Pretty Place, ugly politics: Nevada County is home to some of the ugliest political discourse imaginable, pitting Smart Growth proponents against a well-funded growth lobby.
It would be impossible to understand the rough and tumble nature of Nevada County politics, including the evolution of Measure D, without having some rudimentary knowledge of the self-described "property rights" or "Wise Use" movement. To help explain how Nevada County became such fertile ground for divisive property rights politics and the "regulatory takings" movement, YubaNet.com presents this special report. It will shed light on why Nevada County now has the dubious distinction of proposing and defeating the first-ever, one-size-fits-all compensation mandate in California. Measure D, the "property owners claims reimbursement process initiative," would have resulted in a novel redefinition of the 5th Amendment for Nevada County taxpayers, as well as a new entitlement program for developers doing business here.
Thanks to Susan Levitz
FULL STORY: Property Rights Politics in Nevada County, CA
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Mayors' Institute on City Design
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