The Fallacy Of Growth

Relentless growth is destroying Washington. The popular belief that "growth pays for growth" has been proven wrong.

1 minute read

July 22, 2002, 6:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


For decades development pitchmen have tried to brainwash us into believing that increasing populations, more taxpayers, strip malls and big box stores paying minimum wages, will cause our tax bills to go down. "Growth pays for growth," is their mantra... Victims of the growth industry unwittingly subsidize the destruction of their own neighborhoods and pay for the privilege in property taxes driven ever higher by the costs of roads, water and sewer systems, police and fire services, libraries, city halls and schools to accommodate newcomers. Local officials, policy makers, and taxpayers have known all this, deep in their brains, for decades. It's time they accept those truths."

Thanks to Laura Kranz

Sunday, July 21, 2002 in The Seattle Times

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