Growth Machines and Ballot Box Planning: The San Diego Case

Abstract

Growth machine theory is ambiguous about the chances of success of citizen groups fighting land‐based elites, an ambiguity reflected in contrasting theoretical assumptions and empirical research. This paper suggests that a longitudinal frame of reference is necessary to understand the variety of outcomes of growth conflicts and that the importance of ballot box planning in contesting growth machines needs to be assessed. Growth conflicts in San Diego during 1970–1990 were studied. It was found that: (1) growth conflicts follow a dialectical pattern of action and reaction, (2) citizen groups, through initiatives, can significantly affect the quality and location of development, (J) the growth machine controls the playing field when long‐term growth is challenged, (4) in combatting challenges to growth, the growth machine presents a united front only sporadically, and (5) environmental and growth control citizen groups rarely achieve consensus.

Sage Scrub Revolution? Property Rights, Political Fragmentation, and Conservation Planning in Southern California under the Federal Endangered Species Act

“…Considered to be growth inducing, this program triggered an environmental review, which led to the development of a multispecies conservation plan (MSCP) as a form of environmental mitigation (City of San Diego Clean Water Program 1993). The lead played by city politicians in promoting a subregional conservation plan is perhaps best understood in the context of strong local electoral constituencies in favor of growth management (Calaveta 1992; but see Calaveta 1996). A novel feature of this "growth management and conservation regime" is the political capacity to incorporate existing local land-use ordinances into plans for the protection of resources locally deemed to be biologically significant.…”

Growth Machine Up-Links: Urban Renewal and the Rise and Fall of a Pro-Growth Coalition in a U.S. City

“…According to Logan, Whaley, and Crowder (1997), scholars have typically viewed the local state as a "limiting force" in the eVectiveness of no-growth or anti-growth forces, or a "stabilizing force" for pro-growth coalitions, "maintaining a predictable tilt in favor of development proposals despite minor shifts in the governing coalition" (see also Goetz 1994;Horan 1991;Calavita 1992). Yet this view of the local state has been subject to criticism from scholars who argue that the growth machine approach has failed to consider the eYcacy of local political structures and formal politics (Logan, et al 1997), and neglected to specify the connections between the local state and the national state (Kirby and Abu-Rauss 1999, pp.…”

From “Blighted” to “Historic”

“…The growth machine is controlled by local political and economic elites and aimed at generating profit for major developers, business interests, property owners, and tax revenue for local governments (Calavita 1992;Logan and Molotch 1987;Molotch 1976). The growth machine threatens all historic structures, regardless of their connection to any particular racial group, as city officials and developers plan to increase profit guided by the belief that replacing old buildings with new buildings that could generate increased revenue was the way to economically revive downtown areas.…”