Spend Transportation Taxes on Real Transportation Problem

Here’s a novel idea: how about if we start spending our transportation tax dollars on projects that will actually improve transportation in the Madison area? Although that seems like an obvious statement, it’s not happening.

 

Attend The 2007 Preserving the American Dream Conference

The 2007 Preserving the American Dream conference will visit San Jose in November to explore the region and assess whether there is any hope for cities that have adopted such misguided policies.

 

Helicopter Transit versus Rail Transit for Dane County

If Transport 2020 really wants to carry a few additional passengers they should forget about trains and look to the future.  For the same, or less, money they could have a highway in the sky.

 

Rail Transit: Wasting Millions to Increase congestion

Dane County’s Transport 2020 is starting their next phase of wasting money for a rail system.  According to their own report, the system will waste millions and only increase the congestion in Madison.

 

Restrictive Land-Use Rules Add Billions to Housing Costs

A Housing shortages caused by restrictive land-use laws have added tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of buying homes in Wisconsin, says a new report from Stop “Smart Growth” and the American Dream Coalition. The report estimates that planning added $18,000 to $22,000 to the cost of median homes in Madison, Milwaukee, and Kenosha. The report notes that these estimates are conservative and the real numbers could be 25 percent more.

 

“Rail Disasters 2005” Updates Rail Transit Waste

Randal O’Toole, an economist with the American Dream Coalition and author of the book The Vanishing Automobile and Other Urban Myths, has updated his report Great Rail Disasters.

 

 

 “Smart Growth” represents a movement that will eventually change the lifestyle of every American.  It will end forever the American Dream of home ownership.  Your children will not have the luxury of owning a single-family home with a nice yard to play in, with their children.  Instead, they will be herded into high-density urban communities and economically forced to use mass transit.

 

      

Before “Smart Growth”                                     After “Smart Growth”  more info…

 

However, it will be even worse for their children.  If the Sierra Club gets its way, urban densities will be increased to 100 families per acre.  At that density, the population of the world would fit into the state of Virginia.  Long before that density is reached however, the last single-family home would have long been replaced by another high rise, and the last piece of privately owned property would have fallen into the hands of the government.

 

“Smart Growth” will remove individual and community property rights, force people to live in sardine can neighborhoods, and threatens the American Dream.  Wisconsin’s “Comprehensive Planning Law” is costing small communities tens of thousands of dollars to create an unnecessary plan that must meet the state’s definition of what is “smart” growth.  All of this is justified in pursuit of solutions to make-believe problems, and actually increases existing problems.

 

It is important to realize that “Smart Growth” is not the same as intelligently planned urban growth.  While we agree with urban planning and citizen involvement, “Smart Growth” is much more than that.  Stop “Smart Growth” is dedicated to stopping this madness. We’re working with citizens and communities to repeal Wisconsin’s “Smart Growth” law, and much more.  Below is a list of issues that “Smart Growth” affects, please read through these pages and see how “Smart Growth” WILL affect you.

 

                   What is “Smart Growth”                                What is “Urban Sprawl”

 

                   Property Rights                                                 Housing Affordability

 

                   Wisconsin’s “Smart Growth” Law                Land Issues

 

                   Mass Transit and Transportation                   Portland, Oregon

 

Just as there are many issues related to the “Smart Growth” movement, there are also many ways they can effect your life, some that are not so obvious.  We wrote these articles in an effort to help explain these issues and some of the ways they could effect you, and your children’s future

 

Recent “Smart Growth” Articles – 2/23/06

 

JFC Votes to Repeal the “Smart Growth” Law

 

Supreme Court Upholds Corporate Takeover of U.S.

 

Another Urban Legend: Success of “Smart Growth”

 

Rail Transit Not Good for Riders or Taxpayers

 

Kickapoo Town Residents Kill “Smart Growth”

 

Rail Transit Not About Congestion or Choice

 

Take A “Smart Growth” Quiz

 

More Articles…

 

 

Who Are My Legislators?

 

One of the big ways that “Smart Growth” will affect you and/or your children is in housing.  “Smart Growth” laws will make housing much less affordable for everyone, especially the first time buyers.  Just as important, what will that housing be like?  Below are pictures of two city neighborhoods in Dane county.  One is a conventional neighborhood, the same kind that has been developed since the sixties.  The other is a “Traditional Neighborhood Design”, which is the “Smart Growth” way of building high density neighborhoods.  Which would you prefer to live in:

 

                

 

                                      Click here for more comparison picture

 

 

Please help in this effort by joining our organization, donating to the cause, or any of the other ways you can help.

 

Thanks for visiting our site, please send comments to comments@stopsmartgrowth.org