Житель Идахо предупреждает: массовая застройка уничтожает туристическую привлекательность долины Вуд-Ривер

I am a fifth generation Idahoan. I grew up in Jerome and Ketchum. We know we cannot turn back the clock on development and, as much as many would like, things will never be what they were. However, we can creatively preserve what we have in the Wood River Valley without compromising the economic health of our region by continued misguided development projects. I am hearing more and more people here in the Treasure Valley say, “Ketchum and Sun Valley are not enjoyable places to go for the weekend anymore. Too many people, too much traffic.” That cannot be good for businesses. So, are we really losing valuable tourism income by seeking more and more development? A developer here once asked me, as we walked the pristine ground of 100 acres outside of Garden Valley, “don’t you think more people have the right to enjoy the beauty and small town feel of this area?” I pointed out that when 2,000 more people move into a town of 800, the very reason for living and moving there has been destroyed. It is not a reasonable argument to develop a small area and think it will not change it for everyone, and not for the better if it already has economic sustainability. Please ask who wants all this development? What percentage of the Wood River Valley population is saying, “Please bring in thousands of more people and even thousands of more automobiles on our already full roadways.” Please come to Eagle, Kuna, Meridian, Nampa and ask the people there if they like what the city fathers have proposed development-wise and how life there is now? Please ask and please do not repeat what every charming small town area in the West has done so far, and that is to ruin the very reasons for living and moving there.