Less development, smaller schools

To the editor:

The Press’ story of a waiting list at PS 81 demands a solution. Unfortunately, our leaders can only think of ones that are taxpayer-funded, like bigger schools. These are less solutions than temporary fixes with problems of their own. Larger schools are usually worse for kids, require more buses, metal detectors, real estate, and taxes, and have less community feel.

The real solution, which would save taxes and improve our environment, is to stop development. Every bit of woods that’s cut down and turned into a house or a high-rise crowds our schools and taxes (literally) our systems of education, water, traffic, police, sewerage, and fouls our wonderful Riverdale air. Does anybody in Riverdale want these extra buildings? Then why are we constantly faced with bulldozers destroying what used to be Riverdale? Stop the crazy building and the overcrowding of schools won’t be a problem.

JIM WACKER

This is part of the May 21, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.