Traffic: Quality of life or growth--REBUTTLE

Tough questions
The back-up that stirs the debate usually clears in 45 minutes. It is a scene of success and frustration: more jobs are available and more cars are on the road.

Incorrect. One who has ever been in the area between 3 pm and 6, knows that is last for 3 hours.

The delay that’s causing the uproar would be a wish-come-true on Market Street in San Francisco or Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles.

One cannot compare the differences like that. You must compare them respectively. Our 10 to 20 minute delays are similar to their 40 to an hour delays. Any other correlation is an incorrect fact--it is all relative not speculation.

The conflict about traffic raises questions with no easy answers:
Is rising traffic caused by new businesses or new people?

Duh.. Both.

Must jobs come at the expense of the area’s precious rural lifestyle?

No. We have 200 + years of history to see what happens to growth in other cities, why make the same mistakes, unless the same people are here that did it to those others, just to increase their bank accounts.

Is it reasonable to expect to drive through Grass Valley without waiting for traffic?

YES! Understanding that a few times there might be, but on a constant basis and for no reason other than not having another outlet for the traffic to go--that is not reasonable.

How much should new and growing businesses pay to soften the impact of growth?

What? So monetary reimbursement to whom? The locals that deal with the overgrowing traffic? Hmm, a few hundred bucks is going to make me feel better? A few thousand and I will live with the traffic? NOT! The money goes to the city and and we still deal with the traffic. I cannot believe that people will take money to replace their dead loved ones.
How does giving money to the city help the traffic problem for these businesses. OH. I see an under-the-table business deal. It's all corrupt to begin with.

Why should the businesses pay when the city wants their tax dollars and other fees from them. The city is the one allowing the businesses in, the city should pay for an on ramp on Dorsey to relieve the traffic.

Do residential and commercial developments in the rest of western Nevada County pay their fair share of the costs of growth in Grass Valley, the area’s economic hub?

Again... The city is responsible for allowing them to build. The city cannot handle any more growth with out leveling the place and starting over--It Is A Small Town.

While debate about the answers pounds on, the Grass Valley City Council will consider a resolution to lift its traffic standards for the intersection so that the six planned developments can go forward without restrictions.

People are so afraid to admit that we cannot handle any more development because:
1) It is turning down all kinds of money--the big issue.
2) The liberals will step in and say it is unconstitutional or something that we cannot keep people out.
3) It personally does not impact them where they live--just like any CEO, President of the US, General, or any governing body that controls the rest of their constituents--they have no idea what it is like on the front lines. Does the GV city council live in GV or Nevada City? What about the planning commission? Most are probably from SF or LA anyway, if not, they sure do act like they came from a big city.
Hey, I understand the world's population is growing at an exponential growth and people need a place to live, look at the city now. Everyday. On holidays. The fair. You will have twice as many vehicles on the road. We can barely handle what we have. Can we handle twice as many? NO!

Seeking relief
Those restrictions would lift the moment the City Council signs a contract to replace the intersection with a single-lane roundabout, currently seen as the most viable solution to congestion.

Viable? You are in need of a lobotomy. Get outside and actually see the problem. People will not back track from HUGHES, SIERRA COLLEGE, DORSEY, and even JOERSCHKE to head into BRUNSWICK to catch the freeway--they would rather sit in traffic and and take, what they think is, the shortest way.

I have backtracked and gotten on the freeway and off at East Main and Idaho-Maryland, much quicker than my wife did when she took the short route down East Main. The only trouble then, is to get through the intersection, but most people know when to take their turn--I hate that intersection because of all he traffic.

As I have mentioned before in an earlier blog, most of the vehicles are getting on the freeway; and they come from the roads I mentioned earlier. We need an on ramp at DORSEY!! Not a round-a-bout, which is just a band aid for now, and one that we will be dealing with for ever if it is ever built. A waste of money, time, and effort. And it will NOT solve anything.

Keoni Allen is building three of the projects affected by the traffic resolution. He warned the restrictions on the projects will spread the word that Grass Valley is anti-business.
“We’re starting to collapse our economy,” said Allen, who owns Sierra Foothills Construction Co. and is president of the Nevada County Contractors Association.

OOOH, there is where the REAL debate and motivation is MONEY!!!

We must burn down our forests. We must ruin our water. We must ruin our quality of life. ALL IN THE NAME OF MONEY!!

Kill the environment so we can live. Not for very long. Do any of you ever pay attention in history classes? We are making the same fucking mistakes as our grandfather's did worrying about your personal financial future.

Jim Moule, who is moving his paint and glass store on East Main, said his project keeps sales tax revenue in the city. “We just want the people to shop here instead of going to Roseville,” he said.

Well said Jim, however you forgot one thing. 75% of all businesses in GRASS VALLEY are set up and designed for TOURISTS, or the well payed city government people and its many corrupted departments--they can afford to go the these restaurants, shop at these over priced stores. Don't even get me started on Truckee. There are only a few local places that actually are for the locals. The Fair, Victorian Summer, Victorian Christmas, and a few other events are NOT.

But Steve Enos, a former city councilman who opposes lifting traffic restrictions, said the city risks turning into a Roseville clone if it allows businesses to expand without first improving the infrastructure to handle traffic.
In addition, CCAT leader Grant Cattaneo criticized the city for failing to build projects in recent years that could have addressed growing traffic. “We want traffic fixes as we grow,” Cattaneo wrote in a memorandum. He cited an earlier CCAT newsletter that said, in part, “An environment that continues providing favors to a few is wrong.”

Wow, maybe there are some smart people out there. But will their small voice actually be heard or listened to?