[pea-jay]

I have been a visitor/poster to this site for almost 3 years now (wow). During that time some of you have come to know my personal struggles with this issue on a professional basis. (I'm a local government long range land use planner). Well, folks...I have an update.

I'm going to present this issue, head on with the planning commissioners and then the elected supervisors.

Why is this significant to me? Because 2-3 years ago, I was in the same position only to have a vastly different outcome. For those of you who dont know the whole story, I was a planner for a certain unnamed county in central california, focused on natural resource planning (mining, oil, natural gas & other resource permitting) when I was asked to research the future availability of the resources of the county. I first broached the issue here:
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic937.html

After a year of badgering, I got permission to present my findings to the Planning commission...
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic5635.html

Only to be put off by the planning director who had the forsight to cancel the energy crisis.
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic8169.html

I was forbidden to talk about the issues. During that time I started Blogging on my idiot employer's intransigence (that soon extended beyond that to a variety of issues)
http://unplanning.blogspot.com

Finally I gave up and called it quits and high-tailed it on up to Oregon when my wife was offered a job there.
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic9426.html

Of course when finding a job proved impossible for a california planner, we moved back, though this time to the North Coast of the state where politics and perceptions are much more favorable.

http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic21700.html

Now here I am back planning, responsible for developing this county's energy policies and researching its options.

And once again I am in the position to make my full presentation (which is much better refined). This time I think its a go. I think energy will be honestly discussed.

Its coming up soon, this thursday...
And this time my message is not being muzzled.

[killJOY]

You have guts. Good for you.

[Jack]

I guess I would have thought that the GAO report, along with Bartlett's testimony would have made it a slam dunk.

But the power of blindness is strong indeed.

[Laurasia]

Best of luck for the presentation; maybe you'll encounter more receptive minds this time!

Regards,

L.

[gg3]

Yo PeaJay, let's talk before you do that; I'll call this weekend...

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pea-jay', 'I') have been a visitor/poster to this site for almost 3 years now (wow). During that time some of you have come to know my personal struggles with this issue on a professional basis. (I'm a local government long range land use planner). Well, folks...I have an update.

I'm going to present this issue, head on with the planning commissioners and then the elected supervisors.

Why is this significant to me? Because 2-3 years ago, I was in the same position only to have a vastly different outcome. For those of you who dont know the whole story, I was a planner for a certain unnamed county in central california, focused on natural resource planning (mining, oil, natural gas & other resource permitting) when I was asked to research the future availability of the resources of the county. I first broached the issue here:
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic937.html

After a year of badgering, I got permission to present my findings to the Planning commission...
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic5635.html

Only to be put off by the planning director who had the forsight to cancel the energy crisis.
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic8169.html

I was forbidden to talk about the issues. During that time I started Blogging on my idiot employer's intransigence (that soon extended beyond that to a variety of issues)
http://unplanning.blogspot.com

Finally I gave up and called it quits and high-tailed it on up to Oregon when my wife was offered a job there.
http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic9426.html

Of course when finding a job proved impossible for a california planner, we moved back, though this time to the North Coast of the state where politics and perceptions are much more favorable.

http://www.peakoil.com/fortopic21700.html

Now here I am back planning, responsible for developing this county's energy policies and researching its options.

And once again I am in the position to make my full presentation (which is much better refined). This time I think its a go. I think energy will be honestly discussed.

Its coming up soon, this thursday...
And this time my message is not being muzzled.

[MattSavinar]

Before anybody asks, yes I am planning my escape. But much like the plantation system of yesteryear you have to buy your way out of slave grid. With some luck I'll be able to do that this year.

Of course if the nukes fly before then, then I'm fucked too.

[MattSavinar]

personal question, if you don't want to answer I totally understand:

How's the lady feeling about all this? The move from CA to OR then back to CA?

Are you in the doghouse for this or is she on board? I'm curious since a lot of guys would be taking major shit from their wives if they moved from A to B only to move back to A.

[pea-jay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', '
')
North Coast? As in the Santa Rosa area? (this is my neck of the woods)

Hate to burst your bubble but this area is as f--ked as all others. The only difference is people have big mouths and like to pay lip serivce to "sustainabilty."

Your message won't be muzzled but nothing is going to be done. In fact people will SEEM like they're listening and taking you seriously in these part. But ultimately not a damn thing is going to happen till either one of two things happens:

A. the grid goes down. In this case we're fucked.

B. the nukes fly. In this case we're also fucked.

In the meantime some loudmouth hippie retreads (or their political cousins) will certainly like to listen to you about these topics. But it will just be talk.

Save yourself if you can. If you can't I suppose entertaining yourself by yelling into the wind is as reasonable a form of entertainment as any other you might take part in.

[pea-jay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MattSavinar', 'p')ersonal question, if you don't want to answer I totally understand:

How's the lady feeling about all this? The move from CA to OR then back to CA?

Are you in the doghouse for this or is she on board? I'm curious since a lot of guys would be taking major shit from their wives if they moved from A to B only to move back to A.

[MattSavinar]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pea-jay', '
')
No, I'm further north than that. Try an hour north of the furthest extent of bay area sprawl. You can look it up on the map.

[SILENTTODD]

Pea-Jay, was the central California County you use to be a planner for Tulare County? Having grown up mostly near the town of Lemoore 40 years ago, your hints make it almost certain to me.

I would have to agree with your assessment of that part of the state. Up through the early 70’s it had a local charm (one that admittedly had to be acquired, like a taste for Scotch). Rural, slower pace of living, good place to grow up. One I even had thoughts of making an escape back to even a few years ago.

This notion has evaporated though with what I know now, and seeing how overpopulated the Valley has become. To be sure there is still lots of open farm land as compared to Los Angeles or Orange Counties. But I look at Bakersfield, Visalia-Tulare, and Fresno (which has merged with every town around it in the last 20 years) as LA sprawl in the making. If the oil age could continue another 30 years, the Valley would resemble LA (with a lot more Smog).

I don’t think the northern regions of the state are in that much better way; their only advantage is they get more rain and snow pack. I have written off California as a long term location and am making plans now to be east of the Mississippi when I retire from my company in another three years or the SHTF first.

[pea-jay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Do you honestly think the current war and/or the impending one with Iran will not expand into a bazaar of violence throughout the entire region?

[clueless]

SilentTodd - What are you folks down in Tustin doing to prepare for 5$ gas ???

I was talking a guy who runs a pollution control co. down there and he said you guys are running conserve water campaigns which he beleives is utterly useless and counterproductive due to the fact it will only encourage more sprawl and higher density housing (as if there is anything in LA/OC).

Wonder if Pea-Jay is talking about Wilits area ??? You didn't like Portland ??? I struggle with being in Eugene at times, but I think it's just the weather.

Come on Matt - Don't hold out on us, what's your plan ???

Hot meal cold lead ?????

[SILENTTODD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', 'S')ilentTodd - What are you folks down in Tustin doing to prepare for 5$ gas ???

[clueless]

A guy sent me this on immigration - I have not seen it yet, but it is supposed to be scary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxu ... ted&search

[SILENTTODD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('clueless', 'A') guy sent me this on immigration - I have not seen it yet, but it is supposed to be scary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxu ... ted&search

[clueless]

I watced the video last night...Interesting !!!

I lived in OC from 85 to 96 when I moved to San Jose and after having two kids and decided to get out of dodge. I now live in Eugene Ore, which is where I grew up... I am much more comfortable here than there...

[Pops]

Wow PJ, you made me realize that today is my third anniversary at PO.com!

Good luck on your presentation, I envy you and the many others who are trying to do the Paul Revere thing – Im not that kind of guy.

As far as the north coast goes – I love it and would have moved there if I wasn’t afraid of the mass of people in CA so addicted to their way of life that if something happened they would essentially go mad.

As you know, I also grew up in the valley – Stanislaus county. I love it there, Tulle fog, canal bank keggers (and stuff), hunting in the orchards, packing in the mountains, fishing the reservoirs - Norte Ca is truly a paradise in my eyes except for the fact that too many folks already have found that out…

In contrast, today in Missouri we are under a tornado watch with a possibility of tennis ball size hail, it is 79 degrees but may snow tomorrow tonight….

But you know what? I wouldn’t move back for love or money! The grass is already 18” tall in places, the pond is full and it is still hundreds of miles to a large city.

Again, good luck..