"Trees
really?" asks yet another anonymous commenter.[1]
Missing the point about the need to work
with the ecosystems we have the commenter frantically assumes that preserving
the environmental mean that we must forget about creating "...hundreds of
[low paying service] jobs, increase property value [for those who live far
enough away and for the developer as well as giving] a struggling county a
boost". With evident lack of environmental literacy in hand the anonymous
commenter chooses an ad hominem
attack indicative of a barren argument writing that I "...have
entirely too much time on [my]hands."
The next quirky statement ("Why
don't you use that energy to bring more business to PG? ") shows accomplished
lack of any ability to do anything but mindlessly react as I indeed have been
writing speaking and working to save the 6
figure science research jobs of USDA-ARS BARC and NAL that this county has
been losing - some 200 super grade research jobs since this county began to
focus on malls instead of high pay 21st century work.[2]
I would wager that my hidden commenter has never brought Maryland's DBED to a
meeting in the county whereas I will be bringing together federal state and local
political stakeholder this week to discuss hi tech economic development in
Prince George's County which interestingly enough would involve the science of trees,
very important to the world but not to the narrowly focused resident commenter.
And it would involve more than trees; the research would involve everything you
eat and the health of your family, not just discount items that help make our daily
lives better.
The next statement shows that my commenter has
not read the footnotes or has no ability to provide substantive factual
information to support his or her position. I would guess that the commenter is
dealing with emotional opinions, the same kind that paralyzes our national political
conversation when it comes to science. The anonymous resident is of an opinion that "[r]esidents like me]
chase away big business because [I] fear change." I submit that it exactly
the narrow short sighted fixation on temporary
transient development that sends hi tech campus to woodland properties. The
high tech 21st century jobs do not want to place themselves in a forest of crumbling
infrastructure surrounded by service malls designed to last 10 years.
You live in a city the commenter
cries. And indeed I do but my city of Prince George's is blindly moving
backwards to a concrete desolate desert, while cities like Washington, D.C. and
Chicago trumpet urban forests working to "green" the infrastructure
and work to develop quality of live for as many as they cannot just a few.
Next in the diatribe of
ill-considered ranting comes a off-hand slight to another great State followed
by a complete lack of comprehension as to my personal and public position as to
the history
of Salubria. The record shows that I personally made the motion to remove
the historic setting making it possible to develop the property per the
existing zoning. None of my blogging has every stated that I thought the
property should remain an empty lot, none, not ever. When the county decided to
zone the property as it did the die was cast for this type of project. There
are those of course who feel differently as there are those such as my commenter
who at best find history a bother.[3]
. Anonymous resident sums up the odd
aggregation of splendidly convoluted opinion by strongly welcoming change which
of course is welcomed by every living creature for it is the essence of life. Cloaked
in his or her anonymity complete with grandiose rhetorical flourishes, resident
anonymous welcomes growth (implicitly externalizing
any costs onto someone else in this case our established under served communities).
Resident anonymous welcomes, with a quaint rustic sophistry, "...civilization;
welcomes ANYTHING that resembles class, cleanliness and sophistication in P.G.
It is of course the use of PG at the end of the resident's sentence that piqued
my curiosity for who does not know that the use of PG is a pejorative diminutive
used to keep this county down and out. Resident anonymous continues, "Peterson
Cos is the best thing to happen to this county." Superlatives are always a
sign of hidden bothersome factoids, but given the lack of vision I would agree
with the statement.
As to using my energy to combat
weeds my new anonymous friend has done no homework what so ever. I have written
over 300 articles on invasives species much of which is found at Invasive Notes. [4]
I am working with the Prince George's Community
College and federal agencies to develop work force curricula to prepare Prince
George's County residents for the jobs of tomorrow. PGCC is committed to be a
national leader in sustainability even if a few anonymous residents are looking
backwards to a past that never was. It is not about the tree as tree but how we
develop and grow in relationship to the world around us a world that provides
needed and necessary services that anonymous resident implicitly seems to take
for granted.
I surely agree that we need to
find away to re-use the property that anonymous mentions next with its chained
off buildings and failing development. On the other hand the wildly hysterical
final comment defies reply - " That mall is being built on prime real
estate between two major highways. Trees don't belong there, and it's about time
they put it to use." The inability
to have a conversation about ecosystem services and development must end.
Chicago can grow and thrive with ecosystem services front and center, Washington
dc works hard to find collaboration between shopping needs and environmental enhancement.
Montgomery county tries to build a science city in partnership with Johns
Hopkins and we fall over ourselves in ecstasy about a discount mall. Why can't Prince
George's County dream large and demand better instead of settling for
yesterday?
[1] See
comment Prince George's County mauls its
way through its woodlands and forests http://princegeorgian.blogspot.com/2012/01/prince-georges-county-mauls-its-way.html
[2] Welcome
to the home of the National Agricultural Research Alliance - Beltsville: John
Peter Thompson, President http://www.nara-b.org/
The National Agricultural Research Alliance -
Beltsville, Inc. (NARA-B) was created to:
1. support the advancement of
agricultural, human nutrition and scientific research missions of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC),
located in Beltsville, Maryland, thereby securing the benefits of BARC research
for farmers, the general public, the nation and the environment;
2. support the acquisition
and preservation of agriculture and rural development information missions of
the National Agricultural Library located in Beltsville, Maryland, which houses
one of the world's largest and most accessible agricultural information
collections;
3. advocating in support of
BARC and its agricultural and horticultural activities before legislative,
executive, administrative and judicial bodies, and the public generally,
regarding the contributions to agricultural science, safe and healthful foods,
environmental quality, national security and other benefits of BARC, and
4. consistent with BARC's
mission, the maintenance and preservation of the natural and historic qualities
of BARC, including but not limited to, open space, watershet protection and
enhancement, clean air and water, and architecturally significant or historical
structures.
[3] Anonymous
resident
"And what is this
garbage about saving a vacant lot because it has historic value? Every empty
piece of land has history, and you want to save it because a slave child
murdered the innocent white children of a slave owner? I'm thrilled it will be
covered in concrete."
[4] www.ipetrus.blogspot.com
1 comment:
It’s all about perception, and my perception was that you don't want the mall there.
It’s funny how little you respect me and dismiss my words as insignificant, yet you must have spent at least an hour writing your own emotional response.
This county has not focused on malls. It has focused on strip malls and allowed anyone with a few bucks to open shop. This outlet mall is comparable in quality to many neighborhoods in Virginia, DC and Bethesda. Aesthetically, it will set a higher standard. Your comment that malls have a lifespan of 10 years is absurd.
There is a reason why property values are five times higher half a mile over the bridge. People in this county have no vision. They have no business sense. They have no standards or motivation or passion. Are they not ashamed that the crime rate is higher? Poorly maintained homes are evidence of a lack of respect and pride in one’s community. People should take note of Old Town, Bethesda, Cameron Station, Kingstowne, Clarendon and Dupont. The pride in those communities is evident. It’s also the government’s duty to have higher standards and hold us accountable.
Clean and safe malls, hotels, well-run business and office buildings draw people. People draw metro stations and better schools, nicer grocery stories, a better quality of life. This hotel and outlet mall, the only one of its kind in the DC area, conveniently placed off 495 right across the bridge from an affluent community, is the kick start this county needs. National Harbor is unfortunately gated and isolated. My hope is that this project won’t be. You saw the renderings; it’s no strip mall.
I don’t know the history of PG. I’m new to it, but I do know its reputation. I also talked to several long time residents who proudly admit to chasing away big business, because “we like things the way they are”. Apparently, their voices are the only ones being heard. Look at Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, U Street, Dupont, Georgetown, and Chinatown. Then look at us. We need to take note of what they’re doing right and we’re doing wrong.
I’m not interested in the meetings you’ve attended or articles you wrote. I’m interested in results. I support those who inspire growth and positive change - and a glimmer of hope is not the time to complain about trees and the environment, not when the county needs positive attention. I don't care about your footnotes, and I doubt many who read your blog do either. They may not even get past the headline. Perception is everything.
I don't see how citing my 'emotion' has any relevance. We are human. Emotion drives us. It is the essence of passion, which leads to action. Steve Jobs is a great example of what passion can do.
I’m not running for office, as it appears you are, with your reference to the articles you wrote and passive aggressive insults as if I’m your opponent. I don’t have the time or insecurites to proofread or write as eloquently as you, so do what you will with my words. It’s my opinion and I’m entitled to it.
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