5 ms·

Why build it ? It's far easier to lobby the current nation states to get what they need. They just have to keep enough of the public funded government policies

Why build it ? It's far easier to lobby the current nation states to get what they need. They just have to keep enough of the public funded government policies and infrastructures they need to continue to strive.

visakanv 11y ago
Yep. Every time the new thing comes along (megacorp 'cities'), it breaks the old assumptions about how/why things are done ('build'). Why own a car when you can Uber everywhere? Etc.
eru 11y ago
> Why build it ? It's far easier to lobby the current nation states to get what they need. You are truly an optimist. Google can't even get Mountain View to allow them to put up a few skyscrapers. "Google’s plans to build housing on its Mountain View campus in Silicon Valley are being resisted on the ground that residents might keep pets, which could harm the local owl population." (http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21647614-poor-land-use-worlds-greatest-cities-carries-huge-cost-space-and-city http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21647614-poor-land-use...)
- eitally 11y ago
  This was such a ludicrous decision. I've heard through the grapevine, though, that the council were concerned that if Google build residential housing in North Bayshore (or really anywhere in Mountain View) that they would end up being a large voting block that would control the entirety of local politics. If this was the justification, which I could certainly believe, they should have just said so... not give Intuit the building rights with no additional comment period. Intuit's plan, of course, only includes commercial development, which will make local traffic even worse. But hey, it doesn't cost the city of MOuntain View anything since most of the affected roads are state highways, and the town will collect millions in property taxes. I have never seen an owl in SV. Nor have I ever met a person who has seen an owl. To me, that either indicates the population is in far worse straits than I imagine or this issue is entirely made up (porque no los dos? Because the land proposed for development is already pretty developed -- not remotely "pristine wilderness", I don't really see much happening to drive out what's not there.
- PopsiclePete 11y ago
  I fucking hate that NIMBY culture in California. It's already ruined San Fran. It's ridiculous and short-sighted to fight high-density housing in this day and age. Ooooh, but yeah, sure is nice to watch your property value go up on that little shack you bought in 1992....
- theklub 11y ago
  Seems like google could just move anywhere they wanted or threaten to and the city would have to comply.
  - eru 11y ago
    Google already has moved: they have offices around the globe, Sydney, Singapore, New York, London, etc. They still rely on Mountain View as their main campus.

visakanv 11y ago

Yep. Every time the new thing comes along (megacorp 'cities'), it breaks the old assumptions about how/why things are done ('build'). Why own a car when you can Uber everywhere? Etc.

eru 11y ago

> Why build it ? It's far easier to lobby the current nation states to get what they need. You are truly an optimist. Google can't even get Mountain View to allow them to put up a few skyscrapers. "Google’s plans to build housing on its Mountain View campus in Silicon Valley are being resisted on the ground that residents might keep pets, which could harm the local owl population." (http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21647614-poor-land-use-worlds-greatest-cities-carries-huge-cost-space-and-city http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21647614-poor-land-use...)

eitally 11y ago
This was such a ludicrous decision. I've heard through the grapevine, though, that the council were concerned that if Google build residential housing in North Bayshore (or really anywhere in Mountain View) that they would end up being a large voting block that would control the entirety of local politics. If this was the justification, which I could certainly believe, they should have just said so... not give Intuit the building rights with no additional comment period. Intuit's plan, of course, only includes commercial development, which will make local traffic even worse. But hey, it doesn't cost the city of MOuntain View anything since most of the affected roads are state highways, and the town will collect millions in property taxes. I have never seen an owl in SV. Nor have I ever met a person who has seen an owl. To me, that either indicates the population is in far worse straits than I imagine or this issue is entirely made up (porque no los dos? Because the land proposed for development is already pretty developed -- not remotely "pristine wilderness", I don't really see much happening to drive out what's not there.
PopsiclePete 11y ago
I fucking hate that NIMBY culture in California. It's already ruined San Fran. It's ridiculous and short-sighted to fight high-density housing in this day and age. Ooooh, but yeah, sure is nice to watch your property value go up on that little shack you bought in 1992....
theklub 11y ago
Seems like google could just move anywhere they wanted or threaten to and the city would have to comply.
- eru 11y ago
  Google already has moved: they have offices around the globe, Sydney, Singapore, New York, London, etc. They still rely on Mountain View as their main campus.