John Stossel's "Urban Sprawl" Myths (suburban, crime, Atlanta)

[knowledgeiskey]

Does he have an argument?


20/20 On The 'Urban Sprawl Myth' | Planetizen

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by knowledgeiskey

Does he have an argument?


20/20 On The 'Urban Sprawl Myth' | Planetizen

I have checked it out. I am going to sound extremely selfish but here goes. Whatever John Stossel has to say, none of it helps ME. Suburban sprawl isn't helpful for ME. I live in the suburbs because I am in a situation where if I move, it will cost alot of money. My university is in the suburbs. If I transfer, it will screw up my graduation date, I might have to pay more tuition, and then I have to find another place to live. Atlanta is getting more expensive. While more people are moving into Atlanta than ever, it isn't cheap either. I am pretty much stuck in the suburbs. I can't get around easily. I don't have the money for a car. I am going into debt for an education, why go in debt for a car? At least the college education will lead to something better. Having a car payment is like paying rent on a car. Insurance, gas prices, well, at this point in my life, it isn't worth it to me to buy a car, new or used. Suburbs tend to be sprawled out and these are my main methods of transportation: The local bus, bicycle, or foot. Sometimes I get lucky and someone gives me a ride to the store or some other place.

Interestingly, crime in Atlanta has been dropping while it has been rising in the suburbs. I have never been a crime victim in the city of Atlanta despite its relatively high crime rate. All of the times I have been victimized by crime, it was in the suburbs. Bicycle stolen in the suburbs three times. I have been the victim of a mugging in the middle of the night. Been shot with a paintball gun. While these are all isolated incidents, it isn't very convincing the notion that the suburbs are that much safer than the city.

None of what Stossel says has any benefit to ME or my quality of life.

[wburg]

So, this Stossel fellow thinks that we should continue to subsidize suburban sprawl (and yes, it is subsidized, highly so) because poor people deserve to have a yard? I'd wager that he doesn't think that poor people deserve healthcare, or free lunches, or college educations, but he is in favor of government-funded front yards?

[progmac]

i think 20/20 is just telling people what they want to hear

[AJNEOA]

Stossel's an idiot, which is another reason I don't watch tv. Ratings outweigh quality content.

[JayCT]

Quite frankly "what is wrong with people owning a little piece of land and a house with a couple of rooms and a decent bath?" These are the words uttered by Jimmy Stewart in Its a Wonderful Life. It was not that long ago that the majority of the population lived in small cold water apartments. If it wasn't for suburban sprawl we would not have the level of homeownership we do today. I am not saying growth should go unchecked or unplanned but there should be the ability to build available to everyone. Jay

[pvande55]

Consider the source. Stossel is a "libertarian" critical of any liberal, and some conservative, point of view.

[jimmyev]

Originally Posted by AJNEOA

Stossel's an idiot, which is another reason I don't watch tv. Ratings outweigh quality content.

And a very, very lazy journalist. I don't think he can even bother to Google anything.

Originally Posted by JayCT

Quite frankly "what is wrong with people owning a little piece of land and a house with a couple of rooms and a decent bath?" These are the words uttered by Jimmy Stewart in Its a Wonderful Life. It was not that long ago that the majority of the population lived in small cold water apartments. If it wasn't for suburban sprawl we would not have the level of homeownership we do today. I am not saying growth should go unchecked or unplanned but there should be the ability to build available to everyone. Jay

No. They lived on farms. Those would be quite spacious. But the water might be cold.

[wburg]

What's wrong with people owning a little piece of land and a house with a couple of rooms and a bath? When you multiply that little piece of land by millions and millions and millions. Nobody is talking about sending everyone back to cold water flats--but there have been some unexpected problems with the "little piece of land" idea, such as the energy use and tax subsidy needed to make them practical.

[KC6ZLV]

Yeah, well I'm looking for a little house on a little piece of land because I'm finding it very hard to grow oranges, tomatoes, peaches, nectarines and a long list of other things I like.