Quote Originally Posted by Stefan-A View Post
Judging by the map, it seems to me that the population has been doomed for a long time now. Is it in immediate danger? No. Immediate would be when it's in danger of being eradicated within the next few seconds, minutes or hours.
And days don't count I suppose? Like I said, the bulldozers were hard at work and I took a look this morning and they've made a lot of "progress" in destroying that small patch of habitat. From the looks of it, it will all be gone within a day or two. Anyway, why all the critisism? Just curious. I mean, what's wrong with I did? I think I saved those 8 snakes from certain doom so what's the problem?

Quote Originally Posted by Stefan-A View Post
Just out of curiosity, what are the methods by which ordinary citizens can influence land use over there?
Well, I can tell you that this entire situation with the airport closing was at least in part influenced by citizens. When the area was rural, having the airport there was no big deal. But the last few years it was open, businesses and residents had airplanes buzzing just feet overhead. And twice, airplanes crashed. Once into heavy traffic, and once into a commercial building. In the late 70's and early 80's airplanes crashed into trees and empty fields. Those are gone now and the only place for a plane to go down is into developed and populated areas.

I'm not saying that airplanes crash here all the time, or often, but the main reason for closing it was airplanes coming in to land, or take off, barely clearing power lines and buzzing right over people's homes.

For the most part however, I'd say we don't have any say in the matter. My house was just annexed to the city recently. Of course, I don't have any choice in the matter and now the city quotes to me what I can, and can't do on my property. Before, I could burn debris and park an RV on my lawn if I wished to. Can't do any of that anymore. RV's must be parked on "improved surfaces" and there's no burning in city limits.

Oh, and those [insert plural expletive here] fined me for cutting down one of trees in my own yard. Apparently, you need a permit in the city. Ridiculous.