Letter to the editor

We inherit the earth and its environment from our creator. We inherit

the democratic process from our founding fathers. As citizens we have a

moral responsibility to protect the integrity of both. We have a moral

responsibility to pass on the democratic process and make our environment

healthier and stronger for the next generation of Americans.

Many families for many years have dedicated their time, money and

resources for the Bolsa Chica and its restoration. It obviously holds a

special place in the heart and soul of many people. It is clearly

misguided and inappropriate to attack the many families as

“self-serving.”

These families and their children enjoy both the beaches and the

wetlands. During the school year you can not drive by the Bolsa Chica

without seeing a big yellow school bus full of children.

In fact, on Aug. 6 there were more than 40 children from the Boys &

Girls Club enjoying the birds and planting trees. Whether to have a tidal

inlet or not is open to debate, but launching a hateful attack on what

they love and calling it a “toxic dump” is incorrect and devalues this

valuable experience.

However, the question is not whether people have a right to

participate in the democratic process or work to protect it. They do. The

question clearly should be: Why would we allow any pollution to come down

the Wintersburg Flood channel from inland cities?

The question is not whether we allow the winter urban runoff to flow

into a restored tidal inlet at Bolsa Chica or through the Seal Beach

Naval Weapons station. The question should be: Why, unlike San Diego and

Los Angeles counties, do we in Orange County not have a good regional

plan to deal with urban runoff? The question is why do we allow the

inland cities to abdicate responsibility and accountability for their

non-source point pollution on the Santa Ana River and Wintersburg

Channel?

When we were born our oceans and beaches were clean. Now what is

happening?

Also, if someone is worried about some birds, then one must really be

worried about the 245-million gallons of partially treated sewage dumped

into our ocean every day in south Huntington Beach, near where our beach

closures have been. The Orange County Sanitation District’s multimillion

dollar, taxpayer financed, public relations campaign cannot hide its

responsibility. To put this in perspective, as a child, I would have much

rather had a tour of a living viable wetland, full of life, than a tour

of a sanitation plant or cemented flood channel. Participating in the

public process helps to ensure a clean government and a clean

environment.

In both cases, it is more appropriate to look at the issues and not

attack the mothers, fathers, children, grandmothers and grandfathers that

choose to use the democratic process, handed to them by our founding

fathers, to protect the creatures and our environment, handed to us by

our creator.

PAUL ARMS

Huntington Beach