http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2007/01/09/california-dreamin/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=california-dreamin Mindfulness in the face of challenge. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:24:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2007/01/09/california-dreamin/#comment-37 A. W. Jokela Tue, 23 Jan 2007 13:46:38 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/?p=40#comment-37 If Alameda wanted to do something about its future inundation--which is now widely promoted in Al Gore’s book and movie--it could hardly do better than to bring in a partner with a far bigger version of the problem and the resources to act upon it. Through the UWI proposal, Dubai has offered to build a “Green Technology Park” in Alameda and recruit the University of California System and the national labs as a research base and source of authority. Consider the possibility that the development project itself may actually be secondary to their getting engaged here in studies and planning about global warming and future sea level rise. Even the $100 million down payment could be seen as a hedge investment, equal to building one less skyscraper at sea level in Dubai (among hundreds still contemplated). The other bidders here could be challenged by Alameda to show how they may be capable of planning and building a project that could still be useful centuries hence at a higher stand of sea level. UWI itself could conceivably become a client for worldwide practice of such work, based in Alameda and East Bay. If Alameda wanted to do something about its future inundation–which is now widely promoted in Al Gore’s book and movie–it could hardly do better than to bring in a partner with a far bigger version of the problem and the resources to act upon it. Through the UWI proposal, Dubai has offered to build a “Green Technology Park” in Alameda and recruit the University of California System and the national labs as a research base and source of authority. Consider the possibility that the development project itself may actually be secondary to their getting engaged here in studies and planning about global warming and future sea level rise. Even the $100 million down payment could be seen as a hedge investment, equal to building one less skyscraper at sea level in Dubai (among hundreds still contemplated). The other bidders here could be challenged by Alameda to show how they may be capable of planning and building a project that could still be useful centuries hence at a higher stand of sea level. UWI itself could conceivably become a client for worldwide practice of such work, based in Alameda and East Bay.

]]> http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2007/01/09/california-dreamin/#comment-36 Frank L Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:54:37 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/?p=40#comment-36 This is an intriguing plan. What I really like about it is that of all the plans, this one seems to offer the best ideas in terms of transportation. The fewer new cars on the island, the better! Dubai seems like a nutty place, but it also looks like they have the money to do something like this. This is an intriguing plan. What I really like about it is that of all the plans, this one seems to offer the best ideas in terms of transportation. The fewer new cars on the island, the better! Dubai seems like a nutty place, but it also looks like they have the money to do something like this.

]]> http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2007/01/09/california-dreamin/#comment-35 Michael Krueger Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:55:54 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/?p=40#comment-35 Well, UWI certainly has the vision, but I do not share Mr. Kruger's confidence that it has the means to deliver on that vision. I did a little of my own research on UWI and APTO and I found vision galore, but absolutely no concrete track record of large-scale accomplishments. As much as I appreciate the boldness to "think big," I'm afraid that the City -- in other words, we, the taxpayers -- could be left holding the bag if UWI can't deliver. This project is simply too big and too dicey to justify taking an additional risk on an unknown quantity like UWI. Well, UWI certainly has the vision, but I do not share Mr. Kruger’s confidence that it has the means to deliver on that vision. I did a little of my own research on UWI and APTO and I found vision galore, but absolutely no concrete track record of large-scale accomplishments. As much as I appreciate the boldness to “think big,” I’m afraid that the City — in other words, we, the taxpayers — could be left holding the bag if UWI can’t deliver. This project is simply too big and too dicey to justify taking an additional risk on an unknown quantity like UWI.

]]> http://www.johnknoxwhite.com/2007/01/09/california-dreamin/#comment-34 Ben Kruger Tue, 09 Jan 2007 16:16:17 +0000 http://johnknoxwhite.com/?p=40#comment-34 I don't view this as a bad plan. My primary criteria for evaluating these has always been means and vision and UWI appears to have both. I don’t view this as a bad plan. My primary criteria for evaluating these has always been means and vision and UWI appears to have both.

]]>