To the Editor:
Every few weeks, like clockwork, Ocala Facebook groups light up with the same greatest hits:
“We’re losing our small-town charm.”
“Can’t believe they’re building another apartment complex.”
And then in the very next post,
“When are we getting a Cheesecake Factory?”
“Why don’t we have a Costco yet?”
It’s almost impressive how we can complain about growth and demand the exact things that cause it, all in the same breath.
Ocala needs to pick a lane.
You can’t beg for national chains and then lose your mind when traffic on State Road 200 slows to a crawl.
You can’t want a Whole Foods experience and still expect to park in front of the door. You can’t ask for more jobs, housing, and restaurants without actually building them.
The truth is, people are moving to Florida by the thousands every week. They’re not asking permission. Growth is happening whether you like it or not. What we can control is whether we plan for it intelligently or sit on Facebook complaining while someone else makes the decisions.
If you really want Ocala to stay a small town, that ship sailed around the same time your favorite dirt road turned into a subdivision. Maybe it’s time to stop the double talk. Either embrace the growth and push for smart development, or move somewhere that still has a single stoplight and a Piggly Wiggly.
Because at this point, the biggest traffic jam in Ocala isn’t on SR 200. It’s in the comments section.
Damon Vitale
Marion County