How Much Can Stockton Grow?

The General Plan, that's suppose to govern the city's growth until 2035 is under much debate.

Some activists are upset that with prediction that Stockton's population is going to double, the plan is 'sprawl-inducing'. Businesses are upset that the plan calls for 10% of land to be set aside as open space.

My questions is: Who's moving to Stockton?

The council will resume hearings next week to address these issues.

Northern California Gets It's Fair Share

A 23 county Northern California trade coalition from Kern County to Sacramento to the Bay Area has been formed to demand their fair share of the $2.1 billion from Proposition 1B.

Los Angeles originally demanded 85% of the funds. Because, you know, if you have 1/3 of the population that totally makes sense.

Leaders in Southern California get their way on most issues, partly because of their dominant numbers in the Legislature and partly because the rest of the state hasn't been as unified or cohesive.

Bay Area officials would go one way. Those in the Sacramento area go another. San Joaquin Valley representative would head in a third direction.

That has resulted in more dollars and influence for Southern California.

It's like in 3rd grade when the boys would only nominate one person for president and the girls would nominate 3 or 4. Haven't we learned since then? The important thing isn't who wins, it's that LA loses.

Another Brick in the Wall

West Contra Costa schools have some of the worst facilities in the country.

"There are too many dark areas where lights do not work, too many urinals that can not be flushed, too many vents that are dirty, too many walls that have been chipped, peeling or dingy paint, and a reported problem with rodents in the kitchen contaminating food," the report says.

"What's really around the school is years of caked-on griminess," said Gilbert Rodriguez, who oversees the after-school program. "On a cleaning level, nothing seems to be done. The bathrooms are horrendous."

I remember school being hard enough, without having to deal with mice or non-flushing toilets.

Look Mom...

64 smashed plates in 41 seconds. There really isn't anything else to say.

Putah Creek

The Putah Creek Council took a page from Google's book and implemented a 360 degree virtual tour of the creek.

Blakey spent six days capturing photographs along the creek using a remote-control, computer-driven camera and still cameras. The 360-degree images are actually six frames stitched together.

To better replicate what it's like for a person to hear birds chattering or water running over rocks while standing beside the creek, he placed microphones designed for live theater inside the rubber ears of a hairdresser's mannequin head.

This is suppose to help people figure out where they can access the creek, where they can boat, fish, etc. But, really why bother when you can do almost all of it from your couch?

Check it out here.