Flood Maps Raise Questions About Convention Center Expansion

[bananas]

Source: KPBS

The planned expansion of the San Diego Convention Center will include almost one million additional square feet of space and cost half a billion dollars. It will have more room for meetings, exhibitions, a ballroom and retail outlets. The people who pushed for the larger venue believe it will lure major conventions to San Diego.

But all of this may be irrelevant.

The expanded version of the Convention Center could be inundated with seawater by mid century if climate change predictions are accurate.

“Your mother told you to hope for the best and plan for the worst,” said San Diego Port Commissioner Scott Peters. He was referring to maps making the rounds at the agency that show sea levels climbing anywhere between 18 inches to 4 feet along the tideline by 2050. “Look, if we’re going to make an investment like this on our waterfront, we need to be ready for sea level rise.”

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Read more: http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/nov/15/flood-maps-raise-questions-about-san-diego-convent/

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Good article - worth reading in full.
This is something coastal communities all over will have to deal with.
Around half the population lives within 50 miles of the coast.
Scott Peters may be going to Congress - he has a slight lead against incumbent Republican Brian Bilbray.
His experience on the Port Commission will be valuable in helping our country prepare for the future.

[Cal Carpenter]

1. Wow, I think that is the first time

I've been aware of this level of official speaking in plain terms about this.

Planning for the the expected outcomes of climate change. Imagine that!!

[frylock]

4. Peters ran against Brian Bilbray in the 52nd..

they're still counting the votes, but it looks like a Peters win.

[DCKit]

2. Dunno. A lot of cities seem to think their convention centers are disposable - Obsolete...

the second construction is finished the cries of "It's not big enough!" begin.

The question is "Who benefits economically from the construction of Convention Centers, Stadiums and other large public venues?" While there will always be some trickle-down, how many of the big hotel and restaurant chains that profit from huge conventions and sports events are based in San Diego?

It's just another scam to remove $$$ from the pockets of the people who pay property taxes - we pay for the venues, they reap the profits. Additionally, the tax deals the local cities cut put an additional burden on local residents. It's a huge source of corruption.

[Agnosticsherbet]

3. San Diego Citizens will build the Convention Center...

Citizens will work there.
Citizens work at the restaurants, shops, hotels, and business's that benefit from these conventions.
A large convention like Comicon brings millions into the city because those who attend spend money in restaurants, shops, stores, hotels, and at other points of interest.

This is not simply a venue to funnel money to out town rich folks.

And as to the owners of the stores, the vast majority of stores now days are large chains. Small, mom and pop retail outfits aren't found in the big shopping malls. But these corporate stores do hire people that live here.

I stand on the side of the thousands of common folk who, though not enriched, are certainly supported by these large public venues.

I would rather see local tax money go to build such places than to see the money funneled into tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations.

[DCKit]

5. What kind of wages do those jobs pay? It's feudalism. nt

[Agnosticsherbet]

6. It is a job. I have a son working at one of those outlets...

The pay isn't great, but he makes a living and contributes to society. (He stopped working at small, locally owned stores because he can't get a raise in a mom an pop locally owned place. Their margins are too low.) He has received a raise from his employer, and has health insurance.

I have friends who work in construction, who get paid quite well.

These citizens will not get rich, ever, but few ever do because the notion that anyone can get rich with hard work and frugal habits is as mythical as Zeus.

As to feudalism?
(1) They do not exchange his ownership of land for service or labor.
(2) They are not serfs that belong to the land and can not leave.

Adam Smith an Marx used slightly different working definitions of Feudalism, but both hinged on a form of power based on ownership of land and agriculture. It became obsolete with Capitalism, a version of which we follow here in San Diego.

[liberal N proud]

7. That's nearly 40 years away, no reason to worry about then now.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. They should be able to build it on pilings

That's kept Venice, Italy, high and dry.