Making the Case for Sprawl

Christopher Mims reports on L. Brooks Patterson, county executive of Oakland County, Michigan, who is perhaps the country's most vocal advocate of sprawl.

1 minute read

February 17, 2012, 8:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj

Mims quotes a number of rich passages from an essay that Patterson, whom Grist calls the "World's Worst Elected Official", posted to the Oakland County website.

Below is one of the choicest quotes, of which there's an abundance:

"To Patterson, sprawl is an issue of freedom. 'Let's stop the hysteria and honestly ask ourselves what is sprawl? 'Sprawl' is the unfortunate pejorative title government planners give to economic development that takes place in areas they can't control. In reality, 'sprawl' is new houses, new school buildings, new plants, and new office and retail facilities. 'Sprawl' is new jobs, new hope and the fulfillment of lifelong dreams. It's the American Dream unfolding before your eyes.'"

FULL STORY: World’s worst elected official makes the case for sprawl

Thursday, February 16, 2012 in Grist

Government / Politics Michigan Sprawl Oakland County

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