Quote:
Originally Posted by HillStreetBlues
I hope that Gary Smith can somehow psychically feel my distaste for him:
'As president of the Friends of Meadowlily Woods Community Association, he described the area as a “non-conforming neighbourhood” that’s “overwhelmingly” covered with green space. Things that are typical in other areas, he says, aren’t welcome: “We’re hoping you’ll keep your sidewalks in the other parts of the city and leave us natural.”'
Nothing more natural and environmentally-friendly than neighbourhoods so car-dependent that you don’t even pretend anyone would walk in them, right?
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Been caught up in that shitstorm too many times in the past. I'm quite familiar with the code words and phrases:
1)
Non-conforming neighbourhood. Interpretation: My neighbourhood is special as are the people who live here. We get to set our own rules, including what happens to
our streets. That thing about
our streets being a public thoroughfare is just a formality.
2)
Green space. Interpretation: I value the old establishment interpretation of prosperity and respectability being a large front lawn. The larger the better.
My front lawn has always gone all the way to the curb and I will not loose some of
my lawn to a public sidewalk, a sidewalk I'll never use. The City may think they own that land, but in reality I'm special and I get to control it.
3)
Keep your sidewalks in the other parts of the city. Interpretation: I don't subscribe to your new ways of thinking. Sidewalks are for the poor who can't afford a car. Those people are losers. We don't want losers, or for that matter any other riff-raff prowling our exclusive neighbourhood on these sidewalks. Keep the riff-raff and the sidewalks they prowl on in the remainder of the city that isn't here.
4)
natural. Interpretation: Sidewalk construction requires heavy equipment that is bad for the environment. Taking away grass is also bad for the environment. Therefore sidewalks are bad for the environment. (in reality I know it's a lame excuse and in reality I'm not going to change one iota of my rightful lifestyle - although "others" really should)