February 2012 Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 2

COLAB San Luis Obispo County 1 Volume 2, Issue 2, February 2012

JOIN US FOR AN INSPIRING AND FESTIVE EVENING WITH HUGH HEWITT

ur Third Annual Dinner and Fundraiser keynote screening of researchers wishing to use the library O speaker, Hugh Hewitt, is one of America’s most resources. Hewitt suggested refusing admission to perceptive and exciting conservative teachers and researchers deemed "unfriendly" — specifically commentators. Often provoking but never doctrinaire, Hewitt , whom he said was "not a will inspire us all to resist and ultimately triumph over the responsible journalist." John Taylor, a spokesman environmental-socialist juggernaught which has engulfed our for Nixon, overturned Hewitt's decision after two nation, state, and San Luis Obispo County. Some of Mr. days, but it became the subject of editorial rebuke Hewitt’s achievements and courageous positions are detailed in The Times anyway. in the article below entitled Hugh Hewitt:1

When he left the library to practice law, Hewitt Hugh Hewitt (born February 22, 1956) is an began a weekend radio talk show for the Los American radio talk show host with the Salem Angeles radio station KFI, where he broadcast from Radio Network, lawyer, academic, and author. An late 1990 to 1995. In the spring of 1992 he began outspoken Republican, evangelical Christian, he cohosting L.A. PBS member station KCET's nightly comments on society, politics, and media bias in news and public affairs program, Life & Times, and the United States. Hewitt is also a law professor at remained with the program until the fall of 2001, School of Law. when he began broadcasting his own radio show in the afternoons. Hewitt received three Emmys for his Early Life work on Life & Times on KCET, and also conceived and hosted the 1996 PBS series searching for God in Hewitt attended John F. Kennedy Catholic High America. School in Warren, Ohio, and , and graduating cum laude with a B.A. in government in 1978. After leaving Harvard, he He previously was a weekly columnist for the Daily worked as a ghostwriter for in Standard (the online edition of The Weekly and New York, before studying at the Standard) and World. He also occasionally appears Law School, where he as a political/social commentator on programs such was Order of the Coif. Hewitt received his J.D. as the Show, Hardball with Chris degree in 1983, and then moved to Washington Matthews, , The O’Reilly Factor, D.C. to clerk for Judges and George and The Today Show. On 24 April 2006 Hewitt MacKinnon on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the appeared as a guest on . District of Columbia Circuit in 1983–84. Hewitt

worked in the Reagan administration in the late Hewitt has been criticized by , who 1980s. calls him a "Christianist." When Sullivan appeared Career on Hewitt's radio show to promote his book The Conservative Soul, a lively exchange ensued and He returned to California in 1989 to oversee Hewitt criticized Sullivan's book as intellectually construction of the Richard M. Nixon Library as messy. Sullivan now gives out a Hewitt Award for the library's executive director from over-the-top right-wing rhetoric. groundbreaking through dedication and opening. In 1990, Hewitt sparked controversy by proposing

______Continued on page 3 . . . 1 Wikipedia contributors. "Hugh Hewitt." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipe- dia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Dec. 2011. Web. 27 Jan. 2012.

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Continued . . . HEWITT SUPLANTING TRADITIONAL JOURNALISM

Hewitt also became a Professor of Law at Chapman English professor Dr. David Allen White (who does University School of Law during that time. He a monthly Shakespeare showcase) [dated info], and currently teaches constitutional law in addition to his Congressman (R-CA), as well as contributions as a professor; Professor Hewitt frequent callers from around the country. founded and continues to guide the legal scholarship

of the Nexus Journal of Law and Policy. "The Hewitt's show is also marked by its significant mission of this journal is to provide a forum for the interaction with listeners through the micro blogging vast array of individuals and groups that influence service Twitter. During the broadcast, the show's and shape American life. Nexus aims to put legal producer, Duane Patterson, communicates with scholarship before an audience of interested listeners using the hashtag #hhrs. Hewitt refers to professionals, though not limited to legal scholars those using the #hhrs hashtag as Tribbles, in and practitioners. Thousands of leaders in academia, reference to the harmless, annoying and constantly- government, media, law professors, and of course multiplying alien race from Star Trek. federal and state judges, subscribe to our journal. Nexus is the intersection where law, politics, economics, and media converge." News Media Hewitt is a longtime promoter of what he and other "The Hugh Hewitt Show" conservative pundits call the new media — and blogs — as a means to balance liberal bias in the "Hewitt's nationally syndicated radio show, The mainstream media. Hewitt was described as one of Hugh Hewitt Show, is broadcast from California the five "best-read national conservative bloggers" in from 6 to 9 PM ET on weekdays. The show appears a 2007 memo from the National Republican on more than 75 stations and is syndicated by the Senatorial Committee. .

In early 2006, in an article for Although Hewitt's background is in law, titled "The Media's Ancien Régime," Hewitt outlined government, and politics, he also covers American his belief that traditional journalism was supplanted cultural trends and frequently delves into the by the ease of information exchange on the Internet. entertainment industry, offering movie reviews with "Emmett of the Unblinking Eye" every Friday evening. He frequently critiques the mainstream There is too much expertise, all of it almost instantly media on air, often inviting journalists to defend available now, for the traditional idea of journalism their work on the show. Interviews with Mark to last much longer. In the past, almost every bit of Halperin of ABC news and British historian Andrew information was difficult and expensive to acquire Roberts lasted for the entire three hours of the show. and was therefore mediated by journalists whom readers and viewers were usually in no position to

second-guess. Authority has drained from journalism His regular contributors include law professors John for a reason. Too many of its practitioners have been C. Eastman, former Dean of Chapman University easily exposed as poseurs. School of Law, and , Dean of UC Irvine Law School (whom Hewitt calls "The Smart Guys"), James Lileks, , Continued on page 4 . . . Christopher Hitchens, United States Naval Academy

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Continued . . . HEWITT CHALLENGES MEDIA BIAS

A recurring theme on Hewitt's show is accusing of ABC News, among others, have appeared on the mainstream media of liberal bias and lack of Hewitt's show and debated whether they should be transparency, and the unwillingness of reporters to obliged to disclose their political beliefs. During a answer questions about their own political beliefs. 2006 exchange with Hewitt, longtime Washington Hewitt has said that the modern paradigm of Post reporter and columnist Thomas Edsall said reportage, whereby journalists make a claim to that Democrats outnumbered Republicans 15-25 to objectivity while never answering questions about 1 among members of the mainstream media. their own beliefs, allows a deep-seated culture of

liberal media bias to be perpetuated. He is fond of After Hewitt wrote the book A Mormon in the saying that financial reporters are never allowed to White House? Robert Stacy McCain of The write about companies in which they have an Washington Times wrote that "Hewitt finds interest, while political reporters routinely refuse himself under suspicion of being a cheerleader for to answer questions that might reveal their own the Romney campaign." Hewitt donated $2,300 to political positions and thus allow the reader to 's presidential campaign in 2008, as adjust for any bias, whether conscious or well as many other Republican candidates over the subconscious, that their reporting might contain. years, including U.S. Senator Norm Coleman and He credits the right-wing blogosphere with President George W. Bush. In the lead up to the destroying the presidential campaign of Sen. John February 5, 2008, Republican primaries, Hewitt Kerry in 2004. became known for the slogan "A vote for Huckabee is a vote for McCain." As soon as Hewitt frequently invites members of the McCain won the Republic nomination, however, mainstream media to his show and quizzes them Hewitt turned his rhetorical fire on Democratic about their political beliefs and why they think nominee Barack Obama. those beliefs should remain a secret. Eric Black of

the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Helen Thomas of „ the White House Press Corps and Mark Halperin

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PLANNING DEPARTMENT BLACKBALLS COLAB

OLAB denied access to meeting: On Monday, have studied prior to adopting its “‘smart growth” Plan. Our C January 30, 2012, the County Planning Department readers may remember that the County refused to conduct an and its Land Use Economics Study consultant Environmental Impact Report prior to passing this sweeping, ECONorthwest conducted a focus group meeting. According powerful and seminal policy law. As a result COLAB sued to the County staff, “the purpose of the focus group was to the County for violation of the California Environmental help inform the consultant about issues, data, and trends…” Quality Act (CEQA) and the litigation is still pending as of COLAB’s request to attend this important meeting was ex- this writing. pressly denied by the County Planning and Building Depart-

ment staff. The County staff has stated that there will be Design of the Study is important: During 2011, the Land two focus groups. The first group ( which is the one from Use Economics Study issue was on the Board of Supervisors which COLAB was barred) was to be composed of private Agenda several times. First, it was considered when the sector developers, designers, bankers, real estate profession- Board authorized staff to apply for a large State Sustainable als, agriculturalists, and local planners and public sector of- Communities grant, a portion of which was designated to ficials. The second focus group is supposed to be composed fund this study. It appeared a second time when the actual of representatives of the public, who will be presented with contract with ECONorthwest was before the Board for au- “preliminary findings and public input.” It is not clear how thorization. On both these occasions, COLAB pointed out the consultant will present the public group with “public that the design of the study was very important. The staff input,” which will not have occurred since obviously the and the Board stated that there would be ample opportunity second workshop is for the ostensible purpose of receiving for input. public input in the first place.

Accordingly and after the contract was awarded to The problem is that there will be no opportunity for the pub- ECONorthwest to conduct the study, COLAB found out that lic (or COLAB) to receive information on the study design, the Planning Department was going to conduct a focus and, more importantly, make suggestions with respect to the group on January 30, 2012. Accordingly, COLAB Govern- study design. This is a fatal flaw because this study is cru- ment Affairs Director Mike Brown e-mailed the cognizant cial to the County’s (and the public’s) ultimate understand- planner, Airlan Singewald, and requested that he be included ing of its “smart growth” land use strategy. COLAB be- in the focus group. For Singewald’s benefit, Brown in- lieves that a broad understanding and strong public input to cluded information about COLAB and noted that it repre- the consultants with respect to the design of the study is cru- sented farmers, ranchers, construction firms, engineering cially important. Ironically, the County states in its back- firms, educators, financial service firms, realtors, law firms, ground on the Land Use Economics Study: “In 2009, the farm suppliers, developers, and others. He also provided San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors included the Singewald with a summary of his professional background, ‘strategic growth’ principles into the County General Plan, with particular emphasis on economic development matters together with policy and implementing strategies. These and their relationship to local government finances. He fur- principles encourage compact, efficient and environmentally ther pointed out that he had particular experience in utilizing sensitive development that provides people with additional geographical information systems to model financial and travel, housing and employment choices. They focus future property assessment data, which would be especially rele- growth away from rural areas and limited resources, closer vant to this study. to existing and planned job centers and public facilities where sustainable resources are available.” The irony is

that this is one of the key subjects which the County should Continued on page 6 . . .

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Continued . . . IS COLAB A SPECIAL ADVOCACY GROUP?

Staff Determines COLAB and Brown not qualified: Giffen said he would take it under consideration. On Bizarrely, Singewald replied: “Mike, I appreciate your January 30, 2012, the focus group was held with interest and eagerness to volunteer. Our goal with this ECONorthwest. Reportedly, six “experts” attended. meeting is to receive direct input from several industry Reportedly, these included representatives of the experts in many sectors that you represent. However, we Homebuilders Association of the Central Coast, a wine are mainly interested in the professional insight of these industry group, and an agricultural organization. We do not individuals, not the positions of advocacy groups. With that know if that represents the entirety of the six persons said, I’m pleased to be able to tell you that we have attending or if other groups were represented. The important assembled a great group of knowledgeable, experienced point is that these groups are “advocacy” groups, and while individuals representing a range of private sector interests. they may have professional expertise in their respective This group includes builders, designers, engineers, lenders, fields, just as COLAB has, they were not excluded on the and agriculturalists. Our consultant looks forward to grounds they were advocacy groups. working with this group in incorporating their input into the

land use economics study.” Clearly, it is the County’s intent to blackball COLAB,

disrespect its members, and attempt to marginalize it as a Brown duly responded: “Thank you for your response. It public interest organization. The County and its staff will is disappointing as we represent hundreds of firms and counter our concern with a statement “that there will be a families involved in farming, ranching, construction, public workshop of some kind in the future.” The problem engineering, education, retailing, land development, and is that the scoping and design of the study will have been others. We believe that the County has included ‘advocacy completed. The so-called “public input” will be yet another groups’ in workshops over the years in developing policy sham conducted by the County to try to make it look like it and studies related to the Climate Action Plan, Smart is receptive to public input. The fact of the matter is the Growth, and so forth. For example, the County actually County uses its so-called “public input” sessions to hired staffers from ICLEI to assist in the early formulation manipulate people, justify its intended actions, and of the Climate Action Plan. ICLEI’s web site states that it ultimately carry out the policy imbedded in its preconceived “develops and runs a broad range of campaigns and ideological notions. programs that address local sustainability issues while

protecting global common goods (such as air quality, A suggestion: The County has made a considerable climate, water), and links local action to internationally investment in sophisticated geographic information systems. agreed upon goals and targets. We help local governments These systems allow quantitative data contained in a variety generate political awareness of key issues; establish plans of of County databases to be displayed on maps and various action…” -- seems like ‘advocacy organization’ to me. types of analytical tables and charts. The County can use Since there is no general public workshop related to the this tool to generate many models that simulate the impacts formulation of the study what are we to do? As I indicated of different land use scenarios, including the scenario of to you previously, I have significant professional expertise in what would take place prior to smart growth. It then could economic development, land use, GIS and the land use model various “smart growth” scenarios containing different impacts on government economics.” degrees of restrictions of suburban, large lot, and rural development. One of the most important sources of data COLAB Appeals, gets no answer: There was no further would be the County Tax Assessor’s files, which contain the

response from Mr. Singewald. Accordingly, Mr. Brown Continued on page 7 . . . then appealed his request to Planning Director Giffen.

COLAB San Luis Obispo County 6 Volume 2, Issue 2, February 2012

Continued . . . STUDY OR SHAM?

assessed value of each parcel. These values could be been designed, and that it would therefore be too expensive aggregated geographically for analysis purposes and then and is not included within the study budget.” ECONorthwest could use the data to provide its “opinion”

about the economic impacts of future land use models. At this point the real question concerns whether or not the Similar modeling could be done within designated urban study will have any quantitative rigor and analysis, or will areas and the cities, which are the receiver sites for the simply serve as a further propaganda piece to validate proposed increased densities, which would be prohibited in policies which the County has already adopted. the suburban/rural fringe areas. Since the County already possesses the data as part of its active operating files and also possesses the powerful geographic informational tools, What a sham. A week after COLAB appeared at the Board this should not add any cost to the study. We believe this and complained, we were told the consultant would step is a very important part of any valid study of the telephone to receive input. It is now over three weeks since subject. We would have liked to be given the opportunity to the meeting from which we were excluded took place and make this suggestion. By the time the public workshop is we have heard nothing. It is likely that COLAB will get its held, the study design will have been completed and the three minutes of public comment on the completed study at study started. We will be told, “It’s too late, the study has some point in the future. „

COLAB San Luis Obispo County 7 Volume 2, Issue 2, February 2012

P.O. Box 13601 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

DONATE! We need and appreciate your support! Help COLAB protect your property rights!

COLAB’s mission is to promote the common business interests of its members by providing in- formation and education on issues which have or may have an impact on its membership. To achieve its mission, COLAB will engage in political activities which promote those common business inter- ests and, in doing so, foster a positive image for agriculture, business, and labor in the community. COLAB represents is members before the SLO County Board of Supervisors and any other local or national governing body. If necessary, we will take legal or administrative action for the mutual benefit of the members. COLAB is a 501 ©(6) non-profit organization. However, by law your donation is not tax deductible.

You may donate by sending a check to this address: PO Box 13601, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

COLAB San Luis Obispo County 8 Volume 2, Issue 2, February 2012