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I don't know what the problem was earlier but it appears to be fixed.

Mr. Gandrud:

Pedro Nava has put forth Assembly Bill 3021, which appears to create a transportation financing authority that would make it easier to finance toll roads.

Can you talk a little about your position on this bill and why you may differ from Mr. Nava on toll road financing, if at all?

In addition, do you think parents should be required to be state credentialed in order to teach their children?

I'd also like to hear more on your thoughts regarding the horrible traffic congestion on the 101.

I'll second Katie's request for information on what Greg's plan is for widening the 101 Freeway between Ventura & Santa Barbara. This has been talked about for decades and all I keep hearing about is various agencies looking at alternative means of transportation to ease the congestion (i.e., carpools/vanpools, HIV lanes, light rail). These all seem to be nothing more than pipe dreams, especially given the State budget problems. I would much prefer a plan to widen the freeway (once and for all).

I would like to know Gregory's position on providing licenses to undocumented citizens. This idea and a bill have been circulating the capitol for several years now. Especially with the 35th District having a large hispanic population, would he support a bill like this? And why?

Sorry Gandrud, but I think Nava will drop you like a bad habit on election day. Nava 58% Gandrud 42%.

A) I would love to hear the info on the freeway as well ... I would like to know if widening the 101 or a toll road option are on Gandrud's plate.

B) Hey ... "not mongo" ... I wouldn't exactly call a 42% vote to a 2-time incumbent being dropped like a "bad habit," in fact I would say it is position enough to influence Gandrud to run again in 2 years .... if that were to happen.

You know, a lot of people are not happy with Pedro Nava, so you never know!

I agree with Heather. Nava has not served this district well at all. He has a "no drill" mentality ingrained in him from his days on the Coastal Commission and isn't about to change his tune on this, despite $4+ gas prices and his own party (and presidential nominee) now saying that it makes sense.

My vote is for Gandrud!

Dear Brian,

Thanks for providing the opportunity for me to dialogue with your readers. In response to your starter questions:

1. Taxes are high enough in California. We are among the highest-tax states in the country. High taxes and over-regulation destroy opportunities for our people. I'm working to create better jobs and reduce bureaucracy. Taxpayers deserve more bang for their current bucks.

2. I voted for Dianne Feinstein.

3. Government should treat everyone equally and should stay out of people's private lives. The California Constitution is fine the way it is now.

Yours truly,

Greg

I’ve been fighting a battle to widen Highway 101 for over 8 years. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in Santa Barbara County who have been obstructionists. While a member of the Carpinteria City Council, I traveled twice to Washington DC (at my own expense) to seek federal funding and to galvanize public support for widening 101. Also, I founded Fix101.org (many of you have seen the green and white bumper stickers) which has played a very active role in transportation issues and has continually supported 101 widening.

From Proposition 1B transportation bond money, I succeeded in obtaining 151 million dollars to fully fund the widening of 101 from Mussel Shoals to Carpinteria (six miles). This project will begin in just 3 years.

There are still ten miles in Santa Barbara County that are not fully funded for widening. Current options for funding include a half-percent sales tax to provide local funds for matching state and federal transportation dollars as well as the AB 3021 toll approach. In general, private-public partnerships using revenue bonds to be repaid from tolls provide a way to build new transportation projects without raising taxes. I support the idea of highway users paying directly for the cost of using highways. Given that the unfunded stretch of 101 is relatively short and has so many access points, I’m not sure that a toll road is the best fit for our particular bottleneck.

In any event, I’m very eager to widen 101. We will have a safer highway, we will save a lot of gas, and we will have much cleaner air once all those idling cars are moving at highway speeds.

Does that mean you are open to raising taxes to widen the 101?

While widening Rt 101 would help relieve rush hour traffic it would also induce increased congestion and sprawl-type development along the Santa Barbara corridor.

Since its rush hour traffic that's the big problem and at a cost of $150M+ per six miles it would make more sense to PAY employers to encourage commuters to shift their drive times.

Based on Santa Cruz's similar situation along the 101 (8000 vehicles per hour during rush hours) you may want to consider halving that vehicle congestion by paying employers & employees BOTH $500 per year to shift their commuting times, say from 8AM to 10AM. If your target if 4000 vehicles, your payout would be $4M per year to accomplish the same thing you're trying to do through widening.

At 6% per year that $150M+ is generating almost $10M in interest, which would pay for the entire program plus offer $$$ to the development of regional mass transit.

Why spend $150M+ when you can get the same results for free?

I am against raising taxes to widen the 101. I should have clarified that the half-percent sales tax I spoke of is an existing tax. I support renewing the tax for ten more years to provide a local match for regional transportation projects. Our current rate of taxation is high enough.

Shifting work schedules, carpools, telecommuting, and other demand-reduction programs have already been in place for several years. Demand for transportation is driven by the destinations that people desire to reach. It is time to simply widen Highway 101.

Do you believe that people are contributing to climate change?

Do you support any legislation ( besides fixing the 101) to address this issue?

Greg,

You're so right about the obstructionists in SB County regarding the 101 widening. They are convinced that carpooling/vanpooling, HOV lanes, and, yes, the ludicrous notion of light rail (that nobody would ride) are the solutions.

Just widen the damn freeway already!

In response Scott Blough's question, I believe parents have a right to homeschool their children without unreasonable interference from the government. Parents should not be required to be credentialed by the state in order to teach their own children at home.

Greg

I don't believe that illegal aliens should be given California driver's licenses. Emergency rooms, jails, and highways are filled with illegals. Many gang members are children of illegals. Pedro Nava has turned a blind eye to all of these issues. We ought not grant refuge or privileges to people who break our laws.

Regarding Brian's question about climate change, I perceive nature as in a constant state of flux. Human activity definitely leaves its mark.

I'm a strong believer in the power of markets to reward good behavior and punish bad behavior. Technologies now exist, and will continue to develop, that will help us to reduce carbon emissions while saving money by increasing energy efficiency. Government can play a very positive role by encouraging markets.

In my personal life, I try to lead by example by driving a car that gets over 30mpg and limiting my purchases of consumer goods to only those things that I truly need. Rather than buying plastic bottles of water, I filter water at home and refill my own bottles. I recycle everything I can. We built a permaculture garden at my home (which was on the Parade of Green Building two years in a row) as an example of sustainable landscaping. I grew, organically, the breakfast I ate this morning (this is true for me about 11 months of the year as I have 23 different kinds of fruit at my standard tract home). My kitchen scraps are used to feed a bin of worms in my garage. The worm "tea", along with composted yard clippings are used to fertilize the gardens.

If you agree with my positions on any of the issues I have commented on, please visit
www.Gandrud.org
and show your support. Thanks!

Greg

Gregory,

I am glad that you believe humans are contributed to climate change. Do you support any of the governor's recent actions to do something about it? Do you consider it a serious threat?

Greg, it sounds like you "walk the walk" on environmental issues instead of just "talking the talk".

Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is a big hot button in Oxnard with the anti-LNG people very well organized. It is almost a partisan issue now. Republicans seems to be promoting it and Dems seems to be fighting it. Do you have a position on LNG?

Regarding the Governor's actions on climate change, I'm concerned that AB32 will cause transportation money intended for freeway construction to be wasted on endless studies and will force businesses and jobs out of California.

Most power plants burn natural gas to create electricity. LNG could be a source of this clean-burning fuel and could help to keep utility prices down. In siting LNG facilities, we must respect safety and environmental concerns.

Per my article
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/jul/27/drilling-off-the-coast-can-help-environment/ , we must consider every option, including drilling for oil and gas where technology allows extraction without harming the environment.

Greg