Thursday, April 19, 2007
No Racing in Dixon
Voters in the City of Dixon voted no on four measures Tuesday, effectively ending a bid to place a world-class horse racing facility in the city.
Dixon, a town along the Highway 80 corridor between the Bay Area and Sacramento, has been a political battleground for at least a year between entertainment developers Magna and local small-town preservationists. Magna, a Canadian company, was portrayed by some as not being in touch with local needs. The anti-horse racing lobby pushed that the track would bring traffic congestion, crime, and unwanted growth to Dixon. Many residents were for some time worried that the horse track would include a casino, despite assurances that slot machines would not be added by Magna.
Magna spent hundreds of thousands of dollars campaigning to open the track. Voting turnout was over 60%, and the four measures were solidly defeated. Magna is now considering what to do with the property.
Dixon, a town along the Highway 80 corridor between the Bay Area and Sacramento, has been a political battleground for at least a year between entertainment developers Magna and local small-town preservationists. Magna, a Canadian company, was portrayed by some as not being in touch with local needs. The anti-horse racing lobby pushed that the track would bring traffic congestion, crime, and unwanted growth to Dixon. Many residents were for some time worried that the horse track would include a casino, despite assurances that slot machines would not be added by Magna.
Magna spent hundreds of thousands of dollars campaigning to open the track. Voting turnout was over 60%, and the four measures were solidly defeated. Magna is now considering what to do with the property.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Warming up
OK, a bit of a funk for ValleyVue. No post since January?
It's not that there wasn't anything to report as far as development in the Valley was concerned. There has been.
Sacramento International Airport announced plans to offer service to a third foreign country on a regular basis. Besides Mexico and the United States, SMF will have flights bound for Vancouver, Canada.
Oakland Athletics owners, who also own the franchise rights to Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes (now defunct), announced that if plans to build a new soccer specific stadium in the South Bay do not work out, western Placer County will be considered.
Levy reconstruction continues to move forward and fall apart, move forward and fall apart--OK, so some things haven't changed.
Sonic, the drive-in fast food eatery popular back east, continues to expend in the Valley. Already present in Modesto, Yuba City, and a few other sites near Sacramento, the chain plans to move inward towards the capital soon. Foot long hot dog fans are elated.
Elk Grove and Galt are having joint meetings to discuss Elk Grove's desire to control land and build increasingly closer to the Cosumnes River. Galt continues to hope to avoid being swallowed up by Sacramento County urbanity. Residents of Franklin, Florin, Harold, Wilton, and Sheldon all sarcastically said good luck. Likewise did old time Elk Grove residents (pre-Laguna).
Sacramento County supervisors did recently go against local real estate magnate Angelo Tsakopolis, refusing to rezone land along the El Dorado County border to allow him to develop. Good for them to sticking to the General Plan.
Finally, in very sad news, the venerable Highway 99 roadside attraction--Pollardville-- is closing as it too succumbs to development. Stockton has been moving north for years, and has passed the old west town and Chicken Kitchen that attracted people to stop since 1957. It will be replaced by a shopping center and gated neighborhood, which promises to be much less welcoming to travellers up 99.
Spring is here, and the Valley is in bloom. Time for things to get going again.
It's not that there wasn't anything to report as far as development in the Valley was concerned. There has been.
Sacramento International Airport announced plans to offer service to a third foreign country on a regular basis. Besides Mexico and the United States, SMF will have flights bound for Vancouver, Canada.
Oakland Athletics owners, who also own the franchise rights to Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes (now defunct), announced that if plans to build a new soccer specific stadium in the South Bay do not work out, western Placer County will be considered.
Levy reconstruction continues to move forward and fall apart, move forward and fall apart--OK, so some things haven't changed.
Sonic, the drive-in fast food eatery popular back east, continues to expend in the Valley. Already present in Modesto, Yuba City, and a few other sites near Sacramento, the chain plans to move inward towards the capital soon. Foot long hot dog fans are elated.
Elk Grove and Galt are having joint meetings to discuss Elk Grove's desire to control land and build increasingly closer to the Cosumnes River. Galt continues to hope to avoid being swallowed up by Sacramento County urbanity. Residents of Franklin, Florin, Harold, Wilton, and Sheldon all sarcastically said good luck. Likewise did old time Elk Grove residents (pre-Laguna).
Sacramento County supervisors did recently go against local real estate magnate Angelo Tsakopolis, refusing to rezone land along the El Dorado County border to allow him to develop. Good for them to sticking to the General Plan.
Finally, in very sad news, the venerable Highway 99 roadside attraction--Pollardville-- is closing as it too succumbs to development. Stockton has been moving north for years, and has passed the old west town and Chicken Kitchen that attracted people to stop since 1957. It will be replaced by a shopping center and gated neighborhood, which promises to be much less welcoming to travellers up 99.
Spring is here, and the Valley is in bloom. Time for things to get going again.
