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By now you've undoubtedly heard at least two versions of the story about the California Air Resources Board seeking to ban black cars. It was widely noted yesterday by everyone from Rush Limbaugh to every state and local pundit. Heck, if I'd have had time, I'd have done one myself.
It was a juicy story, wasn't it? Yet another California state agency run amok. Then it turns out ARB had eliminated that section of the reg, not in response to public outcry mind you, if that section ever existed in the first place. They might have just been yanking our chain all along.
You
can go to their website and check out their revised release for
yourself and their response to the dust-up here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/cool-paints/cool-paints.htm.
Of note, the proposal now specifies solar control requirements
only for new vehicles windows (glazing). The original proposed
regulation contained requirements for both vehicle paint and
windows to improve their ability to reflect heat from the sun.
The intent of the paint requirements was to introduce reflective
paint (currently used in architectural paints to keep houses and
businesses cool) into the automotive arena. The requirement was
never at any point to limit consumer color choices or ban any
colors. Based on input from the automotive industry, paint,
pigment suppliers, and comments from a public workshop held on
March 12th, ARB staff has determined that a clear path to achieve
solar reflectivity for the darker colors has not yet been
identified. We are planning to address the paint-related portion
of the proposal in a future regulatory action.
For another take on the issue you can visit: http://www.techcrunch.com
So, did the bureaucrats really intend to ban black cars, only to be foiled by an outraged citizenry? That’s hard to say. Young notes that it’s not unusual for CARB to get an earful over its proposed regs, and in this case, “it wasn’t exactly opposition” that killed the paint initiative. “It was an appraisal that the technology was not yet mature enough to deliver what we hoped to achieve.”
Moreover, the CARB PowerPoint presentation that got everyone’s fan belt in a twist never actually recommends that black cars be banned. It merely — “sinisterly,” Rush might say — notes that “jet black remains an issue.”
Still, the timing is interesting. Although the workshop at which the paint plan was discussed was held on March 12, the decision to drop the idea wasn’t made until this week, according to Young — the very same week, sinisterly enough, that Limbaugh referred to the CARB rule makers as tyrants.
For more information on the vital function this Board serves,visit their website below. This is not a fun loving group and often-times their pursuit of things GREEN ends up costing way more than any supposed benefit to the environment. They are currently on a campaign to enforce tire inflation mandates and are delighted to be levying hefty fines against local businesses and trucking firms. Then there's that mandate for new capture devices to be installed on ALL gas pumps by 4/1/09. Stations that don't comply, or can't comply due to the cost of retrofit, will be shut down on that date. It is estimated that anywhere from 25% to 33% of the states gas stations will not be in compliance and may be forced to close. That's good for California businesses right now. That'll help a lot.
This is the same state board that mandated arbitrary levels of emissions from wood furniture and products that has driven all but two furniture manufacturers either out of business or out of state. That's been a big help for business too.
No it's not a fun group.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm
The required improved nozzles and vapor processors will eliminate the daily release of up to ten tons of smog-forming compounds from spillage and fugitive emissions.
"These more efficient dispensers reduce smog forming emissions and protect the environment," said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols, "all for less than a penny per gallon."
Ah well then, we're closing in on those dastardly fugitive emissions. That's gotta be good. 10 tons of sh** out of the air every day, imagine that. I wonder how you'd measure that, exactly? These have to be some pretty smart folks here. They wouldn't just arbitrarily make things up in pursuit of some ethereal goal, would they? No, I didn't think so.
Of course that's just my
$.02. I could be wrong.
If you didn't see todays Inman news, here's a summary of current reports from the UCLA Anderson Forecast. Overall, not the cheeriest of reports, as reports go. It summarized the current economic outlook as 'bleak'. But there are a few 'bright' spots - and to the extent they can be construed as good news, many involve housing.
For example, one report "The Global Slump" opines that the 'housing market can't get much lower' and calls for a tepid recovery in 2010. That's good housing news isn't it. We may be bumping along that rocky bottom NAR talked about last year.
A California-focused report "The California Economy; Running Out Of Gas" declares that the correction in the housing market is almost complete in the state. That's more good housing news.
Click
here for the Inman summary:
Click here for the UCLA
Anderson synopsis:
This recession will be the longest and most damaging of the postwar era, according to the latest forecast report from University of California, Los Angeles, spanning an estimated 19-24 months and building to a U.S. unemployment rate of 10.5 percent in mid-2010.
In "The Global Slump," one of the economic reports featured in the UCLA Anderson Forecast, senior economist David Shulman states that most of the "contractionary forces" on the economy "will have been spent" by the close of 2009. But the employment recovery from this recession "will be long and arduous," he notes, with the unemployment rate sticking above 9 percent through the end of 2011.
The housing market "can't get much lower," the report states, and calls for a "tepid recovery" in 2010.
The loss of wealth has been extensive: Consumers have already lost an estimated $5.5 trillion in home values and $9 trillion in stock values.
####
A separate report by Edward E. Leamer, forecast director, describes the regression of the U.S. economy as heading "backward into the future. It's awkward and slow, but it's the only way to go."
An "ideal stimulus" plan, according to Leamer, has a focus on homes, cars, retail businesses and restaurants, and he questions the adequacy of the Obama administration's stimulus package.
####
A separate, California-focused report, "The California Economy: Running Out of Gas," declares that the "the correction in the housing market is almost complete" in the state and "the downturn in the retail sector is nearing the end of its run.
####
Jerry Nickelsburg, senior economist for the UCLA Anderson Forecast, states that general economic weakness across California will lead to continuing job loss in construction and manufacturing sectors -- it hit a 26-year high at 10.5 percent in February.
Home prices in California are off by an average of 32 percent since peaking in 2006, according to the report, "and all of the appreciation since early 2004 has been lost."
Adjusted for inflation, fourth-quarter-2008 home prices were about 6.8 percent above fourth-quarter-2002 levels.
There are times I've been critical of some NAR positions and pronouncements. But when they do it right it's a thing of beauty. I'm proud to be a Member of the Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee. Between national meetings the group usually has a Webinar or 2, as we did today preparatory to our meetings in Washington DC in May.
This Committee deals with a fascinating range of problems related to federal land use legislation. I've posted info on some issues like the checkerboard land use issue, water rights, coastal and riparian issues. As you might imagine, in this great land - from sea to shining sea, there is a wide variety of issues. But some consistently emerge at the top of the list, things like water rights, land grants/transfers, the gamut of 'green' issues and zoning/domain issues, to name a few.
In DC the committee will hold a Forum on Tuesday, 5/12, in the Omni. It's an open forum to bring your own state, regional or local concerns to the committee. If you have local concerns, make sure your state/NAR Directors are aware of them. I will also be happy to pass along any comments made to this post.
Water is a pre-eminent issue across the country. From California to Maine, from Texas to Minnesota - water is king. And where there are water issues there are often collateral issues like endangered species, anything green, land use & water rights.
This also morphs into a second major concern right now, that of the checkerboard land use problem. Over the years land trusts have built up to manage these 'public' lands. In the absence of strong federal policy, they have pushed their own agenda's, often to the detriment of adjacent property owners and communities. Stories were shared of these landowners doing land swaps of 100 acres for 600 acres, or swapping land rights but keeping water rights - minor annoyances like that.
Anyway, if you're going to be in DC in May, stop by the Omni on Tuesday morning at 9. Or, if you don't want to be up that early, just leave a comment here and I'll let them know it's from the ActiveRain Land Use Group.
Gene, the biggest land use issue where I'm from is:
This is the kind of article you see written about the organized 'Gypsys' that still roam the countryside from time to time. Again, our intrepid AG has ferretted out another wrong-doer. No doubt he has shut down a large operation here but there are others. Always warn clients - especially elderly clients who are frequently victimized by these scamsters.
Typical scams include the roof and/or driveway repair that involves a light spray of used motor oil to darken the pavement or roof tiles. That it all washes off in the next rain doesn't matter - the repair guys are long gone. These guys took it to a whole other level spending millions themselves on advertising. Must have payed off. For a while.
You may view the full account of this posting, including possible attachments, in the News & Alerts section of our website at: http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/release.php?id=1706
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