Understatement of the week

While Second Thoughts is all for Tracy as the next Emerald City (this type, not this type), the state's reasoning for putting its weight behind the think-green effort here is less-than flattering.

As Tracy spokesman Matt Robinson told the Press earlier this week: "They selected Tracy because we have essentially not been considered a city that would be a poster child for sustainability."

In other words, if this city can do it, so can anyone else.

That assessment might seem overly harsh, but let's face it — it's not inaccurate. Tracy is a sprawl spot. As are most of its neighboring Central Valley cities.

Which means we really are the perfect laboratory for seeing if haphazard development can be turned into something more Earth and people friendly. My fingers, at least, are crossed.