Blog 9A

• "This growth, here and elsewhere in the West, is coming at a cost, according to conservationists: harmed wildlife habitats, higher regional temperatures, air and water pollution, more traffic and the introduction of invasive species."

Urban development is not only ruining the wildlife and environment that once was there but it also does several other things like harms wildlife habitats, higher regional temperatures, air and water pollution and introduces traffic and invasive species. It harms wildlife habitats because we are literally building right over them. How is an animal supposed to live within chaotic streets? Higher temperature result because of all the things going on to develop cities. We are not clean people even as hard as we try to be, which results in air and water pollution. Also, every city is going to have traffic which does not help with the pollution whatsoever. Finally, of course we would bring invasive species with us because many people simply don't care about the environment as long as they have a big shiny mall to shop in.

• Like Scottsdale, many cities and towns across the West that grew up after World War II have struggled to maintain their quintessentially Western features while encouraging growth and economic development. Hanging on to the West's characteristic "wide open spaces," officials say, is a constant battle.

The phrase of "the wild west" shouldn't be a new phrase to anyone; yet if development continues, the further generations will turn their heads in confusion when this phrase is spoken. Is that really what we want as citizens? Urban development EVERYWHERE? Personally, I love to look at the scenery of some places. This is slowly becoming extinct. 

• "You could talk to the most hard-core Republican in my community," Cave Creek Mayor Vincent Francia says, "and preservation is the most important thing -- it's the one thing we all agree on."

More and more people are joining the side of sustainability, yet urban development has ceased to build and build. We as society are the only ones that can do something about this. The west needs to stay wild and that is exactly what they people that live there think as well. If only all of us could agree with this, something could be done. We could keep the scenery and not do any damage to the environment. This is something that is overlooked in today's busy world but needs to be noticed. If only we could all agree, we could do something big.