Postrel on Suburbs

I was a little confused by Virginia Postrel’s Feb. 8 commentary defending sprawl. She seems to suggest that people want to work longer hours, spend less time with their families and more time in traffic. Then she characterizes Al Gore and anti-sprawl advocates as tyrants trying to “impose a static, uniform future” in a way that protects the environment, saves money and reduces traffic. Am I missing something?

Rather than trying to force people to do anything, critics of sprawl simply want to offer people the opportunity to live close to where they work, in safe communities where they know their neighbors. This opportunity can be provided by simply planning our cities a little more intelligently--planning that will save people money and improve the environment. No one will be forced to sell their 4,000-square-foot suburban home or their SUV, but those who can’t afford these luxuries or don’t see them as desirable will at least have an alternative.

Sprawl benefits only those who sell and develop land, yet it creates dysfunctional cities for millions and severely impacts the economy and the environment. Postrel can stick her head in the sand and ignore these issues, but she shouldn’t sling mud at those working to solve the problems.

DEAN KUBANI

Santa Monica

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I live in one of the suburbs Postrel defends. It is indeed spacious here and lonely, too. The nearest stores are two miles away, meaning I get in my car for the simplest of needs. Bus service is nearly as far away as the stores. Pedestrians at midday are so rare here they are looked at with suspicion. This type of lifestyle assures that the San Diego Freeway, which is not far from my home, is crowded throughout most of the day with myself and fellow suburbanites in primarily single-occupant vehicles. In my lovely, private back yard I can listen to the din of tires and smell exhaust.

This may be the American Dream, but I long for a more livable community to call home. The “smart growth,” “anti-sprawl” movement Postrel ridicules sounds pretty good to me.

KENT STRUMPELL

Los Angeles