SB 375 Also Pushes Through The Building Of The 710 Tunnel

Laurie Barlow over at The Greensward Civitas blog has been digging into the consequences of SB 375, and she completes a picture that draws together all of the consequences. Consequences which, if brought to fruition, would be devastating to not only to the ecological integrity of the San Gabriel Valley, but the entire L.A. basin as well. The so-called "Global Warming Bill" continues to be exposed as being anything but Earth friendly.

Here is how Laurie breaks it down:

"SB 375 essentially establishes unofficial growth boundaries, but in exchange it strips local governments of the protections under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) for projects that have transportation or housing elements within urban boundaries, and enforces the imposed housing numbers developed by SCAG. Devil's bargain, just like Prop 13 has turned out to be. Major proposed regional transit projects (which are actually cargo transit networks), such as the 710 Connector in South Pasadena, would no longer be stoppable by small communities using CEQA, it strips cities of local control. It pits anticipated regional growth against the integrity of the local communities."

Boiled down into Tattler-speak what is being said here is that SB 375 is a law passed by Sacramento that will put a stop to small communities such as Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, or Crescenta Valley, bringing up environmental considerations when faced with forced high-density development or, God forbid, something as destructive as the proposed 710 tunnel. A hole that will funnel huge amounts of new traffic onto the 210, further fouling our air and causing traffic nightmares.

Laurie continues:

"This agenda by SCAG is to increase the shipping and cargo infrastructure from the Port in San Pedro, a major contributor to carbon emissions and the underlying cause of massive amounts of energy use, pollution and waste generation, as well as the significant water consumption created by construction projects. SCAG is simply chasing the regional profits at the expense of the residents - the usual model of privatize profit, push the consequences to the public sector."

The Port of Long Beach is one of the major entranceways to the American market for the cheaply made Asian goods that now dominate the shelves of stores coast to coast. And once off loaded from cargo ships these goods must be placed on trucks that will take them on their way. And the one problem with this situation is the 710. The fact that it doesn't directly connect to anything creates a lot of headaches for the "transportation sector." And you know when SB 375 was being considered in Sacramento they made their displeasure known.

So why would SCAG be working to enable the funneling of cheaply made Asian goods to a job depressed American market? As we've said before, it always comes down to money. Small cities such as ours have now been stripped of rights that have been ours for decades, all because we've been deemed inconvenient to those who might wish to change us in ways we don't want to be changed. With the only real consideration here being the cash to be made. And don't be deceived by all the Greenwash being applied. Believe me, as far as these kinds of folks are concerned, that's just marketing.

So who would be doing this to cities such as ours? How did this happen? Now immediate suspicions would be cast on the usual suspects in Sacramento. The lobbyists of the BIA and CAR were involved, of course. SB 375, if it is enacted in full, would mean billions of dollars in new business for the people these organizations represent. And then there are the many corrupt politicians who've made a good living for years giving lobbyists such as these what they want.

But we shouldn't overlook the role local politicians play as well. SCAG, of course, plays a big part here. As do SCAG's junior partners such as the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. And who chairs the SGVCOG committee in charge of enforcing SB 375 here in the San Gabriel Valley? Would you believe our own Joe Mosca?

Joe Mosca chairs the Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee Energy Working Group for SGVCOG. And among this committee's duties is working on getting SB 375 done right here in the SGV. This from the minutes from this committees May 20th meeting which was held right here in Sierra Madre:

SB 375 Update - Staff reviewed the most recent developments regarding SB 375 including the issues of sub-delegation and regional targets. An SB 375 briefing is scheduled ... It is very important the elected officials, city managers, and planning staff attend this meeting as the San Gabriel Valley considers its strategy for implementation."

Pretty chilling. After reading these committee minutes it becomes obvious that there is no doubt among these people that SB 375 will become a part of our lives. Whether we want it or not. And why? Because people like Joe Mosca apparently believe that persons such as us no longer have any say in these matters. And all they have to do is use the club handed to them by Sacramento and the building trades lobbies that organizations like SGVCOG really work for. 

So when the effects of SB 375 start to be felt here, be it the 710 tunnel or an entire new Sierra Madre DSP that we can no longer stop, at least we won't have to go far to find a guilty party. He's right down there at City Hall telling his tall tales every other Tuesday night.