All across America today, voters are excersizing their right to choose their leaders and pick policies for their states, cities, counties, and neighborhoods. Many believe today's historic vote will draw record numbers of voters.

Here in the Valley, voters have seen a highly combative campaigning season, and many will not be sad to see it go. Some of the most important issues to Valley Voters:

-Not immune to national politics, the Valley is energized by the campaigns of Barrack Obama and John McCain. Although the coast is shaded blue and the mountains are red in California, the Valley is diverse politically, with both parties claiming large sections of the population. Even though California is almost assuredly going to go with Obama, the Republicans have made their voices heard here with their support for the McCain-Palin ticket.

-Proposition 8 is the hottest initiative in years for California. The Proposition seeks to change the state Constitution to only recognize marriage between a man and a woman. Of all the items on the ballot, this issue seems to have caught the passions of Californians. It has been framed as an issue concerning civil rights, religious freedoms, parental control over the education of their children, and whose side has "family values" right. Supporters on both sides have made headlines (and traffic jams) by taking over intersections throughout the region. Also, in a darker side of local politics, both sides have claimed vandalism and theft of their sides signs. Arrests were made in Roseville of two adults who stole dozens of "Yes on 8" signs from lawns.

-Sacramento's Mayoral Race has been tight. It has also not been a clean fight at all. Incumbent Heather Fargo and challenger Kevin Johnson have been fighting since before the primary, in which Johnson one the highest number of votes. Although originally Johnson claimed he had recieved a majority, no candidates had, leading to a run-off between the two. Since then, information about Johnson being investigated for improprieties with a minor during his NBA playing days in Phoenix were released to the press. Fargo gained the support of teacher's unions, who were mad at Johnson's takeover of Sacramento High School to begin St. Hope's operations in Sacramento. Johnson was endorsed by the police unions. Fargo has been critical recently of the police captain's budget cuts. Also, tensions rose after Johnson took an improper tour of City Hall after hours and tried out the Mayor's seat on the council. A video was released, and silliness ensued.

-Allyson Huber and Jack Sieglock fought strongly for the right to represent a section of the Valley in the state assembly. Their campaigns were marked by almost nothing but being negative against the other. Those anti-Huber characterized her as a "San Francisco Lawyer", a huge threat to our small town Valley values. The anti-Sieglock group showed him as a career politician, dressed him up as Santa Claus, and said he is a big spender. It would be almost funny if it wasn't so tragic.

-Proposition 1A is ValleyVue's pick as the most important ballot item. Although it hasn't recieved a lot of exposure, supporters advertised it as a way to create construction jobs in the development of High Speed Rail, followed by a huge number of permanent jobs as a result of the completed system.

-The energy propositions gained noteriety by the endorsements of the no campaigns. In fact, proposition 7, for renewable energy generation, was not supported by either the Democrats of the Republicans. The claim was made that the energy propostions were attempts by a "Texas Oil Man" (T. Boone Pickens) to ensure future and higher profits.

It has been exciting. We'll see what happens, and review some of the results soon.

Labels: Alyson Huber, Barrack Obama, Democrats, Election 2008, Heather Fargo, high speed rail, Jack Sieglock, John McCain, Kevin Johnson, Republicans, Roseville, Sacramento

For a long time, Sacramento has desired a private University. Already boasting major universities in town with Sacramento State and UC Davis, the missing part of the higher educational landscape has been a institution independent of the state.

Various attempts have been made or are in the process of developing. Sacramento does already have several of the alternative colleges such as University of Phoenix and National University. However, what many in the region crave is a comprehensive, traditional college with thousands of undergraduates and regional accreditation. Currently, students seeking this type of college environment may attend William Jessup University in Rocklin, a recent transplant from San Jose with around 500 students. They may go farther, to Stockton's University of the Pacific or Moraga's St. Mary's College. In the future, Sacramentans would like to see a university on par with Pacific or St. Mary's, possibly Jessup or another institution.

The University of Sacramento, a budding program run by the Legionaries of Christ of the Catholic Church, has plans to do just that. The University of Sacramento has a goal of 7000 students on a campus built east of Sacramento, with an undergraduate focus on liberal arts and 2000 graduate students.

Drexel University, of Philadelphia, also recently announced a goal to build an undergraduate/graduate campus near Roseville. To jump-start the effort, Drexel is offering graduate level courses in a Sacramento downtown office. Other colleges that offer courses through extensions in Sacramento include St. Mary's and USC. Pacific operates McGeorge School of Law.

One day, Sacramentans hope to have a major private university within the city or in the immediate vicinity. Yet another opportunity that will cost loads of money, but will serve the region indefinitely.

Labels: Drexel, Rocklin, Roseville, Sacramento, Sacramento State, UC Davis, University of Sacramento, University of the Pacific, William Jessup

This week, ValleyVue will highlight five of the most important projects for the Sacramento region. The completed projects could change the way Sacramentans live, hopefully for the better. Most recognize the need for them, but all balk at the price tags attached. And, no, a new arena for the Kings will not be one of the five projects. ValleyVue sees the ultimate need and value of a new arena for Sacramento, but these five projects will be truly transformative, effecting everyone in the area for decades. At some point, it seems imminent that an arena will be built. These other projects will also likely come to fruition, but only if the money works out.

First in the series will be the Beltway. To transport people and goods in and through Sacramento, a freeway must be built from I-5 in Elk Grove to U.S. Route 50 in Folsom/El Dorado Hills, and then from that area to I-80 east of Roseville.

The last major change to the region's maps regarding freeways was in 1972 with the addition of the Business 80 bypass in northern Sacramento. Most of the area's freeways had developed into today's recognizable map placement by 1970. In 38 years, Sacramento city has increased in population by 200,000 people. Also in that time, cities throughout the region have incorporated and expanded wildly. The suburbs of Elk Grove and Roseville each have over 100,000 residents. Rancho Cordova, Folsom, Lincoln, and Rocklin also have significant populations along the route of the beltway.

The Sacramento region is not what it was in the early 70's. As highways in that era were built for the communities of the time, a new freeway must be planned and developed as a reaction to the area's sprawl. Yes, the danger will be that sprawl will follow the new highway, spreading further out from the suburb communities. However, if nothing is done, grid lock will be the result. In fact, by making transportation more efficient in the region, gas can be saved, goods can be delivered more cheaply, and pollution can be reduced. Surely, trying to focus growth in the urbanized areas is of prime importance, but now that the community has expanded, officials must respond. Whenever the money becomes available...

Tomorrow: Light Rail Expansion

Labels: air pollution, Elk Grove, Folsom, I-5, I-80, Lincoln, Ranch Cordova, Roseville, Sacramento, traffic, US-50