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- To the editor:
Joe Herman’s attempt at a humorous editorial about the supposed silliness of Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs (January 2003) is objectionable on two fronts. First of all, unplanned and uninhibited residential development in rural areas is a very costly activity that is, itself, highly subsidized by all of us. The infrastructure required to support residential development all over the place is paid for by taxpayers and consumers in a thousand different ways, from low density police and fire protection, to rural traffic relief, to the inefficient ways, from low density police and fire protection, to rural traffic relief, to the inefficient transmission of electric utilities, to the harboring of destructive wildlife with no effective means of control.
No township has ever lowered taxes, or even lowered the rate of increase in taxes, by promoting unfettered residential development. Fortunately, more than a few people, urban and rural, recognize that our current “lifestyle” trend is going to collapse under its own weight. PDR is one effort to do something about it, equitably, and before it is too late. If Mr. Herman wants to develop his farm, go right ahead. Just don’t ask me to foot the bill for it.
For years, a common complaint among farmers has been that we have felt ignored by urban America. Now, at least, some urbanites are saying “we want you here, and we are willing to pay for some of the inequities you face in staying.” But Mr. Herman has a great time making fun of many, many people to build bridges of understanding between rural and urban folks, I hate to see this kind of drivel coming out of a farm publication. My only hope is that no one much read it. When Meijer, a Michigan company, proudly trumpets on television, that their produce (their apples, asparagus, cherries, blueberries, and on and on) all comes from Chile, perhaps “city people”, after reading Joe Herman’s piece, can be excused if they don’t really care.
- Tom Bloomer
Bur Oaks Farm
Ann Arbor, Mich.
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