[Capr-announce] CAPR News October 2007

[Jeff Wright]

CAPR NEWS

THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM CITIZENS’ ALLIANCE FOR PROPERTY RIGHTS
October, 2007

The R.A.T. Tax: Social Engineering in Support of “Smart Growth”

On November 6th, voters in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties will vote on
the Sound Transit and RTID (Regional Transportation Investment District)
Proposition No. 1.  Euphemistically known as the “Roads and Transit” (RAT)
tax, the measure represents the largest tax proposition in state history.

It isn’t breaking news that our roads are in gridlock and that the average
person hoping to get to work is about ready to lynch his or her elected
representatives.  And it is no wonder.  For 35 years, Washington has
neglected infrastructure improvements even though, overall, its citizens are
the fourth most highly taxed in the union.  With Boeing bugging out and the
natives and (finally) business getting restless, something had to be done.
Enter, stage left, the new god “smart growth”.

Boiled down, smart growth is about moving everyone into a dense urban
environment and taking away their cars.   Skip your desire to live in a
single-family house.  And don’t even dream of living in a rural environment.
That doesn’t fit in the new reality.  The environment will only be saved
when we’re all living cheek to jowl on an urban patch of asphalt.  This isn’
t sci-fi; this is the trajectory of local politics.

Prop 1 would be a huge expenditure for transportation.  But even if you’re
willing to fork over your first born, you won’t find a lot of relief in the
RAT tax.  Granted, a lot of money would be spent on roads but not enough to
make a big dent in the problem.  Considerably more would be spent on light
rail.  Nearly half again as much with a build timeline that stretches at
least 20 years into the future.  The trouble is that after all this, we
still wouldn’t have a “system”, just a big “T” shaped rail line.  If you’ve
been to Europe, you know that rail works if you have a system.  So what
gives?

Not to be mistaken, we desperately need mass transit.  But we need mass
transit that will work.  Soon.  Or roads, which will work.  Soon.  By short
sheeting what will work, Prop 1 guarantees that we will be forced towards
the smart growth model.  Plain and simple, it is a bald attempt at social
engineering.  Do you want to be “engineered”?

The powerful Futurewise organization maintains that it is working hard to
create “great communities and great neighborhoods” through smart growth.
You decide.


Hammond Joins Councilman Dunn’s Staff

Here is some good news for King Co. farmers, and the rest of the citizenry
by extension.  CAPR President Steve Hammond has joined County Council member
Reagan Dunn’s staff.  Steve will work on agriculture issues in his new
capacity.  One might expect that his work in the 9th District will have an
effect on the entire county, which needs a strong voice for the farming
community.  As one of CAPR’s Advocates, Steve has worked tirelessly helping
folks around the county and will be an asset to Mr. Dunn.


Election Endorsements

Cheryl Haskins
The CAPR Board has endorsed Cheryl Haskins for Renton City Council.  Bright,
articulate and sporting an MBA degree, Haskins has management experience,
which will be valuable in guiding the city.  And Cheryl’s views on property
rights favor the citizen over the government.  She was a critic when Renton
Mayor Kathy Koelker stated that the City might use the power of eminent
domain to secure private properties in the Renton Highlands area for the
benefit of a private development, not unlike what happened in the famous
“Kelo” Supreme Court case.  For more go to www.voteforcherylhaskins.com
<http://www.voteforcherylhaskins.com/> .

Judy Fenton
The CAPR Board has endorsed Judy Fenton, running for Seattle City Council
Position #9.  In addition to supporting property rights, she supports
retrofitting the Viaduct versus spending billions to replace it and would
push for adequate funding for Seattle Police.  Judy would help bring some
common sense to the show that is the Seattle City Council.  More at
www.judy-4-seattle.com <http://www.judy-4-seattle.com/> .


Odds and Ends

CAPR Court Date Slides
Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Brian Hodges reports that it might be as
late as June of 2008 before oral arguments are heard by the Court of Appeals
in CAPR’s challenge of the King Co. Clearing and Grading Ordinance.  As
noted earlier, King Co. is burying the Court in a large amount of (mostly)
frivolous briefs, which is slowing things down.  Hopefully the County’s
tactic will really tick off the judge.

Snohomish Co. C.A.R. Appealed
As anticipated, Futurewise and The Pilchuck Audubon Society have filed a
Petition For Review to the Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearing
Board on Snohomish County’s recently adopted Critical Areas Regulations
(CAR).  While the Snohomish CAR is extreme in its own right, the petitioners
obviously feel that it doesn’t measure up to their gold standard King Co.
CAO.  There is nothing that makes eco-extremists crazier than not getting
everything they want.  Tisk, tisk.

King Co. 2008 Draft Comprehensive Plan Available
King Co. has published the first draft of the 2008 Comprehensive Plan.  CAPR
is reviewing the plan and you can expect comments in the next edition of the
“News” and probably at the upcoming monthly meeting of the King Co. Chapter
of CAPR.  See the meeting notice below.  In the mean time, you can review it
here <http://www.metrokc.gov/permits/codes/CompPlan/2008> .

CAPR Invited to Observe Eminent Domain Task Force Work
CAPR is among a select few organizations and individuals invited to observe
the sessions of Attorney General Rob McKenna’s recently created Eminent
Domain Task Force.  The task force is studying the issue of eminent domain
and will look to identify problems and possibly suggest legislative reform.


CAPR Meeting Schedule

The next meeting of the King Co. chapter of CAPR will be held at 7:00 PM,
Thursday, November 1st.  The meeting site is the IHOP restaurant located at
1433 NW Sammamish Rd. in Issaquah.  Consider coming early for dinner and
conversation.



Jeff Wright
Secretary, CAPR
E-mail:        jeff at proprights.org <mailto:jeff at proprights.org>


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