Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Does this happen?

Posted in: PATA
  • Stock
  • bybju
  • Respected Neighbor
  • USA
  • 209 Posts
  • Respect-O-Meter: Respected Neighbor
They may send anonymous mail

I have received mail articles in the past with no return address,signature or other identity features. These envelopes have contained items and statements supporting the city position on the issues which I chose to challenge via referendum petitions or letters to the county commissioners and the Ohio EPA. I believe there is an influence machine of individuals in the city that can be directed to urge citizens not to speak out via this methodology and other media.


Free exchange of ideas between those who disagree is welcome. I firmly believe this ultimately results in better government even though it may seem to take forever. I believe that the system of government where council members appear to be aligned with local developer interests is not in the long term best interest of our community.

What astonishes me is that they speak out repeatedly and publicaly that this uncontrolled development they supporty is in the best interest of the community. They say that the development is controlled....Perhaps they are correct, but controlled by whom?

It is even more astonishing to me that the Mayor is a teacher in the system that bears the brunt of the burden of the non-stop subdivision building, yet he seems to see little harm in this practice.

The city and Township have zoning and other legislative tools at their disposal to control the housing growth to an acceptable level. Thus far nither has reached very far into that tool bag. The Township chooses control the residential growth by allowing only low density subdivisions. This can work, but if the number of subdivisions keeps multiplying at a high rate, it is still a losing battle. The city allows developers to build at a higher density per acre than the Township, and now is bent on putting condos and apartments in every section of the community. I'm sure we are going to hear that these properties have less impact on the schools than the homes. This may be true, but the traffic they create from such small acreage areas is tremendous and overloads a traffic and road system that is already in a failure mode.

I have wondered if the package that Ms. Barlag received may have been sent by city individuals trying to smear the efforts of PATA and others who disagree with the current plans of action by the city. Perhaps they knew Ms. Barlag would immediately go pubic in a big way on this matter and baited her effectively.
Petition signature is not a vote

I know when I was circulating these latest petitions I ran into a number of people that said they don't sign anything or that they're in a sensitive position. Putting your name on a petition doesn't necessarily mean you support the initiative. What is does imply is that you support the voters' right to have input in their city is run.

As for the condos and apartments - ask any teacher. It's more difficult to obtain good results when students are in and out of the school district, that often happens when there are apartments in the district. Some condo developments may not be appealing to families, but you can be sure the realtor's ads will contain the words ''Pickerington School District.'' An ad from MI homes even points out that the PLSD is rated effective. The school should be getting royalties for these ads, signs, etc.
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