In this edition:
1. More debate on local governments’ global warming policies
2. The Garner city council prevents homebuilder from building "affordable" housing
3. Not so high-speed rail transit in North Carolina
More debate on local governments’ global warming policies
My Local Government Update last week stirred the pot. Apex councilman Bill Jensen took exception to my comments about the futility of cities and counties adopting global warming resolutions and policies. I received a kind note from Councilman Jensen and a copy of his resolution.
The "Whereas" statements in his resolution are not facts. They are contested by current scientific or economic research and the second one contains a serious factual error. Here is my analysis of all of his "Whereas" statements.
Garner city council prevents homebuilder from building "affordable" housing
Why do some elected officials believe that they are qualified and have the right to dictate to entrepreneurs who are risking their own money providing goods and services to willing customers? Garner is the latest example. Recently, a Garner homebuilder submitted a request to reduce the amount of brick on the front of his homes in order to make them more affordable in the currently depressed housing market. The city council said no.
Since they have no financial stake in the project, what do they care if the builder goes out of business, if the workers remain unemployed and willing buyers are not allowed to purchase homes they can afford?
Not So High-Speed Rail Transit in North Carolina
My high-speed rail op-ed in The News & Observer aroused the wrath of Patrick Simmons, director of the Rail Division of the NCDOT. I always welcome a little debate because it benefits the general public by providing more information on which they can base their judgments.
Even though he does not mention me by name, I responded to his comments on my op-ed at this post on The Locker Room. The most important point is that trains that average 55 to 75 mph are not high-speed. The Federal Railroad Administration classifies the trains that will run in North Carolina as "moderate-speed."
