medi-Cal rates to entice more physicians to see low-income patients. Currently the program pays doctors just 59% of the rate they are paid to care for Medicare patients, ranking the state below the national average, according to the California HealthCare Foundation. As a result, doctors say they lose money and are reluctant to take Medi-Cal patients. Fresno Bee 10/27/07

 

New strict border rules in response to 9/11 and concerns over illegal immigration have moved marijuana growers into California. The plant is now by far California's most valuable agricultural crop, worth even more than the state's famous wine industry. Police estimate that four-fifths of outdoor marijuana plantations are run by Mexican criminal gangs and indoor factories, by contrast, are largely run by East Asians from Canada. To supply outdoor plantations, rivers are dammed and water piped as far as two miles, and in suburbs large houses are purchased and converted into hydroponic growing centers. The rate of marijuana use in California has barely risen in the past few years, whereas production has hugely increased. Some 11% of the state's population use marijuana, just slightly more than the national average. The Economist 10/18/07

 

A law designed to preserve wide open spaces and ranches is clashing with the lifestyle of many of those buying former ranches - often retirees, or business owners or salaried professionals who intend to farm, if at all, only as a sideline or hobby. The Williamson Act was passed in 1965 to give a tax incentive to farmers who preserve their farms and ranches as working open space and make $2000 annual agricultural-related production. Almost 17 million of the state's 29 million acres of agricultural land are under Williamson Act contracts. Today, however, individuals building on farmland are at risk of being hit with huge fines for building a home in an agricultural preserve. The offices that run the Williamson Act program for the California Department of Conservation, predicted they'd see many more cases as California's former cattle ranches are carved up. Area County Supervisors are deciding whether or not to remove tax break status granted to plots that were previous farm lands. Recordnet 10/29/07

 

Logging projects, like one near Oakhurst in the Sierras, will benefit thousands of acres of national forest lands, as well as a nearby grove of giant sequoias by preventing small blazes from becoming a massive firestorm similar to those that devastated Southern California last week. The projects are aimed at removing "ladder fuels," the thick undergrowth of immature or fallen trees, thickly piled needles and other combustibles that have built up for decades throughout forest lands. The last massive fire in the area was in 1961 and it blacked 42,000 acres in just 2 1/2 days and killing two people. Fresno Bee 10/29/07

 

A bio of the founder of Kendal-Jackson wines in the LA Times shows how Jess Jackson followed the same game plan successfully employed by other mass-market food and beverage companies such as McDonald's and Starbucks to get rich. Kendall-Jackson is one of the largest wine producers in California now makes 3.8 million cases of wine annually. 10/29/07

 

Faced with a barrage of negative publicity with this week's wildfires, California tourism officials have temporarily pulled a $21.5 million national advertisement campaign to promote the state as a travel destination. Instead, as the wildfires recede, state and regional tourism leaders are spearheading a more than $300,000 “bridge” campaign to douse lingering doubts in the tourism services trade and among wary business and leisure travelers. So far, the wildfires' effect on most hotels and restaurants has been negligible, but tourism authorities want to take steps to ensure constant coverage of the fires in the national media does not dissuade people from visiting in the same numbers. San Diego Union Tribune 10/27/07

 

Traditionally, the remains of a corn field harvest are chopped and tilled into the dirt as fertilizer, but in response to rising hay and alfalfa prices a new technique of bailing it to feed to cattle is catching on in Yolo County and some parts of Solano County. The husks, stalks, leaves and cobs can be combined in a bale to feed cattle or the remains can be collected and burned as alternative fuels. The Vacaville Reporter 10/29/07

 

Two new films will dramatize a famous wine tasting held May 24, 1976. The world of wine was turned on its head when a 34-year-old Englishman organized a blind wine tasting that pitted some of the best French vintages against some unknown Californian wines. The unthinkable happened and all nine judges awarded top marks to a Californian Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, French winemakers suffered a devastating blow and the era of respectable New World wines was born. Macleans 10/29/07

 

California processing tomato growers and others associated with the industry got a first-hand look recently at a Chinese production system as participants in a World Processing Tomato Council (WPTC) study tour to China. Current shortcomings in yield are due primarily to irrigation, disease, and production practices, according to participants. However, none of those factors appear to be long-term, insurmountable problems. Western Farm Press 10/29/07

 

A group of historic tree buffs will collect genetic samples Tuesday from the tops of several old-growth redwood trees in California—the first step in cloning the trees and regrowing lost forests. In several years, when the cloned trees are two to three feet tall (less than a meter tall), the group will plant them at various sites along the California coast. To assure genetic diversity, the new forests would be made of 20 percent clones and 80 percent seedlings. National Geographic 10/29/07

 

Transporation Daily News 10/29

Millions of uninsured drivers in California could have their license plates yanked or their cars immobilized as part of a crackdown being considered by the state Insurance Commissioner. Proposed as an initiative on the November 2008 ballot, the measure would give law enforcement broad new powers to go after those who drive without insurance. Estimates range from a low of 3.2 million to a high of 5.7 million among 23.2 million licensed drivers who go without insurance. Opponents counter that the measure would disproportionately affect poor people and make it even harder for them to get and keep jobs. LA Times 10/29/07

 

Sacramento and West Sacramento hope to build a $53 million-plus streetcar rail line that would traverse the Tower Bridge and venture a mile into each city's downtown – and do it within the next four years. The city chose the idea faced with congestion, parking woes and bland streetscapes, however streetcars don't go far or fast, get stuck in traffic, and require overhead electric wires. But if done right, officials said, streetcars are magnets, attracting street life, and stimulating development. Sacramento Bee  10/25/07

 

The state of New York is joining a growing list of local governments who feel compelled to devise their own ways of dealing with illegal immigrants because of the federal government's failure to do so. By as soon as December, the state's undocumented immigrants, who are reckoned to number anywhere from 500,000 to 1m, could start to get licenses that will allow them to drive legally. Unlicensed drivers are five times more likely to be in a fatal crash than licensed ones. Under the governor’s plan, a valid foreign passport will be adequate to get a license. Eight other states still allow people to get drivers' licences even if they don't have Social Security numbers. The Economist 10/25/07

 

Gas prices continued to rise Saturday, with experts predicting the state's $3.16 a gallon average for regular unleaded could keep climbing the next few weeks as the cost for crude oil reaches record highs. Mercury News

 

Most central San Joaquin Valley traffic is in urban areas. But nearly 70% of fatal crashes are on rural roads, a Bee analysis has found. These roads are riskier than city roads, in part because motorists travel them at higher speeds. But the central San Joaquin Valley faces additional problems, including roads that don't meet safety standards and limited traffic enforcement. A twist in state law prevents all but the most populous counties from operating dedicated traffic patrols. Counties must rely on the California Highway Patrol -- which is understaffed for the job -- to enforce traffic laws in unincorporated areas. The study was based on information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration database. Fresno Bee 10/27/07

 

Three major airlines raised U.S. domestic fares to offset soaring fuel costs, increasing the price of round-trip tickets by $10. Continental Airlines Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and UAL Corp.'s United Airlines increased most fare types on most routes in the continental U.S., the airlines said. LA Times 10/27/07

 

The Bay Area might need smaller houses, higher gas taxes and tolls on busy roads and congested business districts if it is to meet the state's goals for the reduction of greenhouse gases, transportation and land use officials said Friday. The good news, however, is that a new poll shows that many Bay Area residents are ready to take those steps if it means a better future for the state and world. A recent poll of bay area residents found 64 percent thought global warming was the most important factor to consider when developing transportation and land-use plans. SF Chronicle 10/27/07

 

 

Maori Head

New York Times

Agriculture Daily News 10/26

On Thursday by a unanimous vote, the California Air Resources Board adopted strict standards for measuring the "carbon offsets" generated by well-managed forests. The rules are designed to meet international standards and provide a way for forest managers to earn money for pulling carbon out of the air. Sacramento Bee 10/26/07

 

As wildfires raged through Southern California early this week, the nation's chief health official was prepared to tell Congress about one impact of climate change: "Forest fires are expected to increase in frequency, severity, distribution and duration." But, as part of six pages of testimony deleted by White House officials, those words were never spoken. The speaker, Dr. Julie Gerberding, said she was able to say what she wanted to the committee, and was not censored. SJ Mercury 10/26/07

 

Because of a state law that the Legislature passed quietly this month unpasteurized raw milk will have to meet a strict limit for coliform bacteria. California, one of four states that allowed raw milk to be sold, will adopt new standards based on AB1735. Proponents of raw milk argue the presence of bacteria and enzymes makes raw milk more healthful than pasteurized milk and milk safety authorities agree that most strains of coliform bacteria don't cause illness. There was no public debate over the bill, nor were the two raw milk dairies in California informed in advance. The new laws make the production of raw milk impossible and will likely drive consumers to find small farms and buy raw milk illegally through cow shares. SF Chronicle 10/26/07

 

A study conducted in part by UC Davis found that agricultural soil erosion is not contributing carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. They found that erosion is equal to about 1.5 percent of annual fossil-fuel carbon emissions worldwide.   Earlier studies suggested a broad range of erosion effects, from erosion equaling 10 percent of fossil-fuel emissions and up to an equivalent of 13 percent. China View 10/26/07

 

Water experts in Nevada who have looked at drought predictions have concluded sooner or later strict water conservation will have to become part of everyday life in Nevada. The Southern Nevada Water Authority plans to plant a deeper straw into Lake Mead but that straw will not be up and running before the region runs short, which could be as soon as 2010. Nevada’s per capita water use is among the highest in the nation. Las Vegas Sun 10/26/07

 

Transporation Daily News 10/26

On Thursday by a unanimous vote, the California Air Resources Board adopted strict standards for measuring the "carbon offsets" generated by well-managed forests. The rules are designed to meet international standards and provide a way for forest managers to earn money for pulling carbon out of the air. Separately, it started work on a suite of new emissions-cutting schemes, including a plan to make big rigs more aerodynamic and fuel-efficient. The plans mandate a package of modifications, including new tires and aerodynamic skirts, recommended under a voluntary truck-efficiency program operated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Sacramento Bee 10/26/07

 

 Mercedes-Benz will show off its Smart Fortwo, a tiny two-seater that goes on sale early next year, to the nation's auto journalists starting next week at a glitzy event headquartered in San Jose. A representative from the company said they chose the area because it matched the ‘innovative’ character of the car. Smaller cars are the fastest growing market in California this year, which led the company to introduce the product originally from Europe. SJ Mercury 10/26/07

 

Oil roared past $90, setting a record Thursday, as tight inventories and fresh signs that OPEC would shrug off calls for additional oil from big consumer nations sent prices up nearly 4%. "The high prices are not coming from a lack of production," Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil said.LA Times 10/26/07

 

 

 

 

Oakland Show

Agriculture Daily News 10/25

According to the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force more attention needs to be placed on the area and less water drawn from it. The commission also recommends the state impose strict limits on new housing in the region's floodplains and that it build new reservoirs and an aqueduct to deliver water from Northern California to the south. The panel's bedrock conclusion is that the needs of water agencies can no longer trump environmental concerns. SJ Mercury 10/25/07

 

Five of the nine Bay Area counties have phone notification systems similar to the reverse 911 used to contact people endangered in southern California’s wildfires. Alameda and Santa Clara counties have neither a countywide 911 reverse system nor an independent alert system for wireless devices. The Alameda County city of Dublin does have its own automated phone alert system. Officials describe the system as useful “on the level of a natural disaster or in the event of something like a terrorist attack or pandemic flu outbreak.” SF Chronicle 10/25/07

 

As wildfires continued to rage Wednesday in parts of Southern California, water officials warned that the blazes may threaten the state's long-term supply. They said unequivocally that California has more than enough water to combat the fires, but are concerned with how that loss of water will impact other water needs. Contra Costa Times 10/25/07

 

Dozens of families were leaving their homes on the Monterey Peninsula on Wednesday as planes prepared to resume showering the area with a chemical mist aimed at crippling a crop-destroying moth. Critics are causing the spraying solution antiquated, putting people at risk of unknown potential consequences.

The Santa Cruz City Council decided to fight state plans to spray a chemical over the city to tame a crop-destroying moth. The council voted Tuesday to hire an environmental lawyer to challenge the state. AP 10/25/07  

 

Central Valley growers generally like the 1,312-page farm bill debated Wednesday by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. Reformers definitely do not. The senate and house bills have come to resemble one another on many issues. Both largely keep intact the traditional crop subsidies paid to cotton, rice, wheat and corn growers, and both steer funds to pet congressional projects. Modesto Bee 10/25/07

 

 

Transporation Daily News 10/25

Bay Area transportation leaders endorsed a future statewide high-speed rail system Wednesday with two routes through the region: one that runs through the East Bay and over the Altamont Pass and another that would head over the Pacheco Pass via the South Bay. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission confirmed its long-standing support of the Pacheco Pass route as the best choice for express service to Southern California but said an Altamont Pass alignment should also be built to provide service between the Bay Area and the San Joaquin Valley. That recommendation angered some rail advocates and environmentalists, who called it a fantasy and said two stretches of track aren't likely to be built. Instead, critics charged, the endorsement of two routes amounted to a de facto vote for the Pacheco Pass route. SF Chronicle 10/25/07

 

Despite lingering doubts about its future, a proposal to build a high-speed rail line between Southern California and San Francisco was kept alive Wednesday when the state Transportation Commission allocated $15.5 million for engineering and design work. The money is a small fraction of the $40 billion that the system would cost to complete, but commissioners said they were not willing to pull the plug even though full financing had not been arranged. LA Times 10/25/07

 

The 9th Circuit Court has agreed to put on hold an injunction against enforcement of the California Air Resources Board regulation requiring ships calling at California ports to use low-sulfur fuel in their auxiliary engines. The injunction will remain lifted until the case is resolved. Cunningham Report 10/24/07

 

Pressure from hospitality and agriculture industry leaders has prompted the Transportation Agency for Monterey County staff to pull funding for Caltrain rail operations out of a draft transportation sales tax spending plan and replace it with more money for buses. TAMC officials are drafting a list of spending priorities for $700 million that would be raised from the hoped-for 20-year, half-cent transportation sales tax that would require two-thirds voter approval. Monterey Herald 10/25/07

 

Officials from a coalition of peninsula cities (Burlingame, Menlo Park, Daly City, Redwood City) said their plans to put red light cameras on El Camino Real and other state highways appear to be stuck, while Caltrans considers their applications to install the equipment. The cameras catch red-light runners and reduce accidents on state highways through those cities. Caltrans has yet to green light the project, though an answer was expected in July. SJ Mercury 10/23/07

New Zagat Ranking

Zagat Survey today released the results of its 2008 America's Top Restaurants survey. The average surveyor ate out 3.3 times per week and spent an average $33.29 for a typical dinner, a 2.3% increase over last year. Eleven restaurants in this year's survey earned a near perfect 29 out of a possible 30 for food, including Gary Danko in San Francisco. Reflecting the growing interest in sustainably raised foods, a majority of San Francisco residents (67%) say they are willing to pay more for it. It may surprise Americans to learn that US restaurants cost roughly half of what their peers do in Tokyo ($69.58). West coast diners in San Francisco and Los Angeles are among the least generous tippers at 18.4%.

 

Italian remains the nation's favorite cuisine with 27% of surveyors naming it.  American fare comes in second at 16% and French and Japanese tie for third with 11%. Although individual Asian cuisines score low, when combined, Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Indian reach 30%.

 

While nationwide only 11% of diners reserve online, tech savvy diners in San Francisco use the internet for 43% of reservations. Earthtimes 10/24/07

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transporation Daily News 10/24

Global warming is stirring up health problems that are likely to worsen, witnesses told a Senate committee Tuesday, pointing to heat waves, severe weather, rising air pollution, waterborne diseases, water and food supply disruptions and even refugees resulting from civil conflict. The chart foretold increasing rates of asthma and cardiovascular diseases, malaria, dengue, malnutrition, migration and premature death. The testimony came during a hearing on global warming held by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Next week the committee's global warming panel begins work on legislation to cut emissions by 60 percent by 2050. The legislation would allow states such as California to move ahead with even tougher laws. Sacramento Bee 10/24/07

 

With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tending to the Southern California wildfires Tuesday, his office delayed until next week a lawsuit demanding action from the Bush administration on the state's long-stalled request to enforce its global warming law. Mary Nichols, director of the state Air Resources Board, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, said she and Schwarzenegger would postpone the suit until next week "so that all state and federal resources can remain focused on fighting these devastating wildfires." SF Chronicle 10/24/07

 

In an effort to speed cleanup of the state's air pollution, the California Air Resources Board has adopted a sweeping plan that would require all farmers in the state to use cleaner engines in farm equipment. The new plan, which was adopted by the board in September, must now be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, farmers say once they have paid for a tractor and learn it has no resale value, it will be difficult to turn around and buy a new one to comply with the regulations. California Farm Bureau Federation 10/24/07

 

Mostly hidden in the hills south of Reno, Northern Nevada's largest highway project is taking shape. Heavy equipment is carving out the route of a new six-lane freeway that eventually will link Mount Rose Highway to Washoe Valley. It's all part of a $500 million-plus project that, when completed in 2011, will finally link Reno to Carson City with a continuous freeway. Contract woes have caused delay, but the project seems to be picking up steam again. Reno Gazette-Journal 10/24/07

Agriculture Daily News 10/24

Global warming is stirring up health problems that are likely to worsen, witnesses told a Senate committee Tuesday, pointing to heat waves, severe weather, rising air pollution, waterborne diseases, water and food supply disruptions and even refugees resulting from civil conflict. The chart foretold increasing rates of asthma and cardiovascular diseases, malaria, dengue, malnutrition, migration and premature death. The testimony came during a hearing on global warming held by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Next week the committee's global warming panel begins work on legislation to cut emissions by 60 percent by 2050. The legislation would allow states such as California to move ahead with even tougher laws. Sacramento Bee 10/23/07

 

Regardless of other conflicts, for the first time both the House and Senate are determined to carve out a farm bill chunk for specialty crops. The Senate's proposed five-year bill includes a record $2 billion for specialty crops, four or five times greater than in 2002. The House's farm bill, approved in late July, offers an estimated $1.7 billion for specialty crop programs, and the Senate is proposing $2 billion. Roughly half of the House bill's $286 billion total cost goes to traditional crop subsidies. Sacramento Bee 10/24/07

 

An environmental group says the city of Burlingame’s antiquated sewer system "frequently overflows untreated sewage into homes and neighborhood streets" and that its sewage treatment plant regularly discharges wastewater into San Francisco Bay through an illegal pipe located just north of Coyote Point. The group filed a claim Monday with the city that sets in motion a 60-day period for Burlingame officials to respond to the allegations, or settle them, before the group files a lawsuit. SF Chronicle 10/24/07

 

Two senators proposed a rebel farm bill called the Fresh Act that would replace billions of dollars in payments to farmers of a handful of crops with an insurance program that would be available free to all farmers - including the 91 percent of California farmers who receive no federal crop subsidies. They estimate that California would by far be the biggest beneficiary of the changes, gaining an additional $7 billion in federal aid over five years. In the plan are provisions to divert funds to food stamps and fruit and vegetable purchases in school food programs, to preserve farm land from suburban sprawl, and to aid organic farms and locally based food purchases, research for fruit, nut and vegetable crops. The bill could put California’s senators in a pinch. SF Chronicle 10/24/07

 

In an effort to speed cleanup of the state's air pollution, the California Air Resources Board has adopted a sweeping plan that would require all farmers in the state to use cleaner engines in farm equipment. The new plan, which was adopted by the board in September, must now be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, farmers say once they have paid for a tractor and learn it has no resale value, it will be difficult to turn around and buy a new one to comply with the regulations. California Farm Bureau Federation 10/24/07

 

"The Michelin Guide to San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country 2008," was released Monday, with four restaurants in Yountville receiving stars. Bouchon (also owned by French Laundry proprietor Thomas Keller), Bistro Jeanty and Redd, from the Napa town, each received a star and makes Yountville the city with more starred restaurants per capita than any other city in the United States. Bushi-tei (San Francisco) and Dry Creek Kitchen (Healdsburg) both lost their one-star ratings. Masa's and Sushi Ran kept their one star rating. SF Chronicle 10/24/07

 

Coalitions of agricultural groups say they are making headway to protect water quality and control runoff from 7 million acres of Central Valley farms as

State water officials ponder new regulations to protect groundwater. At a joint meeting of the state's Water Control Board and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board on Sept. 13 in Clovis, representatives of nine agriculturally-based watershed coalitions representing 21,000 farmers told regulators about the progress of the four-year-old Irrigated Lands Program. According to the groups the collective watershed approach mandated under a conditional waiver from general waste discharge requirements is working. Capital Press 10/24

Daily News 10/23

California and three others - Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Washington - filed suit against the EPA today in federal court to allow states to regulate GHG emissions from sources like tailpipes. Brown and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gave six months notice to the EPA in late April. The four-state suit aims to force the EPA to grant a "waiver" allowing them to set their own GHG-emission limits under the Clean Air Act. Today's suit got a boost in Vermont last month when a federal court there allowed the state to set its own limits. Eleven other states have also voted to enforce the Golden State's stricter GHG limits on car-makers. Legal Newsline 10/23/07

 

California motorists saw the worst of a nationwide surge in gasoline prices during the last week, the government said Monday, bringing fuel prices to the highest level since early August and reflecting record crude oil prices. The California price for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline averaged $3.143, up 9 cents from a week earlier, according to the Energy Department's weekly survey of gasoline stations. The U.S. average was $2.823 a gallon, up 6.1 cents. LA Times

 

The newly opened, federally funded Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) brings together scientists from three federal labs and three academic institutions to find more effective ways to break down cellulose and convert plant matter into air-friendly fuel. The research will focus on microbes such as common yeasts and the E coli bacterium found in human intestines, as well as the role of enzymes in breaking down and converting plant fiber. SF Chronicle 10/23/07

 

Retirements of veteran air traffic controllers have surged beyond government expectations since the Bush administration imposed a contract on their union on Labor Day last year, new data shows. A veteran force of controllers — most hired in the early 1980s after President Reagan fired 11,000 members of a predecessor controllers union — is being replaced by lower-paid, less experienced young controllers. That long-expected transformation is occurring faster than the government anticipated. AP 10/23/07

 

A preliminary list of top priorities for state bond money has been released, with short-haul rail appearing on the list. Unfortunately, proposed projects outweigh budgeted money at this point. A number of hearings have been held around the state to gather thoughts on the proposed criteria for choosing which projects get funded and the timeline for making decisions. Modesto Bee 10/23/07

 

 

Daily News 10/23

The central tension in the debate over universal health care stems from criticism from labor unions. The California Labor Federation launched an aggressive campaign accusing Schwarzenegger's plan of gouging the working class by requiring people to buy health insurance without enough subsidies. Business groups lashed back, warning that unions risked blowing up nearly a year's worth of work on what many in Sacramento consider potentially the most significant legislation in decades. The governor now must decide if he should raise proposed employer taxes or try to subsidize more uninsured workers. Either decision is likely to anger unions or business. Contra Costa Times 10/22/07

 

The newly opened, federally funded Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) brings together scientists from three federal labs and three academic institutions to find more effective ways to break down cellulose and convert plant matter into air-friendly fuel. The research will focus on microbes such as common yeasts and the E coli bacterium found in human intestines, as well as the role of enzymes in breaking down and converting plant fiber. SF Chronicle 10/23/07

 

A proposed dam in Auburn will likely never be built on the American River after years of controversy and dispute – and $400 million in construction and study. Work on an Auburn dam stopped in 1977, leaving an idle construction site that had derailed the river. After several years, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation finished the job and restored the river. Now with the natural river run restored, recreation will return. An architecturally designed permanent river bottom – a series of pools lined with stone embedded in concrete -- guarantees a 1,000-foot ride of rapids for kayakers and rafters. Sacramento Bee 10/23/07

 

Land conflicts surrounding the wine industry are likely to worsen as the people crush and the so-called "grape rush" show no signs of abating in the most populous U.S. state. In southern California wine vintners struggle to keep home development from encroaching on their land, while northern California wine grape growers are expanding up the slopes and into the forests, much to the dismay of environmental groups. Reuters 10/22/07

 

Writers from Canada, Europe and Asia tour some of Amerca’s most renowned wine regions on trips subsidized by the Department of Agriculture and wineries. Winemakers say their stories boost foreign sales. Lawmakers agree, and they want to increase funding in the new farm bill that senators will consider next week. The San Francisco-based Wine Institute represents most U.S. wineries. It received $4.5 million this year from the Agriculture Department’s Market Access Program. McClatchy News 10/21/07

 

Current ambiguity in organic law has caused some dispute over what conditions should be necessary to earn the title. Cows that produce milk sold as organic must be free of hormones and antibiotics and fed chemical-free organic feed. But federal rules say nothing about how much time cows should spend in the fields as opposed to feedlots, only that the cows have access to pasture. Tension has formed in Auburn over Aurora Organic Dairy’s large operations. Critics say the farm pays lip service to organic ideals but continues with factory farming trends. In August Aurora agreed to make major changes in its operations after the U.S. Department of Agriculture threatened to revoke its organic certification. Last week, a farm policy research group announced that two lawsuits against Aurora seeking class-action status for consumers in 27 states. Rocky Mountain News 10/20/07

 

A summary of the progress of important crops in the Cattle Network, including winter wheat, cotton and corn. 10/23/07

 

 

 

Hello, NorCal

This blog will be a collection of daily news summaries I write up. I report on issues involving agriculture, transportation, water infrastructure, food and wine, tourism, forestry, airports, fishing, gasoline and alternative fuels, and health in the northern California and (sometimes) Nevada areas. Please feel free to use it as a resource.