I was called by a reporter who wanted my view of the Urban Development Boundary and of the lobbysts seeking to push through more suburban sprawl and more office parks into open space that now buffers Everglades wetlands.
Of the many arguments against zoning changes by local government to approve new incursions toward wetlands, chief among them is the timing: we are in the midst of the worst housing crash in modern times—now is the time to pay attention to economic reality.
Because the housing bubble manifested so clearly in suburban sprawl pushing into wetlands imposing enormous unfunded infrastructure costs on existing taxpayers—for this simple reason, the county commission should deny the applications.
But as this notion crossed my lips, the reporter cut me short.
I knew, instantly, it wasn’t a line of reasoning the newspaper wanted to report. And I didn’t have to ask why.
Floridians are in the midst of a nasty recession, brought on by liar loans, mortgage fraud, the dregs and criminality of the final stage of an illegitimate bubble in housing. These days, all media reports must report upward in respect to housing-- the source of so much paid advertisement.
And so every media story is now about the most positive action Americans can take in service of their nation: shopping.
Notice how television and newspapers all report shopping as though it is the highest public purpose of the front page or opening segment of nightly news.
Not a word about the threat to the economy from the rotted value of the dollar and the horrendous politics and policies that have moved the value of your assets to the remainder bin.
No. If the stories are not about the crowds lining up to rush the aisles at daybreak, it’s about the all important retail numbers compared to last year, or, how attractive American shopping destinations are to foreigners whose currencies we once joked about: the Canadian dollar, the Russian ruble, the British pound.
The war drags on, fought mainly by the enlisted poor, by immigrants guaranteed citizenship in exchange for risking what Americans shopping at Cartier, or Porsche dealerships, or Coach will not risk.
The mainstream media has lagged the story of excesses of the housing bubble and the consequent busting of state and local budgets. It has lagged behind, all the way behind the repo man, the foreclosure notice, the run on hedge funds.
The finest expression of democracy is the right to shop, never mind the value of the US dollar, or, the Urban Development Boundary. This is a view you will never read in the pages of the mainstream press.
11 comments:
I am strongly opposed to any threat to the Everglades. The Everglades should be respected and protected. It should not treated as just another "development site".
We have plenty of urban lots that need development. And we have 60,000 condos that need buyers.
I cannot understand people's obsession with shopping. I bet a few of those people waiting in line for new TV's need to pay their taxes. I bet a few owe money towards their mortgages... Many of those people should learn to question their addiction for more material objects.
You're absolutely right! The housing problem is huge. Lennar has lowered their prices on new homes an average of $70-$80,000 per unit; Shomas Homes lowered their prices on $300,000+ homes to $180-$190,000 per unit. A new development along SW 112 Ave. and 220 St. has a sign advertising "Rent to Own", 0 downpayment, no closing costs". They're renting their unsold units in order to recoup some money to pay their construction loans.
I wonder how the BCC can justify a vote to continue construction into the Everglades -not for lack of housing, I suppose.
But if we stop shopping, we lose our national identity! How will Americans conceptualize themselves, if not for consuming, consuming, consuming?
I am a good American, I am going to shopping!
That's a sign we live in a rich country. How many other countries have the amount of overweight people as the U.S.? Not even in Europe, needless to say Latin America, or India, Africa, etc. can you find overweight people except for medical reasons. We're blessed with an abundance of everything and for that we must be grateful.
I respectfully disagree, anon. Living in a rich country means we need not feel hunger, not that we should eat to the point of obesity. Being overweight is a curse, not a blessing. It strains our health care system, in particular.
UDB is under attack in Homestead, Redland farmers have a new crop in mind called development. They want Homestead to annex their properties so they can apply for zoning changes at the city level where they need only four council to agree with their plans.
As unincorporated property owners they have to convince seven. Luckily the MDC Planning Advisory Board was wise in denying a recent application and the lies that accompanied the annexation attempt.
The "Farm" bureau is quoted that the UDB should be subject to market demand. Translation these "farmers" wish to grow townhomes and condos.
New York Times article from March 3, 2007 quotes Katie Edwards, executive director of the Dade County Farm Bureau, which represents Mr. Alger and other farmers, believes that "market forces should determine where development occurs in Miami-Dade County."
I think the farmers should stick to farming and not pretend to be urban planners. We need food to survive. We need water to survive. If "market forces" took over the Everglades would be sold within months and South Florida would have a envirnmental crisis.
Sometimes people need to abide by rules. Sometimes politicians need to show courage.
katie edwards...ick.
Please don't paint all farmers with the Farm Bureau Insurance Company brush. Some of us recognize the need and benefits of farming and farmland. Not all of us want to pave South Dade. And we are just as green as the environmentalists!
Who told the commission that there is concrete that hardens in water? Why can't people just kept their mouths shut?
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