My motivation


Five years ago I ran for City Council because I didn’t like the rate of change in our town. My slogan then was “Let’s Slow Down”. Today the problem is the same and so is my slogan. There are plenty of families like mine in Fairhope who live in modest 800 or 1200 square foot houses. These citizens need a voice. There are also quite a few people here who don’t like having to live in one of the fastest growing cities in Alabama, and who believe that “If you’re not growing, you’re dying” is nothing but a worn-out phrase made famous by Tony Robbins. That cliché has no relevance for a small town with a rich history, character and charm. Some say that slowing our growth is hard, and that pushing back against powerful, well funded interests will take enormous will and determination. Our little town is worth such effort.

Written by

howell

Comments

5 responses to “My motivation”

  1. Susie Avatar
    Susie

    We agree that our town is growing too fast. Are there other ways to slow growth besides a moratorium on new subdivisions and apartments?

    Reply
    1. howell Avatar
      howell

      I don’t like the word “moratorium” because it’s understood to be just a delay. When it eventually gets lifted, there is a big stack of permit applications waiting and everything returns to worse than before. Local government needs a major attitude adjustment. We need to stop the platitudes about “Smart Growth” and get serious about not losing any more than we already have. A lot of it is out of our hands; most of the growth I see is in unincorporated parts of the County. But we’ll have much more leverage in Bay Minette and even Montgomery if we take a stand here and now.
      The good news is that there is plenty to be optimistic about. Change is definitely in the air. I am seeing more and more people like this speaking up –

      https://x.com/wrathofgnon/status/1869303041700352281

      https://x.com/createstreets/status/1159325147725279232

      Thanks for the comment, and tell your friends…

      Reply
    2. howell Avatar
      howell

      One more –

      https://x.com/LeonKrier/status/1480389507027406852

      I know that I haven’t given you a concrete answer to your question about what can be done, but the first step is to cut the BS.

      Stop saying “If you’re not growing, you’re dying”, and also accept that it’s going to be hard. If we can get the Mayor and a least three members of the Council to agree to that, we could really make Fairhope’s Founders proud.

      Reply
  2. Sheila Avatar
    Sheila

    I agree with your position. Rapid growth means inadequate infrastructure and other community supports, increased taxes, traffic and congestion, and increased crime and other related issues. Your concrete, specific, achievable goals and objectives toward keeping Fairhope “small” while preserving and enhancing its history, character and charm would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
    1. howell Avatar
      howell

      Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I will reply twice to your question, a short answer and a long answer. Each of these will present an achievable and a best case scenario.

      Short answer –

      ACHIEVABLE GOALS

      A few people have a voice for the first time, otherwise status quo.

      MY WILDEST DREAMS

      There is a mandate for change. Mostly status quo, but we get some results (a tree protection ordinance) and start a dialog with the county about slowing development.

      Long answer –

      ACHIEVABLE GOALS

      – 40 or 50 of my “LET’S SLOW DOWN…” yard signs are sprinkled around town, with a few in the subdivisions as well. They are gone on election night, and forgotten the next day. On election night my announcement on the “Fairhope Now” facebook page has 500 likes.

      – I get 38% of the vote in August (same as in 2020), and eek out 53% in a runoff in September, after a bitter, divisive election.

      – Everything remains pretty much status quo. I am tolerated, or maybe held up as an example of “a diverse view” by the rest of the Council.

      – Council meetings are a little more entertaining, and some people are grateful to have a voice for the first time in years. I am on the losing side of every 3-2 or 4-1 vote. I attempt to re-establish set-back and tree protection ordinances, and I draft resolutions asking the county to protect farmland and slow development. None of my efforts succeed, but I continue to try for four long, depressing years. More subdivisions are built and annexed, more small houses in old Fairhope are torn down. The town continues to rip itself apart over the Library or some other us/them issue.

      MY WILDEST DREAMS

      – 500 of my “LET’S SLOW DOWN…” yard signs blanket the town, with more than a few in the subdivisions. They stay up for days after the election. On election night, my announcement on the “Fairhope Now” facebook page has 5,000 likes.

      – I get 63% of the vote in August, knocking out two establishment candidates in a clear mandate.

      – We’ve created a buzz. There are holdouts on the Council with an “any growth is good” mindset, but the winds have shifted. Council meetings are a lot more entertaining, people are speaking up, and their opinions are respected. I succeed in re-establishing a tree protection ordinance. I draft resolutions asking the county to protect farmland and slow development. These get watered down but pass, and a productive dialog begins with Baldwin County. The Library debate gets resolved respectfully and locally. (that one may be beyond my wildest dreams).

      I know that you want to see a plan with action items. The problem is that the forces for growth and development eat Comprehensive Plans for breakfast. Those of us who know that Fairhope must slow down are up against outside forces who have the tender passion of a pack of sharks.
      Furthermore, out of 11 candidates, I feel that I am the only organic growth candidate in the running. I have said that I would support a tree protection ordinance as tough as Gulf Shores’, which prohibits the cutting of live oaks greater than 6” in diameter, even on private property. Tomorrow morning there will be a post on this blog that says I want to debate the idea of farmland protection as tough as that in the Napa Valley, which requires a parcel of 40 acres to build one house. But none of this means anything, because even if I win, I will be in a minority.

      I don’t say any of this to discourage you, but that is how I see it. Thank you again for your support and comment.

      Reply

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