Is it really necessary to extend a 4-lane expressway from Springville, N.Y. to Ashford, N.Y.? Western New York has a declining population, and constituents are constantly complaining about high taxes. Still, very few citizens seem to understand a very important correlation: the cost, per person, of maintaining infrastructure will go up as there are fewer people to pay the bill. There are two ways to mitigate this: attract more people or encourage those remaining to move into an urban center (and thus removing the need for expansion and, in some cases, maintenance of infrastructure). Given this context, spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in order to make living away from WNY's only urban center (Buffalo) more convenient does not strike me as the best use of funds.
Why not use this same money to lure businesses into the area? How about expanding the woeful public transportation system in Buffalo? How about giving the money to schools, or libraries, or...just about any other worthy endeavor?
This type of misappropriation of energy is demonstrative of the type that has put WNY into such a deep, dark hole.
To the people of Western New York: would you like lower taxes? Then, for the love of God, stop building new homes on the edge of the suburbs! Have you ever stopped to consider how much it costs, in time, labor, and money, to expand and maintain roads, bridges, gas lines, water lines, sewer lines, communication lines, bus routes, police departments, fire departments, libraries, schools, and a multitude of other social services to these areas? There is a lot (and I mean a lot) of top quality home stock already in the area -- hell, there's more of it than we need, obviously! So, please...pretty please, stop being stupid?
To the Government of Erie County: please, for the love of all that is holy, consolidate your local governments! There is absolutely no reason for the redundancy in staff that exists throughout all of your local townships.
...and stop spending money on new highways that go nowhere.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Route 219
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5 comments:
Clearly, your ideas show that you do not believe in the American dream of independence and personal freedom. Urban centers? Public transportation? Libraries? OK, pinko - whatever.
Seriously, though - is this new expressway being proposed? I find it surprisingly...contemptuous of reality.
Good night, Springdon! There will be no encore!
it is actually in the process of being built and is (gasp!) over budget.
that road is two miles from my house!
I actually found an article from the Buffalo News on this. And then I read the comments. And then I wept.
I wanted to say something witty about ignorance somehow being charming and quaint...but I failed. It's just sad.
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