A Case Of Selective Enforcement?

You may have seen the articles recently on the bikini clad coffee barristas in Bellevue Washington. This article, Bellevue bikini espresso stand told to close its drive-thru, provides some fairly serious issues - whether you support the businesses means of attracting customers or not.

A few of the more choice, anti-business quotes:

"Bellevue Deputy Mayor Claudia Balducci said during Monday's city council meeting that residents should shame Knotty Bodies customers by taking photos of the patrons and posting them on the Internet."

"Balducci also said residents should boycott the Chevron gas station where the espresso stand is located."

"The city council asked city staff to find ways of "aggressively" enforcing codes that pertain to Knotty Bodies. The council also asked staff to research further regulations that could restrict such businesses in the future."

First thing that comes to mind is that the city should always be aggressively enforcing its code. The comments suggest that they do not. If they do not, then a civil rights challenge may be hanging out there for the city.

But of even greater concern is that the city is encouraging people to boycott a business they do not like AND to try to embarrass people just for buying a cup of joe. It sounds like a city out of control.

Green Lawns and Water Quality

Recently I was charged with researching whether towns could regulate the use of fertilizer on lawns. It turns out that in Massachusetts has a law on the books, from way back, that prohibits anyone other than the state from regulating fertilizer and specifically the ingredients in fertilizer. Massachusetts is in the process of studying whether it makes sense to change how it regulates fertilizer.

The State of Maine is way ahead of us. Recognizing that its clean water ways are a vital part of its economy, especially its tourist economy, the state has taken steps the change how it restricts the use of fertilizer. They are now restricting the sale of phosphorous based fertilizers for lawn application.

This past summer many lakes on Cape Cod were impacted by high levels of algae. While direct links have not been identified, the blooms are considered to be tied to run-off related to the heavy storms this past spring. This run-off contained many sources of contamination, but lawn fertilizers were probably a significant player in the equation.

Maine's lead is definitely a direction Massachusetts should follow. For more information on Maine's program go here: Lawns Green Water Clean

Maine has also posted a partial list of phosphorous free fertilizers (available in Maine hopefully available in Massachusetts as well): P Free Fertilizers

Green Spaces

Saw this article, Parks, Green Spaces Protect Your Health, it provides a rather interesting perspective. We have been working for some time on promoting new village style developments (we meaning much of the planning community) as "Smart Growth." The article clearly points out the need to maintain a balance as we plan these areas. We cannot forget the need for parks in this planning. The analysis cited suggests a rather wide area, one-half mile, can serve this green space need. Other studies have supported the benefit of seeing trees from a persons window (thus the Million Tree effort in NYC). I think these green areas should be much closer to where we live and work. Such close proximity can provide significant calming benefits.

Basically, the article reminds us all of the importance of green areas and that we should not only be thinking of density as we think of smart growth. Those open areas are so important.

And Occasionally We Still Have The Good Corporate Citizen

In my previous post I commented on Pfizer pulling out of New London after the city went to the mat to provide the company with everything they could have hoped for. I commented on the concept of many corporations not being good corporate citizens and making a commitment to their communities.

HOWEVER, it is always thrilling to see that some entities recognize what the spirit of community means. Hats off to Sterilite for all it has done for the Town of Townsend! Hopefully others will follow such an example.

A grand gift to the town from the man you can’t see

Kelo Redux

These articles crossed my desk this week.

Pfizer's Leaving – But New London Opportunities Remain

Pfizer to Leave City That Won Land-Use Case

A Turning Point for Eminent Domain?

Given all the hoopla that was stirred up when Kelo V. New London first happened, I am surprised there has not been more about this occurrence. Unfortunately for New London, and perhaps equally unfortunate for anyone in the economic development field, Pfizer's decision to pull out of New London casts a dark shadow over the eminent domain discussion.

As the "Turning Point" discussion points out, the Kelo decision was not about Pfizer. It was about the extent to which a community could pursue eminent domain proceedings to better a community. However, the Pfizer move is clearly an example of how tenuous economic development can be. Long ago the idea of corporate responsibility to a community started to lag and disappear. Corporate tax breaks and land deals have promoted a footloose and fancy free approach for most corporations that are driven more by a bottom line than being good economic citizens in a community. This example only tends to reinforce that notion.

A Few Choice Quotes From The NY Times

The NY Times had an interesting article/opinion piece today, Home Builders (You Heard That Right) Get a Gift. The article deals with a new tax relief program that provides benefit home builders. That, however, is not the focus of my interest. Back several months ago I was comenting on several articles in the Boston Globe related to housing. Those articles were blaming the state's economic crisis on inadequate home building and suggesting we would be better off being more like Florida or California. Here are the quotes:

"Among the biggest beneficiaries are home builders, analysts say. Once again, at the front of the government assistance line, stand some of the very companies that contributed mightily to the credit crisis by building and financing too many homes. "

"But dropping helicopter money on the home builders — the folks who massively overbuilt in community after community — seems decidedly less urgent (unless you are one of these companies, of course). Given that the supply of housing far outstrips demand, it is unlikely that these companies will use these tax breaks to hire workers (unless they go into a completely new line of business)."

Hopefully those who believe the lower levels of housing constuction in Massachusetts will soon understand that balancing supply and demand is more appropriate than hoping "if you build it they will they will come."