Morro de Sao Paulo reminded me of the work I did for years in the Pacific Islands to help them manage the growth and development proposals that were flooding them as they were discovered by the rest of the world—and as air travel became so much easier. Tiny islands with indigenous populations of less than 20,000 were poorly equipped in the 1980s to deal with major hotel chains and huge construction companies overwhelming them with beach front concrete wonders (and suitcases full of cash to make getting to “yes” easier). For a global corporation wanting to build a $100 million hotel enclave on the best beaches (circled with walls to keep non-paying locals at a distance), another million dropped strategically from suitcases was small potatoes. I worked on about 15 such islands trying to produce some kind of thoughtful order and consideration to the proposals, their merits, impacts, and measures to involve the communities rather than isolate them. I have been reluctant since then to go back and see whether passion and public service carried the day or whether the suitcases did. Now I think that I am ready. As Morro has moved further into the 21st century, whomever the decision makers are seem to have done a pretty good job of maintaining the charm and beauty of the place as they have paved streets, built “new” “hotels”, etc. Instead of the all too common rebar and concrete, only semi-complete, started projects are also generally completed and the streets, etc., are paved with very attractive paving bricks laid out in attractive designs. Murals, plants, and other décor maintain a local sense and natural environment. It gives me some hope that the Pacific Islands came to their senses soon enough to realize—before they created too much of it, that they and their great grandchildren were going to have to live with what they were creating. That doing so means a “permanent” commitment of manual labor for the wheelbarrow taxis and donkey supply/work trains, etc., cannot be ignored. Apparently the people have looked at the question and have satisfied themselves that economic opportunity, wheelbarrows and all, offer a more participatory economy than walled-off fortresses owned and operated by foreigners with a few jobs for locals for the manual labor to build the roads, etc., to serve those fortresses.