https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=59801.msg2510746#msg2510746
I might be opening a can of worms here (and said can might have been opened many times in this thread, but I'm not often here), but......
Why is this the politicians' fault?
The zoning board and planning board are the decision makers when it comes to approving new housing/buildings/etc.
The zoning board members and planning board members are
appointed by our local elected officials. They are essentially puppets of the elected officials. The elected officials only appoint those who align with what they want.
Therefore, if we want change, we need to vote in politicians who will care about the residents , not about developers (who slip them money under the table to approve projects that cause severe overcrowding/traffic)
On a deeper level, our local elected officials are our representatives for anything that needs to be accomplished with the county and the state. Many roads in Lakewood need to be widened or need traffic lights, but they require county/state approval. The local politicians are not very good at representing us with petitioning the state with our needs (and that's putting it nicely).
There's a lot more to it. I'm sure others can expound, but that's the gist of it.