Unfortuanately, we have none of the basics. Among the highest taxes in the nation, and perhaps the most corrupt legal and regulatory systems in the free world. Just perhaps this is why we have the unemployment rate we have now, and why businesses shun both Marin and Sonoma Cty.

While it is true that this place is livable at the moment, it will not be if you build more houses. Actually, there will not be enough water to double the population unless everyone limits their showering to five minutes a week. (Low flow toilets and showerheads have already been mandated. You have to do something else.) Can you recommend an investment in a deodorant manufacturer?

2. Change the message we send to the outside world. This was one of Dr. Silver’s central themes: How we describe ourselves to others has consequences. So instead of lamenting how hard it is to build here, we should be telling people about the diversity of our economy and quality of life.
vs.
5. Change the culture of our planning agencies. Surely there are agencies that are exceptions, but there is simply too much evidence to deny any longer that delay and outright obstructionism have become ingrained in many of these organizations.

So which is it? You really do have to choose your path towards real economic development: More trash talk this election season (“pothole capital”, “anti-growth forces”, “too much public process”, or settling down to getting this done together?