Use the article to complete the activity. Vote No on the Highway 85 Extension by Victoria Vail, Tribune staff writer Next week, the city council will consider a proposal to extend Highway 85 by 10 miles. A small coalition of real estate developers have hurried this proposal forward, hoping to capitalize on state tax breaks and reassuring the city that their intentions are good. In truth, however, the proposed extension would hurt our community. It would be bad for downtown businesses, bad for families, and bad for the environment. Bad for Downtown Businesses Developers claim that the land west of town is ripe to be turned into a combined retail/residential area. They say that the extension of Highway 85 would give shoppers access to a greater variety of stores. In truth, though, we already have a great variety of stores downtown—over 200 of them. Many of these businesses have been hurting for several years due to the neglect of the Exit 10 overpass, which has made driving difficult. Extending Highway 85 would give shoppers a reason to avoid downtown altogether—likely dooming many small businesses and leaving buildings vacant. However, the overpass could be repaired at a fraction of the cost of the highway extension. This small investment in city infrastructure would be good for businesses and shoppers alike. In 1-2 sentences, identify the author's point of view and the author's purpose.
3 answers
The proposed extension of Highway 85 would, in fact, worsen the situation for downtown businesses. It is argued that should the extension take place, shoppers would have access to a greater variety of stores outside of downtown, thereby giving them a reason to avoid the area altogether. This could potentially lead to the closure of many small businesses and an increase in vacant buildings. The author proposes an alternative solution that is both more cost-effective and beneficial for everyone involved: repairing the neglected overpass. By making this small investment in the city's infrastructure, businesses and shoppers would benefit from improved accessibility to downtown, leading to a boost in economic activity.
Furthermore, the author emphasizes the negative impact that the highway extension could have on families and the environment. The increased traffic and congestion resulting from the extension would not only disrupt the daily lives of families but also contribute to air pollution and further environmental degradation. By opposing the highway extension, the author argues that the community can protect the well-being of families and work towards a more sustainable future.
In summary, the author's point of view is against the proposed extension of Highway 85, highlighting its detrimental effects on downtown businesses, families, and the environment. The author's purpose is to persuade readers to vote against the extension proposal and consider alternative solutions that would benefit the community as a whole.