One reason cities die, though, is because they stop growing; suburbs become politically autonomous units with no incentive to contribute to the fiscal well-being of the central city. I am not sure the issue of suburbanization and the decline of older cities is really applicable to the Virginia situation, give or take Richmond. Kirk Johnson Serials Manager Prince William Public Library System 13083 Chinn Park Drive Prince William, VA 22192-5073 (703) 792-4883 [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Craig Kilby Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2013 11:01 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] 06150018Z13 Re: Why does Virginia, alone among states, require that its cities be discrete municipal entities from its counties (aka Independent Cities)? An easier way to put this is that people vote with their feet. Mr. Waddell needs to recognize that people are always looking for greener pastures. When an urban environment become untenuous, people move elsewhere. The question he needs to ask is why urban environments become unattractive for its inhabitants. Some cities grow, some die. Keeping them alive on life support is not sustainable. Some are able to ressurect, some blow away with the dust. The American landscape is littered with ghost towns. Craig Kilby On Jun 14, 2013, at 7:27 PM, Walter Waddell wrote: > "The entire system is responsible for many of Virginia woes, since > counties have no responsibility for the 20th-century issues that > confront a neighboring city (urban poor, local transportation, > crumbling school systems etc)." > ------------------------------------- > There are many other factors such as administration and economic structural re-formation that add much more complexity to the the "20th-century issues" than the statement indicts. > "Austerity is a consequence; not a punishment." - John Maudlin > > Very Respectfully, > Ray > ______________________________________ > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the > instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html