smoe.org mailing lists
ivan@stellysee.de
| From | DanAbnrml9@aol.com |
| Subject | Re: Wal-Mart |
| Date | Thu, 4 Dec 2003 09:23:54 EST |
[Part 1 text/plain US-ASCII (2.0 kilobytes)]
(View Text in a separate window)
In a message dated 12/4/2003 2:26:27 AM Eastern Standard Time,
audities-owner@smoe.org writes:
<<It's easy and fun to point at Wal-Mart and say it's all their fault, which
> is why it's so popular to gang up on them. But start talking about
infill,
> neighborhood renewal, mixed-use zoning laws, historical preservation and
> tax credits for downtown businesses -- you know, the stuff that actually
> *combats* urban sprawl -- and people's eyes glaze over. Much like those
of
> 87% of those reading this thread.>>
I agree with Stewart more and more every day...
Maybe it's because we both live in Massachusetts, and we see the negative
results of initially well-meaning measures to curb sprawl (mandating a minimum
lot size to build a home, heavily restricting construction of both privately
owned structures and public infrastructure, etc). For example, most of Boston's
outer-ring suburbs demand that you own ridiculous amounts of land--over an
acre, sometimes over two, which is a lot in the suburbs--
to build a house. The intention was that this would preserve "rural
character" for these towns. Instead now we have outrageously wealthy suburbs that few
can afford to move to and don't have the tax bases to upgrade roads and schools
to accomodate the influx of residents. It also forced development out another
ring--or two, or three--and caused people to have massive commutes on
highways that were not designed for heavy traffic. These strict development
laws--which exist in many Mass. towns--have helped make Eastern Massachusetts one of
the most drasically overpriced parts of the country to reside. But if you tell
these people who live in these towns; people who drive massive SUVs and feel
that they've helped save the character of Massachusetts, about any of the above
concepts that Stewart mentions, you'll merely get a rather typical NIMBY-ish
reaction, only it'll be buttered by further self-righteousness. --Jason
For assistance, please contact
the smoe.org administrators.