Comments on: California Regulatory Burden

By: random

random — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:32:00 +0000

I wonder that people don't just shoot them.

By: bigmaq1980

bigmaq1980 — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:38:00 +0000

Thanks. Clearly it is a YMMV on DMV, same with navigating the various regulatory bodies for granting permits/approvals/zoning changes/etc in different jurisdictions. DMV is only one experience...we could pick another...TSA, Customs? Government is target rich for queuing problems. The point is not the length of lines at DMV/TSA/etc for sardonic effect though. There is a whole new level of experience when the decision makers have to use more "judgement" than they do processing plates or licenses. Certainly more potential for abuse and petty tyrannical behavior. Even being a "1%er" doesn't seem to help. We hardly ever re-evaluate the "rules" nor the "institutions" we let our "leaders" put in place to see if they deliver what was intended and remain within that scope, all using meaningful metrics. Instead, we allow them to keep piling on, with the tired refrain "the ought to be a law..." bleating from some sympathetic citizen or group. Pretty soon, the government is not serving us at all, but itself and the insiders, as illustrated by Warren's post....hence, the Orwell quotes.

By: KJB

KJB — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:20:00 +0000

My father and his business partner bought a piece of property near the coast in California with the intention of building a spec home. They had an architect draw up the plans and then went to the local authorities to get a building permit. They were told that because a road (that did not exist and was not going to be built) was shown on that piece of property that they had to redesign the house so that it was a certain number of feet from this non-existent road. My father passed away before he could get approval to build. My sibling and I, along with his business partner, eventually had to sell the property to the town b/c it was a lot that was basically unbuildable with such restrictions. California is ridiculous.

By: xbradtc

xbradtc — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:06:00 +0000

I hate to admit it, but CA DMV is very user friendly. Yes, there IS a two hour line at the DMV. But that's only if you didn't do your business online, or, if you must show in person, make an appointment. The CA DMV appointment system runs very well. And while the staff may not be perfect examples of people striving to make you happy, I've never had any problems with petty tyrants there, either.

By: mesaeconoguy

mesaeconoguy — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Absolutely, but the forces are already unleashed, and we are already headed for economic disaster.

Further governmental abuse, in numerous directions (additional restriction of rights, removal of benefits, etc. etc.) could have very, very bad outcomes.

I am not at all optimistic about the future of this country.

By: Ron H.

Ron H. — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:38:00 +0000

"My friend was practical enough to do this. I wouldn't have been able to take it: I'd have planted a camera and had the guy prosecuted." Do you mean by his golf buddy the DA?

By: FelineCannonball

FelineCannonball — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:45:00 +0000

The summary above concerning the Daly City landfill is a little inaccurate.

In the July 13th CCC meeting, the decision for the Daly City landfill was for a one month continuance so that a schedule for future planning could be added to the permit.

The landfill is on a steep slope on an active landslide directly above the San Andreas Fault and a small subsidiary fault, with the lower edge actively eroded by open ocean surf. On the escarpment above something like 15 homes were red-tagged and removed the last major El Niño. Over the last 100 years, previous El Niño's and landsliding has destroyed a railroad and a highway along this section of the coast and caused at least a 100 foot retreat of the sea cliffs. The landfill costs the city a ton of money every year no matter what -- actively maintaining drainage, terracing, revetment, etc. It's slowly moving into the ocean even under active management.

In the August 8th CCC meeting, the permit for the revetment was approved and it is being put in place. A report looking at the feasibility of alternatives is required under the permit and due in three years.

By: Ron H.

Ron H. — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:13:00 +0000

Tougher gun control laws are promoted extensively by members of the California Coastal Commission for some reason.i

By: Dave Boz

Dave Boz — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 17:02:00 +0000

Here is Scottsdale AZ I have learned that I can't update my 1950s house unless I put in a 21st century overhead sprinkler system. My nice little house, the one that I have been happily and safely inhabiting, won't be habitable without the sprinklers. That is to say, I won't get the city certificate that says I can inhabit it. And why is it, in this metropolis of many cities and millions of homes, the ones in Scottsdale are unsafe without sprinklers but the ones two blocks away in Phoenix seem to be doing fine? Well, maybe it has to do with the juice of the architects (you don't get your sprinkler permit unless you submit an architectural drawing), the plumbers (your plumber has to be specifically certified in sprinklers), and the permit office (you need a separate permit for this, surprise!) Yep, this is how political pull translates to a nice living for some folks: make it illegal to live without their services. I'm pushing for a law that requires computer systems to be certified, by a certified computer system certifier. I happen to have lots of certificates. I'm going after the computers of the plumbers and architects first.

By: perlhaqr

perlhaqr — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:39:00 +0000

The answer would seem to be to join the CCC if you want to build something. It's probably cheaper in the long run.