How will we fit 15 more Seattles here?

Seattle Post Intelligencer ^ | February 19, 2009 | Joel Connelly

[Lorianne]

IF YOU LOOK at projections for the Pacific Northwest, through the 21st century, a population equivalent to 15 Seattles will move into this "livable" corner of the planet.

"We have one last chance to get this right," says Gene Duvernoy, president of the Cascade Land Conservancy.

What is "right?" The answer -- strike a balance that preserves what makes us "livable."

According to a recent Pew Research poll, spaces and cities of the West exert a powerful draw on Americans. Denver, Seattle and San Diego topped the list of where folks would like to move.

So as not to wreck the West, however, an expanding population must live largely within its present footprint. We can't bulldoze rural land forever, while burning ever more gasoline to get to work.

But nobody dictates to Americans. We get our backs up when told to "do what's good for you."

The marketplace is where efforts to channel growth will succeed or fail.

Washington voters have set parameters. They rejected a "Big Green" initiative as too bossy and intrusive in peoples' lives. A similar measure, favored in pre-election polls, tanked in California.

Since then, however, the Evergreen State has beaten efforts to eviscerate the state Growth Management Act.

[RainMan]

WA Ping

[thecabal]

Oh God, shoot me now. A bunch of the libtards who unwittingly wrecked their states will now be fleeing here. And the socialists in our local governments are salivating over the chance to cram us all into their little sardine tin housing. Screw “urban planning” and all of the other commie crap. And BTW...anything thinking of moving to Oregon, it sucks here real bad.

[nickcarraway]

If the population is declining, how can so many people be going to Washington?

[glorgau]

NIMBY - I’ve got mine, but you getting yours would be damaging to the environment.

[Skenderbej]

I thought WA was going to be in the ocean when the polar caps melt due to global warming. Oh well, at least when the polar bears migrate south they’ll find plenty of people to eat.

[j_tull]

A bunch of the libtards who unwittingly wrecked their states will now be fleeing here.

Like a bunch of libtards aren't already well entrenched there. I lived there but left in time to save my heart from the 2004 gubernatorial election. Don't think I would have survived it.

[rickomatic]

Let me translate the gist of the article.

Snobby socks and sandle wearing Seattleites who vote Baghdad Jim McDermott back into office with 90% of the vote over and over again, don't want anyone living outside the city limits doing anything that might offend their sense of "greeness" and superiority. This includes, but is not limited to: using your own rural land for any use that they don't approve of (such as raising cattle, building a home larger than they see as fitting, cutting down trees, driving anything larger than a Prius)or engaging in any outdoor activity other than their approved activities such as hiking (in the above mentioned socks and sandles), cross country skiing, bicycling on narrow rural roads not allowing anyone to pass your group while wearing spandex, or harassing hunters.
Stated another way. "Your land is their land"

[dila813]

He forgot to meantion the magnet of crime around light rail.

We in Portland know, where light rail goes, crime follows.

[Uncle Miltie]

I think I grew up in Washington State when it had 2 million citizens.

Now I think King County has 3 million.

Thank goodness I’m long gone from there. Too crowded, too liberal, too wet.

Southern Oregon is very nice, thank you very much!

[Freedom4US]

I was stationed in Wa. St., and bet it was (once) among best states, ever.

[sergeantdave]

There are more dogs in Seattle than children. Give it time and the dogs will pack, revert to their ancestral atavistic savagery and eat everyone. Someone needs to paint a big sign: Welcome Hippies! Darwin at work.

[sionnsar]

Thanks to RainMan for the ping.

Say WA? Evergreen State ping

Quick link: WA State Board

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.

Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.

[Stentor]

We in Portland know, where light rail goes, crime follows.

Regional transportation is a death sentence for close in suburbs. The other shoe of mandated federal housing is about to drop.