Below are the longer passages I quoted in class yesterday (Thurs. 9/18):
First, a passage which relates to the point that we are living with the implications of decisions made years ago.
"For example, the change in public preference from urban to suburban living owes much to federal legislation in the late 1940s and 1950s that provided low-cost builder and buyer loans, as well as to a massive highway-building program that made it easier to live away from city jobs and activities. That growth in middle-class suburban housing, and the subsequent exodus of many businesses to suburban campuses or shopping malls, eroded the city's economic vitality and tax base, which, in turn, worsened the quality of life for many city dwellers who remained. The suburban lifestyles that most North Americans favor today, as well as the problems besetting many U.S. cities, are the result of social forces unleashed two generations ago." (p.108)
Second, the rather long-winded, and clearly slanted definition of SPRAWL:
"SPRAWL is the term used to describe spread-out or low-density development beyond the edge of services and employment. It separates where people live from where they work, shop, and pursue leisure or an education, thereby requiring them to use cars to move between these zones. This type of development results from decades of unplanned, rapid growth and poor land-use management. Sprawl thus identifies the cumulative effects of development that is automobile-dependent, inefficient and wasteful of natural resources." (p. 108)
FIRST FAMILY ACTIVITY:
Following the viewing of "Understanding Urban Sprawl" next Tuesday (9/23), the families will have an opportunity to brainstorm the main points made in the video. I will also hand out a recent article on sprawl which each member of the family should read. Then, in the context of the video and the article, as well as points I made in class about sprawl, I want each family to identify what you believe are the THREE strongest points you would make if you had fifteen minutes with the leading politicians and businesspeople of a community to convince them to adopt a higher-density, "smart growth" approach to development.I will also give you some time in class on Thursday (9/25) to discuss this with your family. Each family should designate a family member to post your case as a comment on this blog by MONDAY, SEPT. 29TH. We will review and critique them in class and the family with what is judged to be the strongest argument will win a bonus point for this exercise. This activity is worth 5 points, AND ALL FAMILY MEMBERS MUST WATCH THE VIDEO, READ THE ARTICLE, AND PARTICIPATE IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS IN ORDER TO EARN THE 5 POINTS.
That's all for now. Remember to make every effort to be in class next Tuesday so you can see the video program.
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2 comments:
tI stand before you today to urge you to reduce suburban sprawl by considering other options that will be in your best interest, as well as the community's. Our current system fails in three fundamental ways: economically, environmentally, and culturally. As representatives of the people, you cannot ignore the these failures:
1. Economic failures: Successful societies need a means to achieve happiness for their citizens. Although money can't buy happiness, the things it creates can. How can governments most efficiently spend the money their citizens trust them with? Suburban sprawl is not the answer. Many people move to the suburbs under the illusion that it is, in fact, cheaper in terms of housing costs. However, billions of dollars in tax money fund the necessary utilities, schools, and institutions that suburban citizens need. Homebuyers only pay a fraction of the cost upfront. In addition, homeowners need cars for the commute - and roads to drive them on, a cost that is going up exponentially ($2700 per car, per year). As a result of the expenses, governments feel the need to build more houses to attract more taxpayers to cover costs, perpetuating a destructive, expensive cycle.
2. Environmental failures: I mentioned traffic costs in terms of money, but in terms of environmental damage, the cost is also very high. Because we live in a society, facilitated by sprawl, that emphasizes the individual and the "freedom" associated with a car, we have many people who do not consider the mass effects of pollution. As people become more conscious of this problem, it is in your best interest to take steps to reduce pollution - namely, resisting sprawl. Seventy percent of farmland has been lost to the suburbs as well - not just land that is aesthetically pleasing, but land that has functional value. Wasting valuable resources is as senseless as ruining the timeless beauty of American land.
3. Cultural/Social failures: As populations move from the city outwards, so do tax dollars, resulting in a loss of culture in cities. Countless historial sites and cultural monuments cannot be preserved because there are no funds to do so. In terms of quality of life, inner-city residents also suffer. In order to build the foundations of a successful area, we need to capitalize on human potential - by denying thousands of people the benefits of a good education and community support, we are wasting human resources that could get us ahead. As politicians, your interest should be with the people - we can improve the lives of the less fortunate, and you have a responsibility to do so.
Clearly, our situation cannot remain the same. There are ways of changing the system and integrating people, commerce, and the environment. Consider Portland, where extensive reform led to the destruction of a freeway and the introduction of a park. The communal square there also gives people the opportunity to unite again, instead of simply coexisting in huge houses on wasteful plots of land. For a variety of reasons, we need put an end to greedy sprawl - I encourage you to start today.
Uncontrolled urban sprawl is eating up our country. Without any limitations, sprawl is causing economic, environmental, and social problems. Limitations must be put in place to cut down sprawl and repair problems within the city; otherwise, future generations will suffer the consequences for our decisions.
Consequences of Sprawl:
Urban Sprawl comes at a high price – literally. The cost of developing the land and providing services for the newly developed areas is far more than taxes are covering, pushing Money is lost in these suburban developments, which will cause increasing debt.
Sprawl eats up enormous chunks of land for housing, shopping centers, parking lots, et cetera. Spacing out these necessities creates a forced dependency on cars. Private transportation has now become the norm -- affecting air quality, causing congested streets, and increasing commutes (which eat more and more time out of our day). Sprawl also preys on valuable farmland; areas in Southern California, some of the most fertile crop-growing sections of the nation, are now falling victim to urban sprawl. Paving over wetlands and natural habitats to provide for the suburbs ruins the natural cycle of balance and increases risk of flooding. The suburbs are not equipped to withstand natural disaster. Air and run-off pollution are also triggered; in turn, the “suburban dream” harms us and our environment far more than it benefits.
Sprawl creates an increasingly distant society. Private transportation and suburban housing create a very independent society requiring minimal contact with others. Parks and historic landmarks are torn up to create more road space, robbing cities of their individuality.
Sprawl is a serious condition in question across the country; a harmony must be reached between society and the environment. Otherwise, these negative side effects of urban sprawl will continue to build, eventually erupting for future generations to clean up. We must take responsibility now to protect our society.
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