Reactions to SPET’s pro-growth agenda
Two letters to the editor in today’s (April 12) News&Guide were encouraging.
One from Laurie Genzer contemplates the notion we might be at carrying capacity now:
Maxed out
Is local government really looking out for us?
Our roadways are maxed out; our sewage plant is getting there; we’ve got benzene in our water, yet government is quiet, unconcerned.
Their focus is more growth, more tax revenue, perks for the few while they ignore the majority.
They’re blind to the problems of growth: overcrowding, empty buses, traffic jams …
Every town and county has its carrying capacity. There are limits to growth. What is the carrying capacity of Jackson Hole? Government has been asked that, and they ignore it. They don’t want to know.
When you’re at capacity, more isn’t better. And we, as a community, are about full up. Look around, you see it everywhere. You feel it when you’re stuck in traffic. We need to stop and take a breather.
What can we do as individuals? How can we send a signal? You do it at the voting booth. Say no to nonessential SPET items. Say no to nonessential spending.
Your vote on May 2 matters, if you make it matter.
There’s only one SPET item that could be essential: the fire stations. It’s No. 9 on the ballot. None of the other items arereally urgent. Life will
go on just fine without them.
Until local government looks at the problems of growth, real problems we all face, just say no in the voting booth.
Make your voice heard.
Laurie Genzer Jackson
The other, from Julia Heileson, brings up numerous good points we should all be thinking about:
Impacts of growth
By loading up the SPET ballot with so many projects the electeds have done us a big favor by highlighting just how much growth is projected for the valley. The growth-inducing impact of these projects is mind-boggling. They all mean more employees and some more users as well, in turn requiring more teachers, doctors, schoolrooms, stores, roads and parking spaces, plus government staff to oversee it all. This on top of the recent Hotel Jackson, the new four-story Marriott, the monstrous expansion proposed for Snow King and the huge recreation complex contemplated on South 89. Yet every week the paper features at least one story highlighting the severity of the housing shortage. A new community college would be especially problematic. How would the students and teachers be housed? Jackson simply cannot be all things to all people. The valley is in serious danger of losing forever the homey Western ambiance, beautiful open spaces and wildlife environment that have defined it for so long.
Julia Heileson Jackson
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