SB 9

[Mike Mueller]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_End_o ... _Beginning

Decent book on this topic. It is very "Guns, Germs and Steel" based, so if you think geography and such doesn't impact human history then you will probably disagree with this guy. Basic idea is globalization allowed for very efficient optimization, and globalization is dying due to Americans not wanting to be world police anymore (think South China Sea and the looming issues of "Freedom of Navigation"). As markets become local again, the specialization and optimization that allowed for the global economic boom of the post WW2 era will end leading to global recessions and turmoil as the markets adjust. Also the food delivery that allowed for population booms in places that can't grow enough food locally (think Afghanistan or Japan) will end and the author predicts 1 billion dead from starvation issues.

The title is a little hyperbolic, but personally I think he is more right than wrong. With the caveat that like all human made disasters, it has human controlled solutions that might lessen the impacts (fingers crossed).

Mikey Mueller, PLS
Sonoma County

[CBarrett]

Interesting, I may have to grab the book, if it is available on audio.
I do get a bit skeptical when people predict doom and gloom events, but then again, as much as this is a cliché, many historical events do tend to repeat themselves.

I did a lot of reading last 200 years of European history, probably from Napoleonic wars on, and how they shaped Europe, the western world and it's relationship with Russian territories and rivalries for imperialistic resources.

Some of the events and people's restlessness today is paralleled with what was happening near the end of the Victorian era, the end of the La Belle Epoque, where there were several generations of no war or much of the western soil, and newer generations getting restless and newly imperialistic, seeking power and adventure (among the ruling and among the masses). Growing industrialism also created significant population shifts and resulting economical changes.

las, history is much simpler, we already know what has happened and only need to try and understand cause and effect. Trying to predict future currents is much harder. The everyday noise and dying trends vs. those which will eventually prevail and take hold have not been filtered through for us. In mathematics that would be a very complex system with many unknows... I don't think we are that good at predictive matrices computations.

I know we say that we don't want to be the world police any more, but, military is still one of our biggest exports. I think this may just be a move to substantiate raising the prices on providing 'protection'. Italian mafia got things wrong with their system of protection, they should have turned it into a government and legitimized themselves, like most rulers and governments throughout the history. cough cough... well, now I've gone and done it, straight into the Machiavellian line of thinking. We like to think we have freedom as individuals, but we are really more like dragonflies trapped in a slow moving current in the sea of sap, just fluttering back and forth a little bit.

[DWoolley]

...
Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) and Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), have legalized duplexes and quadplexes in areas that were previously zoned for single-family-only housing. SB10 allows for as many as 10 units.

According to the US Census Bureau more than half (58%) of young adults in the U.S. are living with their parents. Young adults were defined as being between 18 and 24 years of age. Average number of kids rounds to 2 per household. Over 30% of those over 24 years old remain at home. One car each is minimum of four cars. SB9 allows for two backyard units - another 4 people, presuming no driving age kids to offer a best case scenario, another 4 cars.

One formerly single family residence now has 8 cars associated with the residence - no boats, trailers, or second cars. Add another SB9 next door or across the street and it produces 16 cars and another, 24 cars, etc. SB10 allows 10 units with no parking allocation. Best case, all single people in the units, although quite unlikely, puts another 10 cars in front of a former SFR.

So as not to fear monger, suppose these SB9 and SB10 folks are upstanding pacifist Quaker types, where are the rainbows and awesomeness of packing people into backyards, public streets and schools that I may have overlooked? Knowing Quaker types are less common than, say, ah, people with issues, I do not readily see the how losing SFR makes it better for the neighboring homeowners. I am looking forward to a fresh perspective highlighting the neighboring community benefits.

DWoolley

Update on grandma's ADU in San Diego. For fun, look at the address on Google Earth: 4601 Almayo Ave, San Diego, CA. You will note a nice sized backyard in a quite residential neighborhood. Next, go to the street view and check out the 17 apartments being built in the backyard, classic.

For those that would rather not Google Earth, check out the attached image. What do you suppose the street parking will look like with 17 families living on a cul-de-sac?

DWoolley

[DWoolley]

PLS7393:

Is the issue you do not want an American version of favelas in your neighborhood? As surveyors, I do not recall anyone in our professional community having issues turning the local strawberry and bean fields into single family homes, apartments, shopping centers etc. I have watched thirty years of development. Orange County is nearly built out - the last big housing development is being built now. Who among us refused a subdivision job on moral grounds?

Did anyone else see the woman hanging out of a car window with an AK47 in San Francisco this week? It appears as though she wasn't to concerned about the 30+ round banana clips being illegal in California. The wider angle lenses may have captured someone defecating on the sidewalk, packing a bag of merchandise and walking out of a Walgreens, or the needles in the gutter. Apparently, according to our leadership, crime is going down.

Keith, heads up, these multiple units proposals usually have no parking space requirements. Restated, your new neighbors will be parking 8 more cars in front of your house - unless they have adult kids living at home, add another 8 cars. I believe the majority of these legislative proposals are initiated in your neck of the woods. Maybe the lack of having a yard will help the drought - especially if they decide to use outhouses rather than flushing toilets.

One weird thing, you know what is holding up these housing bills, besides League of California Cities? The labor unions. The labor unions want a mandate that requires at least 30% of the affordable housing be given to the union workers. Of course, the Legislature recognizes this isn't exactly lending itself to affordability. Nobody seems overly concerned about the unions unfunded pension liabilities and being generally unsustainable. On the other hand, it seemed to work out for, ah, Detroit?

If only we could pay more in taxes. Being one of the highest taxed states has given us...well, given us....hmm, next question.

Mr. Nofield, I understand your concern, but 8 units next door barely ranks as an issue in the Golden State. Enjoy the ride to the bottom with a smile on your face. Neither of us has more than 20 years or so to enjoy the scenery. It will go quickly, I promise.

DWoolley

It was prophetic when I stated "If only we could pay more in taxes. Being one of the highest taxed states has given us...well, given us....hmm, next question." Hardly Nostradamus.

January 1st we added $0.65 per gallon in CARB tax, approximately a 15% increase in fuel costs. Awesome. The California SDI Tax was capped at $1,400 dollars and was not applied to wages above approximately $120,000. They removed the $120k cap and now, apply the percentage to all wages. A person earning $1M in wages now pays $12,000 - apparently, anything we can do as a state to drive out the money folks is the goal. Heck, even In-N-Out Burger is moving their headquarters to Tennessee. Few things would seem to be more "California" than In-N-Out.

Know this, California is my Alamo. As Buck Travis wrote:

"Fellow citizens and compatriots;
I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country. VICTORY or DEATH.
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt."

Santa Anna, as was his practice, like California today, would offer no quarter - Travis had no choice but to fight to the end.

Substituting "Remember the Alamo!", my battle cry shall be "Buy California"! Do not outsource California taxpayers dollars for professional land surveying work to out of state remote workers lest be considered a traitor to your own land. Keeping California tax dollars in-state will help our neighborhood businesses, schools, families, etc. hole up until the bitter inevitable.

On the wall, California Dreamin' while observing we face the Red "Bloody" Flag of no quarter.

DWoolley

[Ric7308]

On the anniversary of the date that Santa Ana's army appeared in San Antonio no less.

[hellsangle]

Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch

Dear Canada cousins,

Please buy California, Oregon & Washington. We would love to be part of YOUR country!

Crazy Phil

[DWoolley]

On the anniversary of the date that Santa Ana's army appeared in San Antonio no less.

No kidding! That is a cool coincidence. Glad you posted it.

I have been on a Texas history jag for a minute now. It all started with fraudulent surveyor, John Benson, interim interest in Quanah Parker and the Comanches, transitioned to Jack Hays, first batch of Texas Rangers and California's first Surveyor General which got me to Sam Walker, revisit Sam Colt, a brief study of the Colt-Walker pistol.

History nugget, in 1845-ish, Sam Walker wrote to Sam Colt is ideas to improve the Colt Paterson. Colt had since went bankrupt and was no longer making guns. Walker decides to meeting Colt on the east coast and travels from Texas to meet him. Colt decides to give gun making another try and reaches out to friend, Ely Whitney, and convinces him to make a Colt-Walker. Walker returns to Texas to continue fighting Comanches, Mexicans (although the war has ended, they continued to fight) and highway robbers. Walker was shot by a sniper and killed before he ever saw a Colt- Walker. Colt went on to become one of America's wealthiest people prior to dying in 1862 at 47 years old.

The tie into land surveying, Walker served under Jack Hays. Hays was a surveyor and Walker his chainman (along with 15 other crew members) when Texas ran out of money to pay them. Hays loaned the government his survey money and kept the guys working in the interim - until they could get money from the United States.

Keep an eye out for a 10 Minute Surveyor on Benson and another on Jack Hays.

DWoolley

[hellsangle]

Mr. Wooley . . .

You'll LOVE this book . . . (attached0

Crazyman agaign

[DWoolley]

Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch

Dear Canada cousins,

Please buy California, Oregon & Washington. We would love to be part of YOUR country!

Crazy Phil

Ah, Phil, you might want to check their balance sheet before you propose joining the Canucks. They are flat broke. California is a land of financial milk and honey compared to our pals to the north. For entertainment, I highly recommend watching highlights of their parliament meetings on Youtube (I may have disclosed to much personal information now). They caption, rather than simply mute, those annoying French speakers from Quebec. Canada is a mess, it is probably best to enforce that border until they have starved themselves out.

Agreed, I am sure to like the book! Thank you for the recommendation.

DWoolley

[Ric7308]

On the anniversary of the date that Santa Ana's army appeared in San Antonio no less.

No kidding! That is a cool coincidence. Glad you posted it.

I have been on a Texas history jag for a minute now. It all started with fraudulent surveyor, John Benson, interim interest in Quanah Parker and the Comanches, transitioned to Jack Hays, first batch of Texas Rangers and California's first Surveyor General which got me to Sam Walker, revisit Sam Colt, a brief study of the Colt-Walker pistol.

History nugget, in 1845-ish, Sam Walker wrote to Sam Colt is ideas to improve the Colt Paterson. Colt had since went bankrupt and was no longer making guns. Walker decides to meeting Colt on the east coast and travels from Texas to meet him. Colt decides to give gun making another try and reaches out to friend, Ely Whitney, and convinces him to make a Colt-Walker. Walker returns to Texas to continue fighting Comanches, Mexicans (although the war has ended, they continued to fight) and highway robbers. Walker was shot by a sniper and killed before he ever saw a Colt- Walker. Colt went on to become one of America's wealthiest people prior to dying in 1862 at 47 years old.

The tie into land surveying, Walker served under Jack Hays. Hays was a surveyor and Walker his chainman (along with 15 other crew members) when Texas ran out of money to pay them. Hays loaned the government his survey money and kept the guys working in the interim - until they could get money from the United States.

Keep an eye out for a 10 Minute Surveyor on Benson and another on Jack Hays.

DWoolley

That is a cool story. I knew about the Colt - Texas connection but not in that detail.

[LS_8750]

Jack Coffee Hays was also the first elected sheriff of San Francisco.

https://sfsdhistory.com/eras/john-coffe ... ed-sheriff

[DWoolley]

Jack Coffee Hays was also the first elected mayor of San Francisco.

https://sfsdhistory.com/eras/john-coffe ... ed-sheriff

Actually, the first sheriff.

There are some really interesting stories as the sheriff. 1850 San Francisco was lawless. Although not a political man, he was elected sheriff. One of his primary challenges, besides fighting lawlessness, was to keep at bay the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance, an outright vigilante. Their archenemy? The Sydney Ducks, lol. Being a Duck doesn't sound particularly tough.

Also, my previous post about Hays and the Sams was from recollection. I looked into it again and there was another account that stated Sam Walker had two freshly minted Colt Walkers on him when he was killed. Those pistolas would have been in the first run. Whichever is true, I want to believe this account.

Readers that find this period of time of interest, look up Jonathon R. Davis from Sacramento. He and two pals were ambushed by 11 bushwhackers. The two pals were killed instantly. Davis charged the bushwhackers. When his pistols were emptied he finished off the balance of them with his Bowie knife. A real life John Wick. The local newspaper doubted the account of events. He wrote them a letter saying "don't make me come down there". Several local miners were first onsite to witness him finish off the last of the would-be robbers.

DWoolley

[DWoolley]

The story is so good and Wikipedia doesn't do it justice. This closely follows the account of Jonathan Davis that I recalled. This story is a little light on the details about the newspaper man.

https://www.frontieramericanillustrated ... -gold-rush

DWoolley