cvanempel’s Recent Comments

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  AB 32 draft scoping plan (GHG reduction)

  The Air Resources Board is probably right in stating that while some jobs will be lost, others will be created.  This is what generally occurs when there is a shift in technology.

  What is upsetting to many about the Draft Scoping Plan is that it further burdens agriculture and industry, which have borne the brunt of clean air regulations over the years, while giving land development and transportation a virtual get-out-of-jail free card.  Land use and transportation have as yet not been equitably assessed or regulated for adverse environmental impacts.

  The Sacramento Area Association of Governments, in its Blueprint and MTP 2035, has demonstrated that land use and transportation changes are both simple to make and have an enormous, achievable benefit for greenhouse gas emissions.

  Oh, did I mention that the Building Industry Association and the League of California Cities had final review and comment on the technical committee's Draft Scoping Plan--and modified it significantly--before it was released for public comment?On California air agency says cutting emissions will boost economy posted 1 year, 2 months ago 1 Response

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  It's big, it's wet . . .

  MTrainor,

  I'm always up for a good laugh, so long as it's not patently offensive, which the photo isn't.

  My annoyance with the card (which made me laugh) is that the reference is to a portion of the male anotomy--and the legs are female!  Those ought to be nice MALE legs there, to match the greeting card sentiment.On A batch of Grist Earth Day cards for your sending pleasure posted 2 years, 7 months ago 8 Responses

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  School Choice

  There are many interesting points being made, but I must pull back my focus and ask a more fundamental question:  What do you mean by "bad schools"?

  This shorthand term doesn't convey adequate information to formulate any possible solutions to the problem.  Does it mean that children do not perform well on standardized tests?  Does it mean that there are old or an inadequate number of textbooks?  Or that the facility is out of date? Or that there have been three shootings there in the past week?  Or that the teachers are inadequately prepared or bottom-of-the-barrel?  "Bad schools" doesn't get me there.  Clearly, each of these situations demands a different response.

  I am not so quick to lay the blame at the door of the school when I see how many parents treat education--often by not requiring children attend or not ensuring their homework is complete or not ensuring their children are getting additional help if they need it.  Ultimately, it is the parents' responsibility to ensure their children are educated.  A child who is performing poorly at a "bad school" may or may not improve at a "good school."

  Some other thoughts:  Home schooling isn't an option for most of the country, given the cost of living.  Bully for those who can stay home with their children, it might have been my choice, as well.

  Distance to the school of choice forces more driving and might result in a parent moving, depending upon the distance.  Two-income families often choose one of the two jobs based upon the real or perceived need to ferry children to and from school.  The commute triangle (home, school, office) must be small, since schools don't always offer after-school activities.

  In California, school districts are independent entities that make locational decisions primarily based upon cost of land.  Read "rural".  Establishing a school outside of a city creates tremendous demand amongst developers to annex that land to the city and develop it with houses.  Ummmm, I think that's a central tenet of sprawl.

  Leveling the funding field is important and helps reduce or eliminate that particular variable as a determinant of "bad schools".  If there is still a problem with performance, at least that issue is partially off the table (although it doesn't take into account wealthier parents donating money to their children's schools to ensure there are computers, textbooks, paper, and so on).

  This is a complex issue that doesn't have a single answer, as implied by the author.

  C. van Empel

  On School vouchers won't solve educational or environmental problems posted 4 years, 1 month ago 5 Responses