The relocalization process of restoring the Tujunga-Pacoima Watershed

The objectives of restoring the Tujunga-Pacoima Watershed point to a green jobs based economy arrived at by a process of Relocalization involving some key concepts featured in Biologist Jason Bradford's Relocalization: A Strategic Response to Climate Change and Peak Oil:

Relocalization is based on a systems approach that doesn’t solve one set of problems (peak oil) only to make another problem (climate shift) worse.

Relocalization is based on an ethic of protecting the Earth System--or Natural Capital-- knowing that despite our cleverness, human well-being is fundamentally derived from the ecological and geological richness of Earth.

Relocalization starts from the premise that the world is a finite place and that humanity is in a state of overshoot (relying on an oil-based economy and resource consumption levels beyond the planet's carrying capacity). Perpetual growth of the economy and the population is neither possible nor desirable. It is wise to start planning now for a world with less available energy, not more.

While we can’t know future threats precisely, scientists do agree that creating a carbon-cycle neutral economy should be the dominant task occupying our minds. This is exactly what Relocalization aims to do.

Relocalization advocates rebuilding more balanced local economies that emphasize securing basic needs. Local food, energy and water systems are perhaps the most critical to build. In the absence of (past) reliable (but now exhausted) trade partners, whether from peak oil, natural disaster or political instability, a local economy that at least produces its essential goods will have a true comparative advantage.

Relocalization takes a different perspective altogether. Instead of working to keep a system going that has no future, it calls us to develop means of livelihood that pollute as little as possible and that promote local and regional stability. Since much of our pollution results from the distances goods travel, we must shorten distances between production and consumption as much as we can.

Then given the processes involved, What is Relocalization?

Relocalization is a strategy to build societies based on the local production of food, energy and goods, and the local development of currency, governance and culture. The main goals of Relocalization are to increase community energy security, to strengthen local economies, and to dramatically improve environmental conditions and social equity.

The Relocalization strategy developed in response to the environmental, social, political and economic impacts of global over-reliance on an oil-based economy. Our dependence on once cheap non-renewable fossil fuel energy has produced climate change, the erosion of community, wars for oil-rich land and the instability of the global economic system.

Urban planning and design must be ordered by the watershed. One needs to insure that survival of civitas will be dependent on having close-at-hand access to (work, food, water, energy, shelter, clothing, health care, education, culture). Bio-regional determinism effected by the process of Relocalization will define watersheds as the basic political governing, economic and social units where the grassroots governs from the bottom up.

State Democrat Pundits Bet on Payola to Win

One-party town, 'payola to the developer,' top-down politics may predict a lock-down win, but his opponent is a long-time architect and grassroots, neighborhood advocate, co-author of the award winning Panorama City Commercial Area Revitalization Study which has spurred pedestrian-friendly remodeling and face-lifting and is the one who has the name recognition and community-based reputation to win with a third of the votes plus one.

Run Jack Run. This contest is one Green Party Jack Lindblad will win!

Neighborhoods can help decide the State Assembly Contest

To insure a free and fair election in which each candidate can state their own case to the constituents, the 39th District's neighborhood councils (being grass-root representatives of constituents in the District) are provisioned to step up to the plate and offer forum for dialog with all of the candidates appearing on this November's ballot.

The hallmark of my term in office will be to do the neighborhood's bidding, to be the neighborhood's advocate in Sacramento for sensible growth, driven not by developers, not top-down, but rather from the bottom-up. My long-standing commitment to the community have been proven by my co-authoring and presenting the Panorama City Commercial Area Revitalization Study as approved by City government, assisting the formation of neighborhood councils, and numerous stances to insist developers conform to the community plan.

The issues this year are more pronounced than ever before - but more important, with my campaign getting the word out, the ineptitude of my duopoly opponents, my only opponents - will act in a big way to defeat themselves. The duopoly's all-out assault on working people - as witnessed by no-end-in-sight financial freezes, foreclosures, hikes in fuel, energy and food prices has fractured any voter loyalty to follow the Democrat or Republican. Those who have led us into oblivion cannot be trusted to lead us into our green future. We must 'hike up the mountain,' live closer to the land, conserve and be frugal. The path out of this descent to consumption-driven human extinction will be full of patriotism - making sacrifices, taking care of and sharing each other in the transition off the oil standard and forward to a green-jobs and 100% renewable energy economy.

The current office-holder has proven to be undermining the implementation of AB 1493 (Global Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act) - by not only scandalously allowing developers write their legislation to build more sprawl - but also evidenced by his fence-sitting which defeated Assemblymember Ruskin's 'Feebates' consumer credits given toward the purchase of energy-efficient, small cars from surcharging purchasers of SUVs. His political initiative to advance new small car purchases shows shows only a politically-expedient concern for his small car lobbyist.

Conditions in my Assembly election contest in 2008 are entirely different than most of those past contests which have brought us here. The one-issue message-framing republican will get 20-30%, and the democrat is not independent-thinking, but a freshman who employs payola over the public interest, and who in doing so, raises the ire of neighborhood council activists, other elected political office-holders and the rank-and-file constituent.

The Green Party does not (nor do I) accept donations from corporate entities. We favor banning of all corporatist lobbying and campaign spending with implementation of public financing of elections. Once elected, I will bring the ethical and moral imperatives of the Greens' Ten Key Values to Sacramento.

Solving the state budget problem: Issues & Green Answers critical to the 39th Assembly District - categorized according to Green Party Ten Key Values

Solving the state budget problem first requires:
ecological wisdom:
To slow global warming and stabilize our biosphere, what is urgently required is nothing less than an all-out effort worthy of last century's New Deal. The Democrats take on 'green collar' jobs is too little too late. As a human species, we must halt global greenhouse gas emissions and develop zero net energy technology; reducing is not enough.

The current officeholder has demonstrated an outright opposition to seriously address implementation of AB 1493 (Global Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act) - as evidenced by his fence-sitting which defeated Assemblymember Ruskin's 'Feebates' consumer credits given toward the purchase of energy-efficient, small cars in addition to surcharging purchasers of SUVs.
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Then, to stimulate consumer spending, cut prison spending, while actually increasing education spending:
decentralization:
Seeding a 'green collar' economy to provide for a workforce is imperative to maintain, grow and expand zero net energy building developments, affordable housing and innovate greenhouse gas-reducing technologies. By 'getting off the grid', funding will be manageable for maintaining and improving a smaller, more efficient infrastructure.

social justice, respect for diversity, feminism:
Reduce inflationary spiral on lower income workforce by a phased elimination of state tax on wages and salary and sales tax compensated with a graduated tax rate on gross rents, gross business receipts and resource-based taxes.

I will promote legislation to immediately end immigration raids and deportations. Political initiatives need to link every environmental demand to specific legislation that improves quality of life in our working class district – programs that employ youth in a living wage 'green collar' economic community (to answer challenges which cause gang activity), that create more parkspace (given the prevalent immigrant community's pro-environment health-conscious, wide usage of out-door public spaces and green recreational spaces), that extend opportunities for people to enjoy nature and to participate in green politics, that confront the immorality of a rich state while our children are poor.

The combined tab of nearly $15 billion for prison reform has dismayed lawmakers already faced with a $16 billion budget deficit that has prompted huge proposed cuts in spending on education and health care.

The United States has less than 5 percent of the world's population. But it has almost a quarter of the world's prisoners.

My opponent's legislative initiatives creates more criminal infractions which would expand the already runaway, double-digit billion dollar California Prison-Industrial complex. My green answer is removing jail time for victimless crimes, removal of 'three strikes' and using the expanded education dollar for educative, correction-oriented programs over punishment to reduce the size and uncontrolled spending of the current prison system. Fully fund educational programs, especially those for early childhood. Costs per student are far less than the cost per prisoner in a dysfunctional prison complex.

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Eliminate the deficit by stopping the War for Oil in Iraq and reduce military spending everywhere else, pushing Congress for our fair share given the Federal tax contribution - besides closing developer loopholes, seeding a green collar economy, while replacing the present dirty money, corporatist welfare legislation with Clean Money, publicly financed elections allowing single payer healthcare - saving 30% over the current privatized structure. After all, California is the eighth largest economy on the world stage and the actual savings will be immense.
community-based economics:
In an extended period of spiraling downward real estate value and economic depression, the mark of a civilized society would not to eliminate the 16 billion dollar State Budget deficit by closing parks, workforce healthcare programs, and entitlements to the poor, disabled, elderly and children. Instead, curb unsustainable speculative urban sprawl, mansionification through tax incentives by replacing tax on building improvements with tax on land. Change tax policy to close developer loopholes to provide for the common interest and to increase public coffers.

Prudent land-use policy does not promote sprawl. My opponent believes not, by beginning his term in office by gutting and amending defeated legislation, accepting a developer's campaign donation in return for allowing the same developer to sponsor AB 212, his proposed bill (limiting L.A.'s ability to control land use) favored the same developer whose sprawling 229 single-family home Tujunga project would benefit from the legislation. Justifying developers writing state law for their own profit, my opposition claimed the legislation's rationale was to protect developers from NIMBYism.

The move has riled Los Angeles City Council members (voting last month to oppose the state intervention in local land-use decisions), in addition to residents in Tujunga, La Crescenta and Glendale who have banded together to fight the proposed development and preserve the golf course. We need State Representation supportive of the local community. Green Party Member and tested leader in the community, Jack Lindblad provides that support, representing "We, the People" not "We, the Corporation."

California home foreclosures hit a record ^ ^ ^ Developer sponsored land-use bill ^ ^ ^ California foreclosures at highest level in 16 years

future focus/sustainability:

Redirect "Enterprise zones" (in which the City of Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency engages in real estate speculation while allowing growing blight in the community) toward attracting and encouraging transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly, mixed use, zero net energy, smart, compact, ecological-inspired architecture to reduce urban sprawl's carbon footprint and meet the 2030 mandated reduction of 80% - 90% of global greenhouse gases to mitigate global warming.

Fully fund an expanded number of Tujunga-Pacoima Watershed projects to restore riparian and chaparral areas - especially to clean up contaminated properties (closed landfills, and auto salvage yards) for green space (our lungs), ground-water recharge, potable water (to offset Delta and Colorado River water cutbacks), flood control, recreation, community gardens, horse, bicycling and hiking trails. Convert impervious paved areas to pervious.

Parks and recreation areas foster human development, strengthen public safety and security, promote health and welfare, bolster community self-image and instill a 'sense of place,' promote cultural solidarity, and facilitate community problem-solving.

Maintain the mission of Hansen Dam to protect urban development from flooding and promote small water retention ponds, underground aquifers and cisterns. Establishment of governance based on bioregional-determined ecological conservation, watershed-based economic, political boundaries. By doing so, we begin to answer the shifting Mediterranean regional climate, rising sea levels and temperatures, drought, and water shortage challenging the continued existence of 18 million Southern Californians, while providing this planet with a new model for governance and eco-mindful consumption.

Expand rail and jitney transit to compensate for the required trips now taken by private, gas-consuming vehicles - which will be phased off the roadways.

personal/global responsibility:
The incumbent has amassed an unknown number of 'hidden' campaign committees with unknown amounts of dollars. One might conclude that his legislative initiatives appear to be gestures toward nursing a corporatist money flow into his campaign committee treasuries. My green answer is to promote Clean Money and publicly financed elections to hold elected officials responsible and accountable to the people's interests, not corporate interests so that single-payer health care can save 30% off the cost of providing quality healthcare for all.

(from california budget project)
Who (and How Many People) in our 39th Assembly District Would Be Affected Under the Governor’s Proposed Budget Estimated Impact?
• 3,260 Low-Income Children Who Would Lose Medi-Cal Coverage Due to Increased Paperwork Requirements in 2008-09 - By: 2009-10: 5,940 Children.
• 2,300 Low-Income Children Who Would Lose CalWORKs Cash Assistance Through June 2009.
• 106,570 Low-Income Medi-Cal Recipients Who Would be Affected by Reduced Payments to Medi-Cal Providers and Health Plans - Loss of Funds: $21,616,000.
• 14,330 Low-Income Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Who are Recipients Would be Affected by Suspended State Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) for SSI/SSP Grants, June 2008 Through June 2009.
• 13,620 Children Who are Healthy Families Program Recipients Would be Affected by Reduced Payments: - Loss of Funds: $900,000
• 5,340 Low-Income Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Who are Recipients Would be Affected by Reduced Number of Hours Provided for Domestic Services in the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program, 2008-09.
The Governor has proposed substantial reductions to virtually all state-supported services to close the state’s budget gap. The Legislature will consider these proposed reductions and other options during upcoming budget hearings.
Who (and How Many People) in Los Angeles County Would Be Affected by the Governor’s Proposed Budget?
• 1,544,710 students served by Los Angeles County’s public schools. Cuts to five of the largest funding allocations for public schools in the county would equal $670 per student.
• 66,140 low-income children dropped from the CalWORKs Program.
• 418,840 low-income seniors and persons with disabilities who would lose the state cost-of-living adjustment for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment cash assistance grants.
• 163,700 low-income seniors and persons with disabilities who would receive fewer hours of services through the In-Home Supportive Services Program.
• 5,170 fewer children enrolled in child care and preschool due to funding cuts to child development programs.
• 61,590 low-income children in 2008-09 – and a total of 112,140 children by 2009-10 – who would lose Medi-Cal coverage due to increased paperwork requirements.
• 2,261,650 low-income Medi-Cal recipients who may have reduced access to health care
services because of payment cuts to health care providers.
• 249,220 children enrolled in the Healthy Families Program, which provides low-cost health coverage for children in low-income working families. The Governor proposes to increase family premium contributions and copayments and reduce dental services.
• Visitors to five state parks in Los Angeles County, which the Governor proposes to close.

Survival of human species in the balance

The Green Party's Ten Key Values which form our party's political framework should be reflected in our society's politics, everyday day life and our inter-personal relationships. Without these ethical and moral imperatives at play, the existing political landscape remains dominated by the greed, corporatist, militarist and fraud-based nature of the duopoly party of Democrats and Republicans. This reality has led human culture on earth to the brink of self-annihilation. If we as a human species are to survive as a culture, current political decision-making must be transcended with a commonly-held harmonic convergence to our Green Party's Four Pillars and Ten Key Values.

The international Green Party movement is guided by the "Four Pillars": Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, and Nonviolence. Ten Key Values Greens in the United States add six more -- Decentralization, Community-Based Economics, Feminism, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global Responsibility, and Future Focus/Sustainability -- to form the "Ten Key Values".

I will bring the ethical and moral imperatives of the Greens' Ten Key Values to Sacramento.