Our family has now owned this beachfront cottage in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida for fifty years. The area has changed drastically during these years. It now has too many buildings and too many people served by too little infrastructure, especially roads. You wouldn't believe the traffic jams, especially during the tourist season which is getting longer each year.
Between this island and the mainland there is Estero Bay, which Jean and I love dearly and where we have fished for fifty years. The water quality of the bay and its tributaries has become unsatisfactory, and something needs to be done about it.
Meanwhile Lee County, where we are located, has been growing too fast, outstripping its roads, its schools, its medical facilities, and there are questions about the future of our supply of fresh water. This year of 2005 has seen a record number of deaths and even one road rage murder in Lee County. We are a mess.
This rapid growth has taken its toll on Estero Bay. I am active in an organization called the Agency on Bay Management (ABM), composed of a wide range of people represeting federal, state, and local government agencies, many with permitting power, along with developers and environmental organizaions. A recent questionnaire circulated to the members included the question: SHOULD A MORATORIUM ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENT BE GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION?
I answered YES, but stated that I preferred another name for it: a PAUSE FOR REFLECTION. (PFR)
My intention is to avoid the fear of a total shutdown implied by the term moratorium. A PFR might and should slow the issuance of permits while the parties give highest priority to solving area problems, including the water quality of Estero Bay.
Among the issues to be considered would be the need for infrastructure to be assured before issuing new permits; the cumulative impact of issuance of a particular permit; the possibility of getting more land into public ownership; the possible need for new or revised legislation at the state and local levels.
The desirable outcome would be a strategy for moderating the rate of growth in this area in such a way that the quality of life which brought us here will be preserved and enhanced.
P.S. A Pause for Reflection wouldn't be too bad an idea in other aspects of our lives, no?
A.M.
Hurrah - you're back! And with your usual, wonderful insight, talking about interesting things and sharing your valuable contribution to your community.
A "PFR," in my view, is the most important thing anyone of us can ever do about everything on earth!
By the way, what a great title for a blog. I have been thinking of changing mine once I feel "in confidence" for any period of time longer than one day. This would make a great title.
Posted by: Tamar | May 19, 2005 at 08:26 AM
Well said, Hermie!
More PFRs all the way around, say I!
D
Posted by: david | May 19, 2005 at 04:02 PM
It would be great if a PFR could be built into most governmental actions. It might cut down on all the times we currently have to ask: "What were you people thinking?"
Posted by: Always Question | May 19, 2005 at 05:10 PM
If developers paused to reflect their consciences might catch up with them. And they wouldn't know how to deal with that.
Posted by: Ally | May 19, 2005 at 05:28 PM
Poetry as PFR, from the 6/26 New York Times Book Review:
"If there's one thing that ties good books of poetry together . . . it's that they let us enter a private space in which time slows down and possibilities expand. In that space, we're allowed to be tentative, instead of being asked to sign on the line, answer the phone or pick up a weapon. . . . If poetry can't change the world (or save our lives), it does mark a pause in which there's no use for usefulness, and anything can take shape. If we want to save our own lives in the wake of those moments, well, they may seem a little more worth saving."
- David Orr
Posted by: amba | June 27, 2005 at 12:02 AM
And here's an image of "A Time to Reflect":
http://davidshrigley.com/draw_htmpgs/the_beast/3_time_to_reflect.html
Posted by: amba | July 03, 2005 at 05:36 PM
If you would like to see your future, take a long hard look at the Tampa Bay area where I live. It's what Ft. Meyers will look like in the next decade or so. Hillsborough County suffers from a County Commission ruled by developer interests and a near total dearth of reasonable planning. Not too many years ago you could catch Snook and Red Fish from the bay. Now I wouldn't consider eating anything from that smelly water. Take action or this may be your fate as well.
Posted by: Sonny | July 07, 2005 at 02:02 PM