The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
Today’s Question: Has growth and development improved or worsened life in Contra Costa County?
The Water Cooler – Has Growth And Development Improved Or Worsened Life In Contra Costa County?
Worsened – no question – too many people for infrastructure that was designed and built for half the population in the ’60’s & ’70’s.. very little if any improvement to accommodate the allowed growth. Local cities allowed unplanned growth to get revenue from fees, taxes, etc. Infrastructure is more than stretched. You can see it in short tempers, the “me first” self entitled attitudes that are so prevalent now, traffic, power outages, water shortages, etc. etc.
I arrived here in 1986. Since then, the infrastructure in the area has improved dramatically. The Benicia Bridge got a second span. Highway Four to east County at least doubled in width. The 680-24 connection is far better now. Highway 24 is significantly wider. The Caldicott Tunnel went from two bores to four. Perhaps you didn’t notice these improvements.
That’s not even close in keeping up with the increase in population – while the rest of infrastructure deteriorates due to “deferred maintenance”
Cities have fallen into to the ponzi scheme of, more houses will fix it.
.
When cities cater to builders and allow residences to be built small lots,
developer walks away smiling, but city just limited it’s tax revenue.
.
Cities must provide services to each residence, includes police.
Cost of running a city seldom go down. Larger homes on larger lots
gives a city a tax revenue cushion. Clayton has such a cushion.
When time house prices dropped like a rock, county assessor reduced
property tax. Clayton sailed thru it, antioch if memory serves laid off
sworn police officers.
.
When cities allow high density housing expect sometime in the future
need for police services will be much higher as will crime rate.
.
Unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats along with democrat super
majority in state legislature and a democrat have driven businesses and
high net worth individuals out of the state.
.
Am all for splitting state in two ! ! ! ! !
Definitely improved. The county is now diverse. And there is a white flight in concord as new comers plant theirs roots.
This county has always been diverse & tradition has gone by the wayside recently. It is much much worse in this county now. Been here for decades how about you?
White flight. That always makes a city better. Amiright?
Just trying to bait people here.
LOSER
It depends on what and where.
The creation of Crescent Drive and “Downtown Pleasant Hill” was a definite improvement over the previous randomly-placed stores. Contra Costa Blvd. has always been a long commercial strip without any focus, so Downtown PH with its restaurants has been great for the city.
That place is a nightmare and impossible to park.The old place was way better and not “random”.
Worsened. Too many people, and too much traffic. With growth and development comes an increase in housing, pollution, depleting resources, crime and other problems. The sudden rise in population results in a higher demand for groceries and other goods. If the demand grows faster than the overall supply, the economy will suffer from it.
WORSENED
CC County(and the whole Bay Area) is the new Los Angeles.
Ruined.
The “Transit Village” conversion will be the final stake in the heart.
Imagine living at Pleasant Hill Bart.Why would anyone do that?
Absolutely Destroyed everything unquestionable this area has become Satan’s toilet and the hits just keep coming with Woke bu!!sh!t !!!