By a vote of 27 to 29, the House Transportation & Investment Committee voted DOWN the bipartisan Petri/Johnson/Lipinski amendment that would have restored the Transportation and Enhancement and Safe Routes to School funding to HR 7 – “The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act” (otherwise known as – Surface Transportation Reauthorization). While this is a setback, “we’re not dead yet.”  The vote was extremely close and it’s clear at least a couple GOP members (i.e. enough to have changed the vote’s outcome) ended up voting with their Chairman rather than face a reprisal. It is becoming increasingly clear that the House bill (HR 7) is NOT going to get to the President’s desk.  The chorus of opponents is growing louder by the minute, with Transportation Secretary LaHood declaring, today, that the House bill is the “worst transportation bill he’s seen in decades.”  As well as, “the most partisan transportation bill I’ve EVER SEEN.” Secretary LaHood reiterates his support for the Senate bill (MAP-21, S. 1813), which as it stands also eliminates all dedicated funding for walking and biking (including TE, RTP and Safe Routes to School). CPRS members are asked to be "at the ready" to contact their respective Congressional leaders once the follow up strategy is shared. (Source: NRPA Public Policy)

The American River Parkway, a collaborative Regional Treasure and fondly called the “Sacramento Crown Jewel”, along with the late Keith Demetrak, California State Parks, are the 2012 inductees into the 2012 CPRS District 2, Recreation, Park and Leisure Hall of Honor. Representing 70 park and recreation agencies in 19 counties of California, the CPRS Induction Ceremony is Friday, March 9, 2012, Barbara Morse Wackford Community and Aquatics Center in Elk Grove, California. Terry Selk, Director of Tourism, Sacramento-Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is slated as Guest Speaker.

Responding to months of criticism over increased learn-to-swim fees, the American Red Cross announced Tuesday it will significantly reduce those costs. The new pricing includes two tiers, and incentives to offer additional Red Cross training. Read more >>

Redevelopment as it has been known in California for over 50 years, is no more. February 1, 2012, has been months in the making, so it should not be a jolt to cities and their respective redevelopment agencies. Many cities have used redevelopment funds to build and rehabilitate their park and recreation infrastructure. For the next few months, skeleton crews – mainly former RDA staff members – will spend their time, not on projects and visioning, but rather on organizing spreadsheets and ensuring that bond obligations are met. When and how California’s cities will develop new means of stoking local development – with or without state assistance – will likely dominate discussion for months, and possibly years, to come. Most California cities hope that the dissolution process will be short and painless and that they can soon get back to the business of building themselves for the next generation. CPRS has been tracking what the California Planning and Development Report (CP&DR) has shared on their Redevelopment Deathwatch Page.