Yeah, the world will be paying attention after we do something different from everywhere else. It's part of being a leader. Fresno has the unique quality of being rich with creativity. Art Hop is not found many other places.

Passion is a great commodity.

You are right JP. Sometimes my level of maturity gets overrun by my passion, and I will be more considerate with my use of profanity in the future. Our future does look bright ahead. Clean air in the Central Valley is not just a CV issue, IT IS GLOBAL, and the tough choices we are to make here will have an impacting effect on the entire planet. The world is watching us! I understand that clean efficient public transit is the wiser option for our area to pursue, and that many OTHER "issues" will be addressed and solved simultaneously; however, the automobile is not going away any time soon, and oil companies are not going to discontinue producing fossil fuel. It is obvious to me that the equal implementation of OUR smog requirements statewide (especially for automobiles in the Bay area) is just one POLICY that would provide a relatively swift benefit to any asthmatic (or other respiratory illness sufferer) in the San Joaquin Valley. As for tearing up our mountains by digging a trench to LA, I really enjoy the view of our mountains. They are beautiful. I just wish I could see them from my home more often.

Thank you for what you are doing jpatrick. I have been following your posts, but I have not gotten back with you about a time to get together because my schedule changes all of the time right now.

But, your statement "where is the forum to communicate these serious life changing issues" is profound.

I post things and then just sit and watch what happens because the people that are trully concerned and connected to the issue will make very enlightening statements, like this one. I believe that Fresno Famous was created to inform and inspire people to action; whether that be through song or a sit in.

It's also discouraging to hear about what's going on with this project. Thank you for fighting on behalf of all of us. If it weren't for you and others like you, I could only imagine how much worse things would be.
Keep writing.

In reference to the other post about that 238 acre project, it is not possible for me to comment without complaining. There are some people on voting boards that take pride in their arrogance and are blind to common sense.

Fortunately, common sense is not an unusual attribute for the majority of people. The aforementioned project is currently on hold until a study can determine the amount of area needed for the CA HSR (California High Speed Rail) and rail consolidation.

Where is the forum to communicate these serious life changing issues?

Mr. Opaldude the here and now is fine. The future is what we make it. Life has proved that there is a certain amount of karma involved. When we are confident that what we give is measured with the joy of selfless creativity, there is prosperity in our production. That production can be on the scale of an entire community or the whole region.

One good idea lead to some other good ideas that lead to the financial success of Pelco. Why, because people enjoyed what they were creating.

New Technology Transit is producing this same creative effect. So many solutions to the current delimmas.

You are correct, nothing here has to be damned.

Yes, I believe 98.44% of everything you said JP, but complaining hasn't changed any of the circumstances to date. All that does is limit our creative ability to clearly see the solution to the problem. Like everything else, the answer is there, it is simply another piece of the puzzle that is just not in plain view, or is being obscured by some other piece of the big picture. DARN THOSE OTHER PIECES. Yes, Fresno is destined to be the "center of the universe", at least in California anyway. So how do we solve the problem? Hmmmmmmmm? I'm not sure I've got the 4th quarter fortitude to answer that. Oh, alright, I Do, but now is not the time for what I hear blowin' in the wind. Of course, there is more than one answer. Some are more expedient than others, none are neat and clean. How dirty can it get, Right? Hmmm? It would be so beautiful if only the guilty parties would just stop, but that is not what happens when we have "people" with povertus hearts and minds controlling huge pockets of power. Damn it Patrick. I'm not in the mood for this right now. I just wanted to think about all that pretty fresh air, cool climate, and wide spread financial well being of San Francisco. Did I say that I lived there for seven of the last none years? I guess this is why I have come home.

An Immediate relief to our hurrendously dirty air is to implement unilateral smog standards for those in the bay area equal to our local restrictions. Of course that would be to simple a place to start, and so inconvenient for our friends up north. Maybe it would be better if we dug a big channel through the grapevine so all that dirty air coming up the delta and settling in the south valley could just keep migrating to Los Angeles. Has anyone thought of spending a million bagillion dollars to study that? Hmmmm, can someone say exlax? Hmmmm? Any Poe fans here? How many elect to move in with Prince Prospero? Damn it Patrick, I'm getting outta here before I start complaining. It is no wonder so many people avoid living in the "here and now."

Here is another example of what flies past the radar: a notice of EIR preparation and notice of public scoping meeting tomorrow Friday March 28. The notice is for the Rail Committee at COG. The Lead Agency is the City of Fresno Planning and Development Dept. There is a proposed project located south of Herndon, bordered by North Bryan and West Bullard, north of Carnegie Ave. and east of 99.

The reason for mentioning this 238 acre project here is just the process of building another shopping center. Since this multi-phase project is to include up to 11,500 parking stalls it will have a significant impact on traffic flow to the Herndon at 99 intersections. Who pays for all the traffic congestion improvements? What is the resulting impact to air quality by adding this additional traffic? Does the commerce generated by such a center add to the existing infrastructure of Downtown’s commerce hub? Then this is just another example of unproductive economic sprawl development for the community as a whole that exacerbates the lack of strengthening Downtown as the regional center which serves all of Central California.

Actually posting this was intended as an insight to the status-quo procedure without any editorializing. Here is an example of the process: “Entitlements for this project will include a General Plan Amendment, Rezone Application, a Development Agreement, Master Conditional Use Permit, Tentative Tract Map and Conditional Use Permit for Phase 1 of the project known as Market Place.”

Oh yeah, this project also interferes with the Rail Consolidation plan that the voters passed in November of 06.

Now an editorializing comment: let’s build developments that profit the community by drawing the community together with a large commerce center instead of segmenting and fractionalizing the community. Splitting the community into sections only minimizes the City’s financial strength. Fresno’s original design is brilliant. Having the Downtown triangle serve as Fresno's commerce hub needs to be conformed to for economic survival. The continued granting of General Plan Amendments and granting of Rezone changes is extremely detrimental to the economic stability of Fresno as a regional center.

For an example of successful financial districts look at San Francisco. 80 years ago Fresno was on par with SF and was a much more powerful area than San Jose or Sacramento. Concentrating the commerce to a single area - Downtown - works well to economically strengthen the entire community.

Already logged as an 8 page item during the EIR process, prior to the approval of COG's RTP. BTW, I officially like the folks at COG.

CEQA is not unlike other types of law -- innocent until proven guilty.

We aren't overloaded with environmental watchdogs here, at least yet.

Have you talked to someone at COG about it?

§ 21151. Local agencies; preparation and completion of impact report; submission as part of general plan report; significant effect
(a) All local agencies shall prepare, or cause to be prepared by contract, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on any project that they intend to carry out or approve which may have a significant effect on the environment. When a report is required by Section 65402 of the Government Code, the environmental impact report may be submitted as a part of that report.
(b) For purposes of this section, any significant effect on the environment shall be limited to substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse changes in physical conditions which exist within the area as defined in Section 21060.5.
(c) If a nonelected decisionmaking body of a local lead agency certifies an environmental impact report, approves a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration, or determines that a project is not subject to this division, that certification, approval, or determination may be appealed to the agency's elected decisionmaking body, if any.

-- The EIRs are approved by a board of people that can approve or disapprove any building project they desire. Who are these boards comprised of? These negative impact projects simply slide through the system when a law suit to stop them is not filed.

My reference is specific to the EIS prepared for Fresno's RTP. There were so many flaws in that thing it shouldn't have been passed, but who wants to study or even read a 300 page document? Some of the notable flaws:
1. Solving air quality by ONLY buiding more roads to satisfy the continuation of more sprawl development.
2. NO mention regarding the increase of oil prices and how this is going to impact our local economy.
3. "From the 2007 FTIP Regional Transportation Plan, Section 2.3:
Alternative scenarios are not addressed in RTP; they are, however addressed and analyzed for their feasibility in this EIR, as required by California Environmental Quality Act (15126(d), 15125.6(a)). From the Draft EIR, the alternatives are identified and described and projects that deliver the most benefit were selected.

… It calls for increased investments in alternative transportation modes, while accommodating a necessary amount of new highway capacity. Heavier emphasis on alternative modes, above and beyond those already incorporated in the RTP, may be desired or preferred but because of financial constraints, alternative mode additions are not financially feasible in the timeframe of the RTP.

Yeah, and that timeframe reference is for the next 20 years.

After re-reading this it comes to attention the statement: "Heavier emphasis on alternative modes, above and beyond those already incorporated in the RTP, may be desired or preferred but because of financial constraints, alternative mode additions are not financially feasible in the timeframe of the RTP." is blatantly false. Measure C provides $36million specifically for alternative modes with “New Technology Transit”. However, due to the lack of knowledge with the preparers of the EIS this “New Technology” is completely ignored. The funds do exist and so does the technology. Ignorance is not bliss; it is either stupidity or deceit for public officials to continue ignoring this issue.

Jpatrick,

What specific CEQA standards are you referring to in the comment above?

Hummm… cars pollute the air because of the disproportional design flaws that takes a 3,000 pound vehicle to carry a 250 pound load. Fresno needs to build more roads. When one is actually interested enough to look at the RTP, they might find out what is scheduled to occur for the area. Oh, you aren’t aware of what the RTP is? Then what good does this comment make?

And since the Valley depends on the agriculture industry for economic strength the land-use real estate development industry should continue in its pattern to accommodate the automobile, forcing the farm land to disappear. After all, the two-month 10 temporary jobs for each house that the building industry was able to score on the books to build all those tract houses have added a lot more than what a farm can produce over its life.

How about politics as usual and have the special interests lobby for their projects the same as everywhere else? The private sector is motivated by profit and innovative when made to adapt.

Let’s just continue talking. It seems we need to talk a few more years about the problems and not do anything, why bother to change anything.

What is really important is to have more politicians claim concerns that don’t follow through with their worthless promises. America needs to have some really concerned politicians see their names plastered on tax supported public fixtures that increase our taxes.

California doesn’t need further tax burdens designed by clueless politicians. CEQA was designed to address environmental concerns but, are totally ignored as policy procedure. You want change? Then simply enforce CEQA standards without allowing the “acceptable status-quo”.

Which way the wind blows

An ill wind blows through our dusty valley today
From pollution that's near and from far away
Burning eyes and the smell of smoke
Step outside and you start to choke
Dangerous place to breathe and yet we stay

Too many cars and trucks backed up on the freeway
With new subdivisions it's going get worse everyday
Gas hogs are on the attack
There's another SUV Cadillac
Veil of smog that hangs for days and days

Junkpile fire glows
What we breathe nobody knows
Depends on which way the wind blows

Air quality is very important to my spouse and I. I suffer from asthma, and since moving here 4 years ago, it has gotten worse.
It makes me sick to see the layer of brown in the air. I love the days when I can see the mountains. It's so sad that we can't enjoy the view on a daily basis.
I wish more people cared enough to actually do something to help clean the air. I think people and business should be held accountable for the pollution they cause. Encourage a good, efficient form of public transit, ban fireplace burnings and require new buildings to use solar power.
Encourage Dairy Farms to convert waste into power.
I hope that air quality issues are important to all the candidate running for office. It is a major problem in the area so the canidates should care.

We took air for granted before moving to Fresno. My kids don't have asthma either but they suffer from allergies just about all year 'round. It's more than disconcerting to think about the air we're breathing!

Key for me will be candidates for whom air quality improvement is priority enough that they have background knowledge enough to make a practical plan for improvement. But, really, air quality needs to be important for the POPULATION. In my experience here, air quality and waste reduction (recycling, awareness of waste) is just not important enough to people - it shocks me all the time.