Rogue Columnist Jon Talton: A Bit of Boosterism + A Smackdown For Sprawl

Happy to see another article posted online by Jon Talton three days ago. It starts up slow with taking on more 'Happy Talk' to encourage expansion here - 'No hurricanes in Arizona!' - that Talton rebuts quite fast in documented explanations about The Carolinas that have allowed unregulated development
". . . Which brings us to Arizona. Our fair state is now America's 14th most populous — the same size as Massachusetts or Washington, although it lacks their high-end assets (it does have abundant sunshine and championship golf). Phoenix is the nation's fifth-largest city, although it too lacks the assets of peer cities.

As in the Carolinas, no barriers stand in the way of development. Climate change simply is ignored. Serious assessments of water availability are either not done, are suppressed, or are gamed for fraudulent results. The immense population influx (the state held 1.3 million in 1960) and churn, along with the power of the Real Estate Industrial Complex enable the short hustle and short memories. . .
Meanwhile, amid all the "what to do about the diminishing Colorado River" (never an issue before the CAP), the most important step is never mentioned: Stop the sprawl. Indeed, roll it back.
But how do you stop people from moving here? Taxes. The funding needs are enormous, including education and rail transit to give people transportation options. And land-use boundaries.
Everything beyond the above is blather.

Arizona is ground zero for catastrophe. All the brightsiding and sales talk won't change it.
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