Introduced on January 14, 2014 and already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014 (HR 3370) seeks to remedy various negative consequences resulting from the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), created in 1968 by the National…
Co-sponsored by the American Farmland Trust, AB 1961 would require California counties to adopt detailed plans to retain land for farming and ranching. Introduced by Assembly Agriculture Chair Susan Talamantes Eggman and styled as the Sustainable Farmland Strategy Act, the bill is a response to the rapidly increasing rate at which California farmland is converted…
On March 14, 2014, the sandwich chain that pioneered toasted submarine sandwiches filed for protection under the bankruptcy code. As opposed to the drawn out bankruptcy proceedings we have become so accustomed to, Quiznos is headed for a relatively quicker process in light of the “prepackaged” nature of its restructuring. Prepackaged Restructuring Plans? Companies will…
Despite the recent setbacks for the High Speed Rail, it continues to chug along. On Friday, the State Public Works Board adopted eight resolutions declaring the necessity for the state to take nine parcels in downtown Fresno. Most of the properties located in Fresno’s Chinatown District–on or near G Street between Fresno and Mono streets. …
Caltrans recently published the Sixth Edition of its Highway Design Manual, effective March 7, 2014. The Manual serves as the gold standard of best practices in procedures, policy, standards, and guidance in highway design, and is utilized by public agencies in all highway projects that receive state funding. You can review a transmittal that summarizes updates to…
A Staff Report has been made available for the March 11, 2014 Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting. You can access it here to learn more about the proposed Capital SouthEast Connector Amendments to the General Plan.
DMLC is informed that two General Plan amendments have been scheduled to be heard by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on March 11, 2014 at 2:15 p.m., in the Board Chambers, 700 H Street, Sacramento CA, 95814. The County indicates the proposed amendments relate to (1) the Capital SouthEast Connector, and (2) creation of…
In December 2013, we reported that a Detroit bankruptcy judge confirmed the city of Detroit was eligible for bankruptcy protection. On Friday morning, the city filed for court approval a proposed plan alleging to deal with the city’s $18 billion debt burden. As anticipated, the plan does include 10-30% cuts to pensions and bonds–unsecured bonds…
Last week, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny heard arguments on whether the California High Speed Rail will actually be able to travel at the speed voters were originally promised when the project’s financing was approved. Judge Michael Kenny’s name should sound familiar, we previously reported that Judge Kenny issued a ruling halting the California…
The government does not always approach the eminent domain process in a manner that seems fair to landowners. The problem with government is not that it intends to injure, but that sometimes it becomes so absorbed in its own needs that it forgets those of landowners. Although the deck may often feel stacked in the…
