University of Virginia Library

Addresses ZPG

Contractor Supports Area Growth

By ROSS HETRICK

"We have to plan and
develop for growth beforehand
rather than afterward,"
Charlottesville-Albemarle
Chamber of Commerce
President J.A. (Buddy) Kessler
told a crowd of 46 last night at
the Gordon Avenue Branch
Library.

Speaking to a Zero
Population Growth (ZPG)
meeting, Mr. Kessler said he
wished to talk "not about the
worldwide problem of growth
but on the growth in this
area."

"I would like to get rid of
some of the straw men that are
set up when talking about
growth," Mr. Kessler, president
of R.E. Lee Construction Co.,
said. He defined "straw men"
as bankers, contractors and
land developers.

Growth Is Inevitable

"It is no less ethical for a
person who profits from
growth to work for growth
than a person who would
profit from no growth to work
for no growth," said Mr.
Kessler.

"Growth is inevitable
because of the attractiveness of
Charlottesville. The
opportunity for retirement is
great and the opportunity for
industry is also great," he
asserted.

Problems Stem From Growth

Conceding that "most of the
problems of the community
stem from growth," Mr.
Kessler contended that these
problems are caused not by
growth itself but by unplanned
growth.

"An opposition to growth
will not stop growth...but it
will stop the planning for
growth," said Mr. Kessler.

"When we sell ourselves on
the idea that we can control
growth, then we will not be
ready when growth does
come," he added.

Benefits Gained

Halfway through his talk,
Mr. Kessler was bombarded by
audience questions on who
would pay for increased
expenses that accompany
growth.

Mr. Kessler maintained that
benefits gained in employing
the previously unemployed
because of new industry would
outweigh the additional cost of
growth.

However, the skeptical
audience asked why increased
industry would necessarily
employ the unskilled but
would rather import white
collar workers from other
communities.

Labor Situation

Mr. Kessler countered the
questions, saying that much of
the industry in Charlottesville
employs unskilled labor and "it
is improbable that the working
man can increase his income
in a stagnant economy."