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
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