Thursday, June 23, 2005
My Land is Your Land
I'm proud to be a home owner. Sure, you might not know it to look at the front yard, with some straggly weeds and a half-cut lawn, a gas can sitting next to the driveway and some empty plant pots piled up, but the feeling of knowing you have property, that you are part of a landed gentry, gives you a feeling of accomplishment and permanence. I have to resist the urge to puff up Tom Cruise style and emotively plant a red-flagged stake in the front yard yelling "This is my land!"
It's good thing the Supreme Court reminded me I'm not the King of my castle, but rather just a leasing serf. That's not my homestead - it's just generously on loan from my local town. You see, the Court ruled today that "Public Domain" not only allows a local city commission to buy private property for essential infrastructure like roads and airports, but also to turn around and resell to development corporations for shopping centers and malls. The economic value and tax revenue that could be generated by more urban sprawl is far more important to a community that homes and family. The Court has handed carte blanche to one of the wealthiest and influential sectors of American commerce to influence city commissions with money to get exactly what they want, when they want it.
Last week I heard rumor that a big parcel of land just outside of town has been bought by Target for a Supercenter. I was excited by the prospect of having a large retailer that close to our home, rather than having a 30-minute trek into Gainesville every time I needed a spatula. Now, however, I am increasingly thinking of the encroaching line of strip malls and fast-food chains that will accompany the slouching beast, and how long it will be until Newberry might really, really need a Starbuck's right where my castle currently stands.
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