If California wants to continue to attract new

If California wants to continue to attract new businesses and remain a good place to work and live, the state must support smart growth with public funds, concludes California State Treasurer Philip Angelides in a recently released special edition of the state’s Debt Affordability Report, “Smart Investments.” Angelides, formerly the developer of new urbanist project Laguna West near Sacramento, recommends that California adopt an investment plan that relies “on strong regional planning” and includes reinvestment in declining urban communities. The report calls for investments that support alternative modes of transportation, more mixed-use communities with human scale design, and the placement of new jobs near housing. While the state treasurer can advocate for investments, the final allocation of funds still rests with the governor and the legislature.