A Cold War defense strategy of dispersion of industry and population in the 1950s led to conscious policies to move population away from the center of large American cities ("Ghost Towns in Sprawl Land," April 30). It began America's suburban, low-density planning which has come to be called "sprawl." Sprawl is dispersion. The conscious fear Americans have of high density is not because people can not live close to one another, but because post-WWII, a big city was a big target for an over-the-North-Pole nuclear Pearl Harbor strike by Soviet bombers.

Why would Americans think that way? Consider the fate of European cities in WWII and that of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Were the impacts of such dispersion anticipated? Some were. Cities would be hurt by a loss of population and there would be a need for more metropolitan and intergovernmental cooperation. Did they anticipate all the transportation impacts? Perhaps not.

In 1974, the year after I began work as a regional planner, The Costs of Sprawl (pdf) was published. In 30-plus years there's been virtually no change in development patterns. Lots get bigger, if anything. We need traditional urbanism, not new urbanism which shoots for eight units per acre. That won't bring back walking. We need up, not out.

Tom Christoffel, AICP
Editor, Regional Community Development News

Nice article ("Ghost Towns in Sprawl Land," April 30), but in Ohio, there is no such entity as a "town." Most of the suburbs surrounding Cleveland - which you are probably thinking about when you write: "Towns are the problem. Towns disrupt regional planning" - are cities, though there are a few that are villages. Other sprawling places, like Bainbridge, are townships.

So, for people who live in sprawling suburban cities like Solon, when they read your article, they will probably not realize you are talking about them!

Kristin Hopkins
Cleveland Heights

TELL US HOW YOU REALLY FEEL

In his letter printed in the April 23 edition of the Free Times, Don Myers of Parma Heights wrote that he needs handguns "in a major way" because of the undisciplined young men being raised by their unmarried mothers and grandparents. Is there any doubt whom Mr. Myers expects to shoot? Any young man who might look like one of these "energetic, fatherless" threats to the civil order should certainly be careful to avoid Mr. Myers when he's packing.

Barbara Marburger
Lakewood

BITTER MUCH?

I am sincerely befuddled with the nasty letter Erin O'Brien received in response to "Leaving Las Vegas: Rearview" (April 16). I imagine this person spending their days in corporate America with lofty dreams of becoming the next great American writer or rock star or whatever. But bitterness ensues in the form of jealousy and rage at the moment they realize that deep down they know they couldn't do it, not only because they lack the balls, but the talent.

Or maybe this person is practicing their typing skills? I only throw in sarcasm because I truly don't understand how one can form such a vile opinion simply based on a piece of writing explaining some of the origins of the ideas reflected in John O'Brien's work, which could otherwise be misunderstood and/or misinterpreted. And I think that was partly Erin O'Brien's motivation in writing it.

I read this piece and not only did I find it moving, I realize throwing your heart on the table takes a lot of guts and balls. Obviously, this person lacks this insight.

Divana Ippoliti
Toronto, Ontario