VOLUME 5, NUMBER 13 - NOVEMBER 10, 2000

BEWARE: REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEES

The Chamber states: "This meeting will enable the region and communities to develop issues, determine needs, establish policies, build solutions, foster cooperation and provide education on local, state and federal programs and resources to help meet community needs."

Blount County officials were elected to govern the county. Not one commissioner was present at this meeting. Since they are the individuals the people elected to "establish policies" it is also their responsibility to "develop issues, determine needs, establish policies, build solutions, foster cooperation....". If the elected representatives fail in their efforts to comply with the desires of the voters, the ballot box serves as a corrective measure.

The hired or appointed employees of the regional planning commissions do not answer to the voter! They are not elected! If a plan recommended by the planning commission is adopted and turns out to be a disaster the government will use that as an excuse to deflect criticism by saying "its their plan - we're not responsible."

The planning commission is not listening to the voters. As the Chamber has pointed out, tasks included in the development of the plan include: summarize and develop recommendations for discussion in regional meetings; utilize a public input process and; identify stakeholder groups that may have input.

A maximum of 50 people attended the Oct 24 meeting in Oneonta. Does the Chamber consider this a sufficient number of people to qualify for public input for a county of thousands? It is through the process of public meetings held by local elected officials that members of the public are supposed to express their wishes. Next the Chamber wants to identify "stakeholders"? This word is normally used to identify a person or group that has a "stake" or an interest in your property. A definition the Chamber is not likely to spell out. The ballot box is where the voter makes known his decision. Fifty people meeting for a two hour session cannot possibly speak for Blount County.

After a brief presentation the meeting's primary facilitator fielded questions from the audience. The discussion went something like this:

Q: Is this meeting related to the June 1 and June 2 meetings hosted by the East Alabama Region Planning Commission and Jacksonville State University, in which Smart Growth and Sustainable Development was the topics under discussion?

A: Yes, this meeting is a direct result of the State's Planning Commission efforts to begin a state wide Smart Growth program under the Sustainable Development banner. Smart growth does not mean no growth nor slow growth, it means planned growth.

Smart Growth is, according to the EPA as published in the Federal Register, one of many implementing tools of the United Nations Agenda 21 program. Sustainable Development is defined by the United Nations as "meeting the needs of the present generation without jeopardizing future generations ability to utilize those same resources." The facilitator did not quote this most commonly accepted definition of Sustainable Development.

Q: Will this local part of the state-wide plan be voted on by the residents of Blount County or the elected officials of the county?

A: No, this meeting as well as other meetings being held across a six county area is part of a statewide plan which will be submitted to the governor in March of next year.

These meetings fulfill two main objectives: 1. To make those attending believe they are having some input and; 2. to allow the Planning organizations to claim they have heard from the people and, therefore, speak with authority.

Q: Who are you and what is your job? (this question was asked in several forms over the course of the evening)

A: I am a professional planner employed by the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham.

When fully understood this answer should scare the living daylights out of all Alabamians. Sustainable Development includes three aspects: 1. social; 2. environmental, and; 3. economic. The facilitator made this comment several times during the course of the meeting. What part of your life is not effected by these three areas? Social: what we think and who we socialize with. Environmental: from how much toilet paper we use to every other aspect of our interaction with the world around us. Economic: what we earn and what we spend. A sustainable indicator for the five county area around Charlottesville, Virginia calls for the United Nations economic system to be incorporated. The UN economic system attempts to balance one's lifestyle to ensure it falls within the norm established by the planners. A discussion of this system may be forthcoming in a future newsletter.

Professional planning was clearly understood by the generation that fought WWII. Of course, at that time it was called "Fascism." Under this system you get to keep your property and you continue to pay the taxes, you just have to abide by every rule and regulation that each layer of government can think up. Our society has reached the point where individuals calling themselves "Professional Planners" believe they have the moral and ethical high ground from which to plan the lives of every one -- truly a chilling realization.

Q: In order to properly utilize the resources in any given area, proper infidel density must be attained. This has been accomplished in other parts of the country through urban growth boundaries. Have the density levels and boundaries already been proposed?

A: No, that is why we are here, to hear your input so we can layout the plan.

Proper infidel density is understood by the planners to mean the number of persons per square foot of land, (ecosystem carrying capacity, you can find this phrase defined in the 1999 World Book or Britannic encyclopedias). Governor Glendenning of Maryland has stated that the least allowable population density under their state wide Smart Growth plan is three and one half families per acre of land. The sustainable development program for Seattle calls for in some location as many as 14 families per acre. The Birmingham News recently ran a front page article which quoted a professional planner [paraphrasing] the planner stated, that the density of the US 280 corridor was not high enough, a higher concentration of population would be required if the area is be declared "Sustainable". The meeting facilitator acknowledged that a proper density would include an appropriate number of young and old people, proper racial mix, proper mix of rich and poor.

Q: Would or could grant money from foundations/government/non-governmental organizations be used to entice the proper mix in density? And could zonings that restrict the use of resources be used to help move people into the desired population zone?

A: Yes

Q: Are one stop centers included in the proposed plans? Would you explain what they are?

A: One stop centers are where all services of various departments of the government are located. For instance all the services for the aged would be housed under one roof.

His answer while correct does not convey the true picture. Education one stop centers are being established across the country. Jefferson State Technical College is a declared one stop center for the Jefferson County Population Zone. The local Chamber of Commerce has agreed to be the liaison between the center and business. Each business in the Zone will be asked two questions: 1. What are their needs for new employees. and 2. Are they following any of the established sustainable best management practices? Companies not adhering to the "best management practices" will not be allowed to hire the 16 year old that receives the highest score from the governments school system. The 16 year old child having been followed since birth by government appointed child care providers/advocates will receive his/her certificate of initial mastery (not a diploma), and be assigned lifelong employment. The intent of this system is to utilized all resources, human and non-human, in a manner declared efficient by the government.

This is your "Goals 2000" and your "School to Work" acts foisted on you by the UN with the help of your Congressional Representatives.

Fairfield High School has been torn down and a new school has replaced it. The new school is Fairfield High Preparatory School.

Q: In other parts of the country where urban growth boundaries have been established the value of the land outside of the boundary has nose-dived, is this true?

A: Not right away.

The audience found this answer rather funny. It is true that the value land on the outside of the boundary will fall and the land value on the inside of the boundary will rise. The latter will raise the subsidy for low income families. The amount of raise will match the escalating rent and associated cost. Those dealing in real estate who have inside information are rewarded with handsome profits. But what about the landowner outside of the boundary? Well, big brother always has a new idea, in this case he has two.

First is TDRs (transferable development rights). As expansion in the population center increases a need for new housing is created. The landowner on the inside applies to the local/state/federal/appointed/stakeholder/ngo-government for a permit to expand his apartment complex. The local/state/federal/appointed/stakeholder/ngo-government assess the permit at a value that will, after cuts, pay the landowner outside the boundary the amount of money that the local/state/federal/appointed/stakeholder/ngo-government deems he is due.

Second PDR (purchase development rights). The local/state/federal/appointed/stakeholder/ngo-government pays what ever it thinks your development rights are worth.

Of course, as has been stated before, the land owner still retains title and continues to pay taxes -- "Fascism," or as Bill Clinton would call it, the "Third Way."

Sustainable Development is being pushed by three entities in the State of Alabama.

1.Alabama Association of Regional Councils - Plan to be submitted in March of next year.

2.Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and

3.The Alabama Commission on Environmental Initiatives -- Plan to be submitted before the next legislative session.

Which plan will be used is unknown. It could be a combination of two or of all three. One thing is certain the United Nations plan of action is not being implemented by foreign troops. Troops are unnecessary when useful idiots are in office and the voters are so pride-full that they will not see the hand writing on the wall.

The area outlined on the above map represents the 6-county area now under consideration as a "region" for regional planning purposes. Once a planning commission is established and given authority to plan for the region, individual "elected" governments will be out of the loop and essentially powerless to resist the plan presented.