Coping with California's Astigmatism

Those of us who wear corrective lenses do so for a variety of conditions: myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and so forth.  Sometimes in describing a viewpoint we use the word “myopia” meaning “narrow-minded” – a reference to an eye condition meaning “short-sighted” or “near-sighted”.

California has a bit of an astigmatism when confronting certain conditions.  The state often tends to distort or blur how it interprets issues, and although often touted as “20-20 vision”, others believe that complex problems need lenses that provide clearer and more complete vision.

Recognizing the astigmatism is important because it affects how all actions are perceived, particularly in building and business.  California’s current focus is to view actions of any kind based on how they’re perceived to affect global climate change.

For example, Assembly Bill 11 is seemingly an attempt to revive redevelopment in California.  While this bill presents a panoply of issues too complicated to go into here, it will require all residential construction to be considered on the basis of whether it meets climate-change goals.  Apparently, every project will need to be approved by the 8-member state Strategic Growth Council.

There is the additional nascent movement occurring of “climate gentrification”.  This is gentrification taking place due to concerns about climate change.  This will impact communities as different cultures and socioeconomic characteristics collide.