• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Nature, Environment, History & Politics

The Valley Citizen

  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About
  • RSS Icon

San Joaquin Valley Still Heading Toward Unsustainability, By Bruce Frohman

October 18, 2013 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

More Houses, Fewer Farms
More Houses, Fewer Farms

Over the last 25 years, concerned citizens in the San Joaquin Valley have tried to change growth policies in order to build sustainable communities. Citizens from interest groups such as Sierra Club, Audubon, GOAL: Growth, Orderly Affordable, and Livable, and FOOD: Future Options On Development, have had minimal impact on the rate of urban growth policies, the manner in which land is used, or conservation of the environment.

Political groups in control of communities tend to oppose the agendas of the citizen groups. The controllers argue that growth and opportunity have been hindered by the efforts of the concerned citizens. However, a critical examination of land use and resource patterns indicates that citizen interest groups have had minimal effect on growth policies or the long term sustainability of Valley economies. In fact, the narrow minded focus of development groups on residential rather than industrial development has led to unemployment rates double the state of California average and stagnant economies. Given growth patterns of the last 25 years, not enough resources exist to continue the development policies of the past.

The Basic Problems

Each acre of land added for urban development shortchanges the sustainability of future populations.  Inadequate water for farming and urban use means that rivers and streams cannot be kept full of water for a healthy ecosystem.  High levels of air pollution continue to aggravate the health of citizens via asthma and shortened life expectancy.  Food production is not increasing as fast as population increases add to demand.

The long term trends are leading towards larger unsolved problems while the wrong solutions are promoted by those who control the population’s destiny. Citizen groups like the Sierra Club have had to shift to no growth strategies because the politicians are unwilling to do what is needed to build a sustainable society.

Solutions Proposed vs. Solutions Needed

Here are a few examples of what is needed to be done and what has actually been proposed. Water sources need to be enhanced.  Coastal communities need to desalinate water so that inland communities can keep their water.  Instead, the Governor proposes a big tunnel project that will move water but will not add to the total supply.  Bigger dams are proposed that will create larger storage, but further degrade rivers and disrupt the valley ecosystem.

Air pollution needs to be reduced.  Instead of creating local jobs, more houses and freeways are built, encouraging more air pollution from larger numbers of commuters driving longer distances.  Instead of raising gasoline taxes to encourage the use of more fuel efficient cars and car pools, ineffective advertising has little effect on conservation of resources.

Land use patterns have not changed much. In the last 25 years, communities have made little progress in protecting farm land for food production, increasing urban land use density, or engaging in smart growth strategies.  Urban blight continues to expand within the cities while farm land is chewed up for new urban growth.

Urban limit lines would force cities to make better use of the land within their borders.  Growth would become denser as cities would grow upward instead of outward.  Agricultural land would be protected, making the future more sustainable.

Still Building an Unsustainable Economy

The present model used for economic growth is not sustainable. The question is, when will it end? How bad does the Valley have to become before those in a position to do something fix it?  When will voters stop supporting candidates dedicated to more housing and fewer farms?

Filed Under: Featured, History Tagged With: San Joaquin Valley growth, San Joaquin Valley planning, San Joaquin Valley sprawl

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Sunday said she views the midterm elections…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
Don Cameron went all in on a trickle-down survival tactic. It could help save America’s agricultural heartland—even if he doesn’t survive the new water war.
www.wired.com
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
This article first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A South Texan?s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
A South Texan’s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
When she began her year-long bird-spotting adventure, Tiffany Kersten was lost and lonely. She ended up achieving a major milestone and finding her way.
www.texasmonthly.com
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
A top aide said the Wisconsin Republican senator wanted to give Pence the list of pro-Trump electors as he prepared to certify the 2020 election.
www.politico.com
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
“I think it would have helped our party heal, given [people] more facts.”
www.axios.com
'Not safe anymore': Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
‘Not safe anymore’: Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
Homeless encampments now spill well beyond Portland’s downtown core, dividing a city that has invested liberally in support services.
www.latimes.com
Republicans Will Do It Again
Republicans Will Do It Again
They have not been chastened by the revelations of the January 6 committee.
nymag.com
Birdman
Birdman
Bird Brother: A Falconer’s Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife
www.earthisland.org
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Martins were bit players in politics, until they put Doug Mastriano one step away from becoming Pennsylvania’s next governor.
nymag.com
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Prominent Christian leaders accuse Trump allies of spreading misinformation about election and Covid, while distorting Christian teachings at ReAwaken America events
www.theguardian.com
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears 'moment of reckoning'
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears ‘moment of reckoning’
As the Colorado River water shortage worsens, major cutbacks are needed to reduce most perilous risks, a federal official tells senators.
www.latimes.com
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Supporters who thought they were donating to “election integrity” instead saw some of their money funneled to Trump hotels
www.rollingstone.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design