In response to Nick and Carol Burger and anyone else harboring conspiracy theories regarding Smart Growth America, such claims are about as far from truth as one can get. To suggest that those who volunteer their time and effort toward a better community are unwittingly supporting an attempt to undermine local decision making is an insult, and deserves an apology.
As a board member of the National Bicycle Dealers Association, the Bikes Belong Coalition, the Minnesota State Bicycle Advisory Board, the League of American Bicyclists, and the One Street Coalition, I have worked with advocates of every political stripe and have never heard anyone question the motives of Smart Growth America or Complete Streets.
These organizations work to improve community-based transportation and make life more livable in the local community. There is no other agenda, with the sole exception of a traumatized right-wing conspiracy nut named Ileana Paugh. Paugh has a very dark view of reality, and it is she who seeks to undermine local initiative and local control of our efforts. Instead of supporting our ability to control our own direction, she would deny us even the discussion of programs that have potentially strong benefits to the local community. Just how does Paugh know better than local volunteers?
She offers no evidence, no source attribution, nothing but her distorted opinion.
I have concerns over additional government oversight, whether local, regional or national, and resist burdening local citizens with invasive regulations and mandates, but I also continually search for a better and stronger community and the ways to achieve that goal.
Every organization I am working with consists of hard-working, involved community members. Instead of being hypercritical of their efforts I suggest becoming a part of these volunteer committees. You can raise your concerns within the group and we can investigate collectively. All of these organizations strive for transparency there are no conspiracies involved.
It is sad that we missed an exceptional opportunity with the Complete Streets workshop. Many of us still attend webinars and learn individually, but the opportunity to share the learning experience as group is sorely missed. I hope for another opportunity in the near future.
Jerry Hiniker
Grand Marais
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