State Burns Up Over Counties' Growth Policies
<p>When you live near raging wildfires, you begin to understand why the State of California spends nearly $1 billion a year on firefighting. You also start to see why some state lawmakers say it's time for more local responsibility.</p>
"Those of us who live in a state responsibility area (SRA) are thankful that state taxpayers subsidize our fire protection. But the free ride may be over for us soon. And we might not get many more neighbors."
"It appears possible that the state budget deal could include some sort of new funding for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, either in the form of a surcharge on insurance premiums or a direct assessment on property owners. A homeowner like me might pay something in the neighborhood of $50 a year."
In addition, several pieces of legislation seek to limit development in state responsibility areas, or to force local agencies to take more responsibility for fire protection.
Published on Friday, July 11, 2008 in
- Friday Eye Candy: Images of the World's Cities Through History
- The Days of 'Uber-for-X' May Be Over
- A Message to Suburban Counties: Invest in Transit or Get Left Behind
- Google Maps Erases Publically Owned Open Spaces
- CIAM's Third Way
- Sweeping Parking Reform Approved in Oakland
- Indianapolis: Where the Streets Have No Lights
- L.A.'s Grand Central Market at a Turning Point, Faces Gentrification
- Op-Ed: Parking Concerns Can't Outweigh Affordable Housing
- Atlanta's New Tunnel-Boring Machine Named for a Rapper
- Form Based Codes: Nashville Provides a Model for Charlottesville's Process
- A Generational Challenge: Ending the Age of the Automobile
- Rent Control Gains Support in Oregon
- The Obama Administration Releases a Pro-Development Playbook
- If LEDs Are Bad for Our Health, What Should Cities Do Now?
- The Battle Against McMansions Continues in Burbank
- Middle Tennessee Adopts $6 Billion Regional Transit Plan
- 101 Small Actions With Big Effects in Cities
- How Detroit Beat the Silicon Valley to the Breakthrough Electric Vehicle
- Pedestrian-Oriented Development Needs More Auto Parking
