Measure J winning is disappointing but not surprising

I had predicted Measure J (the Dalidio "Ranch") would pass, using the logic that their side did polling and other research after the City's rejection in 2004. If that research showed they would lose in the County, then they would not have run the initiative.

Still, the voting margin was wider than I expected: 65% Yes to 35% No. I want to study the voting patterns, to see where all the Yes votes came from. I would expect the City of SLO to repeat the narrow defeat from last time around.

Its too soon to say how the Dalidio backers will negotiate with the City, County CalTrans, etc. I hope the City refuses to allow annexation because that would deny them the sewer treatment plant. I don't think the developers could afford to build their own sewer treatment plant that would pass the standards of the Regional Water Quality Control Board. (Ask folks in Los Osos how that's going for them!) However, Dave Romero, reelected Mayor, and Andrew Carter, elected to the City Council, will probably let Dalidio connect to our sewer treatment plant, and thus allow the project that they have supported all along. (The Tribune endorsements have only gone to Dalidio supporters).

Bad news for me because it will bring 30,000 cars trips a day to within a mile of my house. Bad news for everyone because of the precedent-setting effect (a.k.a. "the domino theory"): now developers with enough money can use an initiative to bypass the planning process, and avoid having to pay to remediate their impacts (ie help fix their mess).

So us citizens will have to fight such battles in coming years. We'd best learn how to get along with each other, treat each other nicely, cut each other slack for minor differences, and practice coalition-building skills. We will need them.