All Sprawled Out

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, just three scant months removed from the last catastrophe (which was of horrific proportions). I wish there were some way to break this to you gently. But, as they say, “Less pain in a slap than a dayful of harsh words.” Now, I don’t know who “they” are, or why “they” might say that, but one thing’s for certain: Bad news is best broken quickly. So here we go…

Believe it or not, we citizens of Whatcom County will once again be terrorized by the beastly juggernaut of the democratic republic. Yes, just when you thought it was safe to think about landscaping the lawn or Simonizing the SUV, the terror of representative politics is about to see to it that your yard is awash in signage and your vehicle festooned with stickers.

This year is Election Year. Time for the local voting. The elections that really matter.

Governmental officials will be elected to represent you and me at the most grassy rootest of levels; the city and the county. And if you, like me, ain’t too pleased with the way land speculators and real estate developers are greedily gobbling up what’s left of our fair Fourth Corner, then we should speak, insist, nay shout with one voice.

Whatcom County has entered a state of dire distress, and it’s time we sent out this S.O.S. …

Stop Our Sprawl!

But how? How, you ask, can we stop this cancerous “growth” that threatens to reduce our homeland to a bunch of crackerbox villas surrounded by strip malls? Might this humble reporter offer a few meager suggestions…

First, let’s put a stop to the current crazed building bonanza that is defiling our land while lining the pockets of corporate and banking moguls. To them, the hills, valleys, forests and waters of northwest Washington are merely the latest gold rush mining stake. How about a moratorium on: 1) all subdivision of existing parcels of land, 2) condominium construction, 3) housing tracts (unless for every acre of developed land, two acres are set aside for public space such as parks and wildlife refuge) and 4) retail space more than 1,000 square feet.

Another modest proposal…

How about rent control? Why not fix rents throughout the county along the lines of, say, $300 for a studio apartment, $450 for a one-bedroom, $600 for a two-bedroom, $750 for a three-bedroom? Adjusted annually, of course, for any fluctuations in cost of living, utilities, and so forth. That ought to leave sufficient wiggle room for landlords to make an honest buck while providing affordable housing. Not a whole lot of room for drooling developers to make windfall profits, though.

Stop Our Sprawl!

The cost of Whatcom County’s so-called “growth” has been enormous.

Economically, genuine family-wage industries are rapidly being rubbed out. Farms are being squeezed out or paved over. Fisheries are likewise being squished and polluted. And our vaunted tourist trade? Who the hell wants to come see yet another sprawling suburban nightmare?

We locals know what’s going on, even if we don’t dare admit it to ourselves: “How come cougars are getting’ after my cats and kids?” Gee, could it be because you’ve destroyed their natural hunting grounds and built homes in their very backyard? “Fish ain’t bitin’ like they used to.” Golly, do you suppose we now have to artificially stock lakes and streams because we killed off all the friggin’ fish with our construction runoff, fertilizers, and all the other flotsam and jetsam of this glorified growth?

We need to stop building for the sake of building. We have plenty ‘nuf homes, plenty ‘nuf offices and shops. No more construction and retail-based jobs, with their seasonal/low wages and little/no benefits.

Let’s promote what we do need to become the lean, green community we’re meant to be: small farms, fisheries, high-tech business, the entertainment industry (TV and film), tourism, the arts and even (fellow Greens, cover your ears) shipping.

If we’re going to grow, let’s grow as a focused society with good-paying, healthful jobs. Not as the spreading slagheap oozing from someone else’s gold mine.

So get ready to vote. Again. This time for real. Familiarize yourself with the candidates. Which ones are so deep in the pockets of the developers that they reek of real estate lint? Which ones are dedicated to the vision of a sustainable, cohesive, healthy community? Which ones will…

Stop Our Sprawl!

It’s up to you to decide. §