Smart Growth Arnold
The Hummer-drivin' governor-elect received $2.5 million in campaign contributions from developers and real estate interests, yet is indicating he favors smart growth: his transition team includes advocates of downtown redevelopment, but no major subdivision builders. On his website, Schwarzenegger promises an infill incentive program, cleanup of industrial sites and abandoned gas stations, and redirection of funds into older neighborhoods. These and other measures are leading some to speculate that
...[the] new administration could become a turning point in a state widely known nationally as a laggard in growth management.
In which case, he'll find himself having to steer carefully between the developers whose $$$ he took and the frustrated suburban commuters who put him into office.
I live quite far from Sacramento, but sprawl is also an East Coast issue (and a southern issue, a midwestern issue, a Canadian issue, etc...). Parallels have been drawn between Schwarzenegger's conquest of California politics and Robert Ehrlich's victory here in Maryland, although our state is not, I believe, considered a "laggard in growth management." That honor goes to neighboring Virginia.
It'll be interesting to see how this story develops (uh, pun not intended).
10:33:55 AM 
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