Post by Jack MayPost by WilliamThere was a recent article in the New York Times about a suburb's
proteste to it's developers that they don't want sidewalks because
they quote "Bring in Crime". I for one think this is complete bullshit
made up from a upper class white man who wants to be isolated from any
social contact especially when he's grilling on the nice freshly cut
green front yard. Then again that is the definition of a suburb isn't
it?
The research says there is high social contact in the suburbs, more than in
the cities. So it is not the definition of a suburb
First off, there are some major problems with your logic. People
grill on their nice, freshly cut green BACK yards, not their nice,
freshly cut green FRONT yards. Anyone who has a nice, freshly cut
green front yard also has deed restrictions that prevent one from
grilling said yard.
Second, you grill in the kitchen. You barbecue in the nice, freshly
cut green back yard. Unless you are down south, where barbecue is a
noun, not a verb.
Finally, you think it is BS that sidewalks bring in crime and that
people want them to encourage isolation. First off, what's wrong with
isolation? Many people, when they return home, just want to throw a
dinner in the microwave and watch Wheel of Fortune. If that's what
the person wants, so be it. This is still America. Next, you way
that people want to get rid of sidewalks because it encourages
isolation and that it does not contribute to crime. Using your
reasoning, if getting rid of sidewalks leads to isolation, having
sidewalks encourages socialization. But if you have more people
walking up and down your street, that leads to more opportunities for
crime to occur. So it may actually discourage crime AND add to
isolation, which are both positive outcomes from the perspective of
the people living in the houses.