Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Citizens Being Ignored

The July 6 Board of County Commissioners meeting was another exciting day of civic engagement during the open forum time.

Citizens spoke again this week on ADAGE and the advisory vote on the November ballot.

-Tom Davis said we're going to see a loss in property values with the construction of this biomass facility. He warned the lawsuits will come and again urged the advisory ballot.

-Fran Prescott spoke on air quality. Last winter (Oct 2008 through March 2009) in Shelton the State Department of Ecology have records that indicate our air quality is unhealthy to hazardous more than 50% of the time.

Meanwhile, ADAGE plans to burn another ton of wood per minute while our county commissioners are letting the "process" run it's course. Against the backdrop of the BP oil disaster where we've seen how the "process" failed us so completely, is it any wonder that the citizens of Mason County are saying, "hold up on that ADAGE incinerator"? Erin Brockovich (remember the movie?), where are you when we need you?

-John Cox brought to the commissioners' attention that the county building is public property and that they have ADAGE propaganda in the lobby. Why no opposing view to the ADAGE public relations team?

Yes, Mason County, corporate propaganda in the form of 4 inch by 6 inch cards - stacks of them sitting on a table in the lobby of a building funded by our property taxes. And in the window there's a sign that says citizens aren't allowed to have political signs in the county buildings. Nothing makes me angrier than unfairness and here's a perfect example. More on unfairness in an upcoming posting.

John then scratched his head asking, "why no advisory vote on the November ballot"? He admitted this was a rhetorical question. The three commissioners were silent.

That's a good question, John, why won't they put this on the November ballot? Lots of people are asking this everyday.

-Conley Watson reminded the commissioners that we just celebrated our 234th year of independence. Many have fought and died to keep this a free country where the people have the freedom to vote. Why no advisory ballot?

It's no secret to my readers - I'm running for county commissioner. Here's what I've been learning as I've knocked on more than 500 doors and stood in front of Wal-mart, the voters want to be heard on the ADAGE facility. Not a single voter that I've spoken to supports the commissioners' position which is: "I've been elected to make these decisions for you and the "process" will take care of you". The voters want to be heard, not ignored, and they know an advisory vote on the November ballot would give them a way to voice their position on this facility. People understand the "process" isn't going to take care of them as Ross Gallagher says that it will. They understand that bringing ADAGE to Mason County is a significant decision that will impact this county for years to come. The people want to be able to vote on this significant decision.

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