California Population Essay Research Paper The population

California Population Essay, Research Paper

The population of California is expected to increase by more than 15 million people by the year 2020. This is not a new startling fact. It has been said many times before, in many different ways. This number is equivalent to the present population of Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado combined.

Carol Whiteside focuses on how the population boom will affect California’s cities. She also looks at how the cities will prepare for such growth, with local resources that are already stretched. Another large focus is on preserving the natural resources and farmland as we expand rapidly. Today.s increasing population is created from Migration, Immigration, and more births than deaths. The Author states that .the only thing more difficult than managing growth is not having any growth to manage.

When the Population grows,it bring opportunities for people as well as for governments. New tax revenue is generated by growth and development. This Provides money to purchase necessary services such as: recreational facilities, transportation, public health, and safety. Most people can notice that the larger cities can afford many more amenities, such as libraries, museums, zoo.s, public parks and nice transit, that will make the overall quality of life for their residents.

The state Department of Conservation reports that more than 17,000 acres of farmland were urbanized between 1994 and 1996. The American Farmland Trust estimates that as many as a million acres will be lost to development by the year 2040, in spite of the fact that agriculture is one of the state’s most important industries.This accounts for more than $26 billion in the state’s economy each year. One in seven jobs is attributable to agriculture in the state of California. If there isn.t a major focus on land we will really have a problem with the unemployment rate. People tend to worry more about money then they do the land. When there isn.t any more buildable space, the state just pushes people right into the agricultural housing. This brings on another problem of how to fund affordable housing, witch the state needs to focus forming better policy for. With such fast growth and high demand for land it is estimated that the average infrastructure cost per home could increase $52,000. This would lead to less schools, parks, and city facilities.

As we grow larger and larger we are soon frustorated with long commute hours and increasing air pollution. The only policy that we really have to protect out agricultural resources is rezoning farmland and open space in unincorporated areas requires that the board of supervisors obtain voter approval before hand.

The federal government seems to be recognizing the implications of continuing patterns of urban expansionl on healthy communities and on the landscape. Vice President Al Gore recently called for an emphasis on the “right kind of growth,” and announced that the Clinton administration would propose $2 billion in initiatives to help preserve open space, ease traffic congestion, protect water quality and restore urban sites. While he made note of the role federal policymakers can play by encouraging smarter growth, the vice president emphasized that the power of decision-making lies in the hands of local policymakers who deal with growth and urban development issues every day.

Five Key Action Areas

The California Futures Network (CFN), directed by Steve Sanders, is a coalition of dozens of groups and individuals from business, labor and community-based organizations in every region of the state. CFN was organized to promote state policy that fosters sustainable land use and development to accommodate California’s inevitable growth. The organization has identified the following five areas in which state action is necessary.

Improve Public Education

The most effective way to curb sprawl is to make communities more attractive places in which to live by improving the performance and perception of public schools, particularly in urban areas. This could lay the foundation for an urban renaissance that would also conserve California’s agricultural and natural landscapes.

Promote Better Planning Through Fiscal Reforms

The state has shifted most of the property tax away from local government, leaving sales tax as the most important local source of new revenue. Competition for retailers, sometimes at the expense of housing development and industry, encourages sprawl and decreases incentives for balance in community development. The state should reduce local government’s reliance on the sales tax and provide incentives for infill and good land use.

Develop a Smart Growth Infrastructure Plan

Investments in public facilities need to keep pace with the state’s growing population, but simply building roads, bridges and canals without regard for the social or environmental consequences is poor policy. Building infrastructure with public dollars should not subsidize projects that accommodate sprawl. Instead, the focus should be on transit systems, roads, schools, parks, libraries, and sewer and water systems within developed areas.

Protect Farmland, Open Space and Natural Resources

Ongoing support is needed for the state’s agricultural land stewardship program, local land trusts and other programs t