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The smart-

were posted on the site from the start."

Partners program in many ways. A smart-

Branagan states that "the idea was to neu-

growth Web site, www.smartgrowth.org, lists

growth.org Web

trally encourage dialog in the ideas on the

about 20 partners. According to the Web site,

site claims to be

site," but the site is far from neutral. A large

the Smart Growth Network partners pro-

run by one of the

portion is devoted to pushing the "Clinton-

gram consists of "outreach programs, techni-

Gore Livability Agenda," and the site includes

cal assistance, research, publications, and

partners, the

many speeches by Vice President Gore and

other collaborative projects."

Sustainable

EPA officials. A typical quotation from the

The Smart Growth Network partners are the

site states that "Advertisers have been saying

American Farmland Trust, American Planning

Communities

for years that automobiles signify freedom

Association Center for Neighborhood Technolo-

Network. In reali-

and social acceptability. Many Americans are

gy, Congress for New Urbanism, Conservation

ty, it is a front for

discovering that automobiles also mean pol-

Fund, International City/County Management

lution, congestion, increased commuting

Association, Joint Center for Sustainable

EPA.

time, frustration and road rage." In other

Communities, Local Government Commission,

words, people drive only because they have

National Association of Counties, National

been manipulated by advertisers.

Association of Local Government Environmental

The director of EPA's Urban and

Professionals, National Growth Management

Economic Development Division, Helen

Leadership Project, National Neighborhood

Tregoning, has an article posted on the Web

Coalition,  National  Trust  for  Historic

page that carries that theme further. People

Preservation, Natural Resources Defense Council,

only live in low-density suburbs, she says,

Northeast-Midwest Institute, Scenic America,

because the federal government has subsi-

State of Maryland, Surface Transportation Policy

dized highways--ignoring the fact that those

Project, Sustainable Communities Network, Trust

"subsidies" have come entirely from gas taxes

for Public Land, and Urban Land Institute.

and other highway user fees.

Normally a Web site with an address of

The smart-growth Web site is managed by

".org" would be run by a nonprofit, while a

the Sustainable Communities Network,

government Web address would end ".gov."

while other partners take on other responsi-

The smartgrowth.org Web site claims to be

bilities:

run by one of the partners, the Sustainable

Communities Network. In reality, it is a

· The American Planning Association

front for EPA. On one page, the site says,

"For more information, please contact the

publishes a legislative guidebook on

UEDD at (202) 260-2750." UEDD is the

smart growth.

· The Congress for New Urbanism pro-

Urban and Economic Development Division

of EPA.

vides (with EPA funding) "technical

The site also invites inquiries to

assistance to local governments."

· The International City/County Manage-

info@smartgrowth.org. When asked, "Who

controls the content of this Web site?" the

ment Association runs (with EPA fund-

e-mail response on September 8, 1998, came

ing) the Smart Growth Network and

from Branagan.Michael@epamail.epa.gov, an

publishes a smart-growth newsletter.

· The National Association of Counties

EPA employee. Branagan's response affirmed

that the Smart Growth Network "is an EPA

"publishes a primer on sprawl."

· The National Association of Local

initiative" and that the smartgrowth.org

"Web page is written and funded by EPA."

Government Environmental Profes-

Branagan admitted that the information was

sionals is finding ways to use "existing

not placed on EPA's Web site (www.epa.gov)

and potential federal regulatory incen-

because "the association with EPA may have

tives to encourage smart growth."

· The National Trust for Historic

discouraged/alienated potential users from

even entertaining any ideas, articles, etc. that

Preservation promotes "main streets" as

8