SAY WHAT?

  The best job of the future is apparently that of an interpreter. No, not of official foreign languages, but rather of English. Yup. Today one has to learn to read the truth beneath, for the words above belie that very truth - much to our detriment. Often these two things, the words and the actual intent are diametrically opposed and if we do not figure things out, and real soon, parse the sentences and words for the final truths, well, then, never mind the "say what", but pay attention to the "do what?" that follows.

Take a local issue that is manifesting itself all over the place, particularly here in southern Florida. It is overcrowding. It is loss of agricultural lands. It is the decimation of preserves. It is the elimination of the very trees we need to refresh and cleanse the air. It is the proliferation of acres and acres of concrete, raising the heat and temperatures, changing the environment and climate, ruining the quality of life for so many, for destroying the very things it touts - Florida living and life. 

For a start, begin with the wowser inflated prices of houses almost side by side, charging prices beginning now, boldly and brazenly posted on big signs along the highways and byways of Florida, at $700,000 to over a million, the same homes that were listed not so long ago as ranging from $200,000 to $500,000. The same houses that were  foreclosed, walked away from,  drowned their owners when the economy tanked and the bubble burst. Destroying neighborhoods with neglected and abandoned homes, filthy disease and mold ridden pools. Gutting developments. And now - we do it all over again. Making a bitter joke, a true mockery, at the excuse of providing 'affordable' homes. Say what? Whose affordable? Not ours.

So here we are, living in CVWPB, facing a mammoth development that will be built on a former golf course, one that was promised to remain so "in perpetuity" as such, but never mind the words obviously, simply trodden over for the sake of big pockets wanting more inflow and screw the little people again. Every plan put forth grew worse, crowding more population, more concrete, taller buildings, less grass and park area along the streets, all the better, as the wolf said, "to eat you up" - the 'you' being us.

 And hey, why not squeeze in some commercial development there, never mind the neighborhood concept. Never mind the dangerously increased traffic patterns to which one official said "they will have to make more u-turns". Uh huh, right there on busy Haverhill  Speedway! Especially with the aging drivers from CV trying to get in and out of the Village. Bloody Haverhill will result. But who cares, for Reflection Bay is going through.

For over a decade, Villagers have been fighting this egregious attack on the neighborhood. Okay, if there must be development, if there must be lies told, if words are to lose their true meaning, value and promise, if perpetuity is now meant to mean temporary, never mind all the dictionary definitions of its meaning, then be human. Do not be greedy. How many more millions and billions of dollars must be sucked out of Florida before the big boys are satisfied? How much more air must be tainted, overheated? How much more arsenic and toxins from the soil of the golf course will be ignored. As for the drainage, well, of course, screw the Villagers again, deny them the expected permanent, promised permanent, golf course, its drainage, and just drown a goodly part of the apartments on the ground floors of those buildings alongside the former golf course. It's only the elderly, so who cares?

Well, we do. But we have fought a losing battle. We do not have the deep pockets to overcome those of the developers. Those who name new massive developments a "preserve" even as they destroy the same preserve that had been there lo these many a year. Here we are told of a Reflection Bay. What bay? The one that will cover ground area within the Village? The committee that had formed did their best, beyond, over and above, what was thought possible, fending off the threat for so many years. We apparently have lost as the next step in the farce is a "hearing", as if the decision had not already been made. As if the Commissioners of Palm Beach County had not already agreed to sell us down the river yet again. Put up posters touting a hearing, but no working websites to go to.

We are not alone. Just take a ride along the roads leading to CV Boca, where huge, huge developments are nearing completion. Gone the rural area and bring in the urban crowding, disguised as Florida living. Take a ride through the streets of Stuart, check the increased traffic. Check the many, oh so many, developments razing the area's trees, all the flora. See the encroachment on the older  quaint area. See the ruination of the promise of Florida. See the actual development of the truths underlying the false words of politicians, developers and lawyers.

Think this only local? Nay, my friends, for we have not touched upon the 'truths' of the words of state and national officials. Another day, another posting. Oh, so much material. Unfortunately. Word! Truth!