The American Spectator

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The Nation's Pulse

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At the same time, another group of locals, mainly the merchants, wanted to put up a multi-story parking garage behind the main street stores -- this to facilitate commerce in Westfield's toney downtown, home to Talbot's, Victoria's Secret, dozens of fine restaurants, and specialty shops. (Nice place, Westfield.)

They're still fighting about that one five years after we left. A powerful committee of Westfield residents opposed increasing commercial traffic, because it would degrade the quality of life in town. Therefore they opposed the parking garage.

But there were plenty of eco-minded locals who advocated "traffic calming" devices on the streets, forcing cars into single lanes, eliminating curbside parking and the like. If you've ever had to drive in a place with such visionary devices, you know they are better called "traffic infuriating."

We face a peculiarly American dilemma here. We have a problem that, because of the public facilities involved, requires heavy-handed central planning. We are constitutionally opposed to such things. But public works is a heavy-handed public function already. We might as well bend our efforts to making it less stupid.

topics:
Constitution