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ZONED

                                              June 26, 2006

  The zoning regulations push out
  distances between destinations,
  making public transit difficult
  and foot traffic impossible, so
  you *have* to drive, don't you?
  And the only "real places" left
  are the ones grandfathered in
  before those zoning regs, so there's
  a *shortage* of places like that,
  so prices get bid up, and people
  feel like the only "affordable"
  place to be is out in the diffuse
  swirl of the zoned outlands...

    There was at least a touch of
    racism in that first push                     post-war:
    outwards post-war / post-car,                 meaning after WWII.

    Xenophobia flourishes                         post-car:
    amid the isolation.                           meaning after the
                                                  introduction of the
        They dwell in fear                        car.
        of the cities, the
        diverse range of                               I bet you knew
        people: it must be                             that.  You know
        so dangerous!                                  how many people
                                                       don't?
        And it's so dirty
        and smelly!                                    I have learned
                                                       much from the
           Better to live in                           net.
           boxes and cages...

               The lack of exercise
               creates health problems;
               lifespans are measurably
               shorter out in suburbia;
               but still the reputation
               of the "dangerous cities"
               persists.



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