— from Howard Barbour —
There can be no argument that we live in one of America’s most celebrated beauty spots, and that we may be heard to congratulate ourselves on our good fortune.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The list of those who have much to offer our community, but can’t afford to live here, is extensive and growing.[/perfectpullquote]
Unfortunately the secret is out, and there has been, in the last twenty years or so, an almost meteoric rise in property values. There are residents who made it “under the wire” before this rise, or whose income is sufficient to meet current property prices. We enjoy life on the ultimate “gated community” that our islands have become, surrounded as we are by a 200-foot deep moat.
But, there are those among us who now find themselves unable to buy or rent affordable accommodation. Many have the skills and provide the services we depend upon every day, in education, law enforcement, fire and emergency services, retail shops, healthcare, home construction and maintenance, and more. The list of those who have much to offer our community, but can’t afford to live here, is extensive and growing.
There are of course many scenic, recreational hot spots around the country that find themselves similarly challenged, but few of them are on islands, and most of them have affordable bedroom communities within reach.
The “YES for Homes” measure will be on your ballots in November. I encourage you to consider how our community will deal with the housing problem I have described, and urge you to vote yes on the measure.
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Thanks, Howard. You lay the big problem out so clearly and elegantly. WE who live here must lead the way to help solve it, for the well-being of the whole community including those who may NOT seem at immediate financial risk.
Observations within the context of this subject.
A lot are silent for fear of having their meaning misunderstood. A lot are neither anti-social nor anti-common sense. But a lot are clear that they are here on a fairly isolated, small island with a clear understanding of “why.”
It starts with “lesser density”—and it’s the lesser density that’s critical to finding a much less-interventionist method of living—because many of the prescriptions and social experiments on the mainland are based on “forced” and “contorted logic” which, ironically, their default, involuntary policies precipitated.
Many of their prescriptions and social experiments are based on detached ideas, not honest assessments about what human beings need for peaceful and healthy co-existence…. an existence that respects the underlying ecology of the natural habitat—the very foundation for the rich soil we till, the fresh water we drink and the clean air we breath.
In fact, many if not most mainland prescriptions for human cohabitation have created unsustainable living conditions unrelated to “class,” but unsustainable for reasons of health, welfare and peace of mind, on the human side of the equation, and for our ecology, wildlife and necessary open spaces, on the non-human side of the “existence” equation.
Are we supposed to suspend common sense and a reality-based assessment regarding our honed and thoughtful powers of judgment and discernment because the larger society can’t get its act (or policies) together regarding population growth, over-crowding and then consequently its many “invented” needs to justify the development of unhealthy and unsustainable mainland habitats?
A more non-interventionist prescription can afford many positive, intelligent and reality-based results that will greatly increase not just “IF” we survive, but “HOW” we survive.
Do we want to mimic and import every creature comfort on the mainland to Orcas Island even when many were forced onto them slowly and over time, and which directly caused that which makes their footprint so unbearable and unsustainable?
What starts out as reasonable-enough sounding mainland policy talk will, if we’re not careful, end in mainland policy failure (but here on Orcas this time).
Use your powers of discernment and see more than just the disconnected and discrete issues being brought before you “one at a time”— a la carte. See rather the accumulated effect and direction —see the whole meal you didn’t know you ordered…(before it arrives).
Then, extrapolate.
Think back to prior social policy discussions here on the island and in this OI and ask yourself do you not see an accumulation of effort and vision designed to bring the mainland to this small island?
Resist any “one” issue and you may appear heartless or insensitive; or, god forbid, without the requisite amount of compassion per the diktat of the day.
But see the larger direction, the ensuing failure being imported slowly but surely and the thoughtless results and havoc this direction will have on the fragile ecosystem of this small island, the intentional undermining of its less dense and better balanced (and more successful per nature) prescription and footprint; and then ask yourselves:
Who or what policy is truly thoughtful, compassionate, less forced, and wiser in how it cherishes a good dose of “benign neglect”—one of the oft-overlooked secret ingredients for peacefully stewarding this planet and our small little island towards sustainability?
Balance, depending on which factors you do or do not include, can result in an “ironic” downward spiral towards unsustainability, or it can protect and nourish what now exists here on Orcas for continued success into the future.
Chris, Bravo!
I stand with Chris and Carl. Chris said things with taste and care. I’ll be more blunt.
Sure, people who can’t afford them, need homes – AND -until we address the underlying systemic mindset that allows economic disparity, overpopulating a place and using up all its resources; this is putting a band-aid on what needs a tourniquet. Until we address following the money and slowing the grinding wheel of the tourist industry and runaway development-for-profit, this Place we love will keep being seen as the Golden Goose of GimmeGimme, while the spindoctors do nothing toward loving it, feeding it, or caring for it.
We will destroy this place and ourselves with this mindset. The most unfortunate part of this, to me, is what else we are killing in the process.
The problem is not in not building enough homes for the lesser-income people. The problem is a mindset that allows runaway growth, and the pillage-for-dollars going on here that perpetuates class struggle and the take-and-take, and destroys our ecosystems in the process.
Let’s at least be honest with ourselves about the real agenda here; this all sounds great – throw a few crumbs from the banquet to the beggars – while meanwhile, forests fall, waters are fouled, and everyone loses but a few people; this will not solve the problem because it doesn’t challenge the mindset or system that created it.
Will the Cris, Carl and Sadies of the Islands vote No for Homes, because they accurately and thoughtfully describe the “real issues”? I hope not. Did they vote No for the formation of our Hospital District because it might promote bigger and better medical services, which would allure more people here, which would promote construction, which would…? I hope not. Did they vote No for the school bond/levy because the improvements would attract more people to the island? I hope not.
As we’ve often said, our islands are a microcosm of the larger world; we see and feel cause and effect more keenly, and are sometimes able to act more quickly to “bandaid” the problem.
I agree wholeheartedly with your wonderfully expressed sentiments, Chris and Sadie. HOW do we achieve these ideals? Do you feel our efforts to Save the Orcas, eel grass, forage fish, salmon, healthy forests and don’t count? I would think not.
Give us a practical road map of how Orcas can resist/prevent the effects of world overpopulation, technical advancement and the the mindset of human supremacy. I’m listening.
Margot,
I truly appreciate the open posture and open mind; it’s a genuine starting point for a sincere conversation.
These are challenging times but one way to protect the delicate bio-diversity and island’s fragile ecosystem, which has been under attack (two steps forward, one back) via policies we adopt locally is to choose more wisely and less politically—this is about “science and survival” and not just of our species—after all, we’re the larger-brained stewards.
Let’s have that conversation bearing in mind that the outcome is not determined by a particular battle but the larger questions (the war against the very systems on which we all depend for life—not much choice here, really), and if we don’t conform our thoughts and desires (which are often not based on what’s realistic or, in other words, what’s in the best interest of human life), then we’re in serious trouble.
The local policies we support through our local votes make real differences on the local ground.
Orcas Island cannot be a panacea for what ails the larger society. We do not “have to” import those challenges to our small footprint; we have the choice to decide that we cannot solve these human-caused problems on the backs of the island’s limited means and delicate ecosystem.
The first and last reason why? Because we will fail and fail for everyone and all other life in our care.
Sometimes we can say no because it’s the most wise, compassionate and intelligent response.
It’s about defending our fragile system from a trend that is turning into an assault…all by human action and local human decision-making.
We do this to ourselves. It is not done to us. We do have choices.
It doesn’t seem balanced… it seems contrived. While we’re constantly distracted and focused upon whatever the symptom of the day may be greater powers are at work.
From the 8/01/17 Sounder SJC Public Notices (p-15)
“Destination Marketing Organization Request for Proposal– SJC is seeking proposals from entities interested in managing a locally-based, full time destination marketing organization (DMO). The contract award will be funded entirely from the proceeds of the portion of SJC’s Lodging Tax that is dedicated to the promotion of tourism.”
“For the purpose of this proposal, funding remains at approximately $350,000 per year, plus 35% of any promotional funds available in excess of $425,000.”
(I thought it noteworthy that in the Public Notice section in the 8/01/17 Sounder there were also the usual number of short-term vacation rental home applications posted (including, of interest, one that was submitted by one of our county officials).
And then in the following week’s paper,
From the 8/09/17 Sounder SJC Public Notices (p-15)
Request for Proposals for SJC 2018 Lodging Tax Facilities/Promotional Grant Program
“SJC has established a tourism facilities program, funded by a portion of the revenue collected under the State Lodging Tax excise statutes and is seeking proposals from qualified entities interested in 1) funding single project proposals concerned with acquiring, improving or developing facilities that enhance the tourism experience; and/or 2) matching grants for for operating tourism facilities that enhance tourism experience; and/or 3) matching grants for events that draw tourists and/or 4) projects that carry out the goals of the SJC LTAC Tourism Master Plan. The contract year will begin on Jan. 1, 2018. The expected outcome of the funded activities is to increase economic activity in SJC in 2018 and beyond through the overnight lodging of tourists, through tourism related expenditures, and construction of tourist related facilities.”
The posting goes on to describe the matching grant criteria with one area being “Matching grants for Tourism events and Festivals designed to attract tourists,” and that, “The total available funding for 2018 Facilities grants will be approx. $925,767. Additional funds are available for Promotional grants, which serve to fund a Destination Marketing Organization as well as promotional events that draw tourists.”