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If we named our years as the Chinese do, 2009 would be the year of “Planning.” That’s because, at least in Pleasanton, businesses, retailers, housing developers and even local government agencies are focusing their energies this year on planning the projects that might otherwise have proceeded in a stronger economy.

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CalMatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media.