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The
Green Diamond
e-newsletter - vol. 5-17
May 14, 2005
a publication of
The Green Party
of Delaware
( www.gpde.us
greenpartyde@yahoo.com )
Grassroots Democracy - Economic &
Social Justice - Nonviolence/Peace - Ecological Wisdom
***2005
GPDE Annual Meeting***
5/21 at 4W5 Cafe, Wilmington
Join the Revolution!
Become a card-carrying
Green
FOR $36* A YEAR YOU CAN HELP BUILD A POWERFUL, PROGRESSIVE
GREEN PARTY.
When you become an active supporter of
the Green Party of the United States, not only do you get our
spanking new card, which shows the world that you stand committed to
liberty, equality, democracy, justice, personal responsibility, and
focus on the future. In addition, you'll receive a Green Party
button and bumper sticker, a one-year subscription to the Green
Party's quarterly newspaper, Green Pages, plus all of the information
you need to get involved and active as a Green today. The
future is Green!
For $36*you can help build a powerful,
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(Half of your contribution will be
shared with your state's Green Party.)
Buy Your Green Party
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go to
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*$36.00 is roughly equivalent to the $1.00 paid
for a one year membership in the Populist Party of the 1890s. The
Populist Party was a multiracial, progressive, grassroots third-party
of working people which agitated for many popular progressive
reforms. The Green Party of the 21st century continues the Populist's
fight for citizen empowerment and progressive reforms at all levels
today.
Email: info@greenpartyus.org
Office: PO Box
57065 Washington, D.C. 20037 202-319-7191 or toll-free (US):
866-41GREEN
(P.S. Don't forget the Green Party of Delaware
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INSIDE THIS
ISSUE
Green Party of the United States
NUCLEAR POWER IS NEITHER CLEAN NOR SAFE, SAY GREENS, WHO INSTEAD
URGE FAR-REACHING ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES
GPDE
Local News
GPDE Coordinating Council
2005
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING PROPOSED AGENDA
Green
Things
National Broadcast Exclusive: Ousted Haitian
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide Speaks From Exile
THE
BIGGEST MEDIA SIN
Interested in Green News Around the World?
Green Party of the U.S. News Circulator for 5/2/05-5/9/05
Green Action
The Tightening Noose
Peoples' Dioxin Pile Resolution
Letters to the
Editor and Editorials
Green Urges Consideration of
Alternative Fuels
Greens Respond to Tim Sheldon's Support of
the Churchman's Road Extension Proposal
*********************************************************************************************
Green Party of the United States
GREEN PARTY OF
THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
mclarty@greens.org
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576,
nallen@acadia.net
NUCLEAR POWER IS NEITHER CLEAN NOR
SAFE, SAY GREENS, WHO INSTEAD URGE FAR-REACHING ENERGY CONSERVATION
MEASURES
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders spoke
out against plans to expand the use of nuclear energy as a substitute
for fossil fuels, calling nuclear energy neither clean nor safe.
Greens instead urged dramatic steps to reduce consumption of energy
in the U.S. and investment in clean, renewable energy sources.
"Nuclear power creates massive amounts of hazardous
radioactive waste, which must be stored somewhere," said Julia
Willebrand, co-chair of the Green Party's International Committee.
"No one wants to live near a nuclear waste storage site.
Wherever the waste gets stored, the danger of leakage threatens the
environment, especially water tables. Furthermore, nuclear power
plants face all sorts of security problems, from possible meltdowns
to sabotage."
In his April 28 press conference,
President Bush spoke of the need to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign
energy sources: "[W]e must find innovative and environmentally
sensitive ways to make the most of our existing energy resources,
including oil, natural gas, coal and safe, clean nuclear power."
"The problem isn't just foreign sources, it's the whole
range of environmentally damaging energy, from coal to oil to nuclear
power," said Greg Gerritt, secretary of the Green Party of the
United States. "Mr. Bush's emphasis on foreign energy sources
sidesteps the advance of global warming. Furthermore, despite his
current rhetoric about foreign energy dependence, the President
launched the invasion of Iraq in part to secure U.S. control over oil
resources -- for which Ahmed Chalabi, who was named acting oil
minister last week, will undoubtedly serve as broker for U.S.
companies."
Greens note that both Democrats and
Republicans support nuclear energy; Democrats like John Kerry have
endorsed expansion of oil drilling in Alaska (while publicly opposing
drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge).
"The
only remedies against the combined threats of greenhouse gases, the
looming oil production peak, future wars for oil, and the disastrous
economic and environmental consequences remain conservation and
reduced consumption," said Nan Garrett, Georgia Green and
Spokesperson for the National Women's Caucus.
"President
Bush himself admitted that Americans' consumption of energy has grown
40 times faster than energy production over the past decade. If we
don't reduce consumption levels, we'll see violent global upheavals,
from dangerous weather patterns to food supply emergencies to new
wars over energy sources. We face the end of our own democratic
system as corporations gain greater control over ever scarcer
resources," added Ms. Garrett.
Greens have called for
land use policies that prevent sprawl and encourage walking and
bicycling to jobs and stores; increased funding for public
transportation; major increases in mileage requirements for cars and
trucks; and an end to subsidies for gas-powered cars.
"Clean,
renewable alternative energy -- wind and solar power, hydrogen and
fuel cell development, and other technologies -- is urgently
necessary, but won't be sufficient at this late date to thwart global
warming," said Mark Dunlea, New York delegate to the national
party and former national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe
Energy. "Conservation and equitable distribution of energy and
other resources must be the great national and global project of the
21st century. It's one of the reasons the Green Party exists."
MORE INFORMATION
The Green Party of the United
States
http://www.gp.org
1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
Washington, DC
20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
"Nuclear
power is the problem, not a solution" by Dr. Helen Caldicott
The Australian, April 13, 2005
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12835747%5E12332,00.html
http://www.truthout.org/issues_05/041405EB.shtml
"The Climate of Man" by Elizabeth Kolbert
Parts 1 & 2 of a three part series
The New Yorker, April
25 and May 2, 2005
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050425fa_fact3
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050502fa_fact3
"Ahmad Chalabi Takes Over Iraq Oil Ministry"
Reuters, April 28, 2005
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050428/ts_nm/iraq_government_oil_d\c
"Climate change poses threat to food supply,
scientists say"
By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor
The
Independent (UK), 27 April 2005
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=633349
"The Long Emergency: What's going to happen as we
start running out of cheap gas to guzzle?" by James Howard
Kunstler
Rolling Stone, April 13, 2005
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/7203633?rnd=1113403451890&has-player\=true&version=6.0.12.1059
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0413-28.htm
"Two-thirds of world's resources 'used up'" by
Tim Radford, science editor
The Guardian, March 30, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/science/story/0,12996,1447921,00.html
Wangari Maathai, Green and winner of the 2004 Nobel
Peace Prize, speaks on conservation:
"Celebration of the
Coming to Force of The Kyoto protocol"
February 16, 2005
http://www.gbmna.org/a.php?id=65
~ END ~
GPDE Local News
GPDE Coordinating Council
2005 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
PROPOSED AGENDA
5/21/05 - 10:00 - 3:00 PM
4W5 Street Cafe
10:00 - 10:15 AM
-Registration and gathering
10:15 - 10:30 AM
-Call to order - J. Roy Cannon, Chair, GPDE Coordinating Council
-Additions to and vote
to approve proposed agenda
-Approval of 2004 Annual Meeting minutes
10:30 - 11:00 AM
-GPDE Coordinating
Council 2005 Annual Report - J. Roy Cannon
-Treasurers Report - John Atkeison
-GPDE National Representative to GPUS Report - John Atkeison
-Newark Local Report - Phil Goldstein
-Wilmington Local Report - Karen Igou
-Mid-County Local Report - Bob Bohm
-Kent County Local Report - Phil Troxler
11:00 - 11:30 PM
-Elections: (1) CC
member at-large; (1) National Representative to GPUS (both have two
year terms serving on the GPDE Coordinating Council)
-Discussion and proposal to lower percentage Local's contribute to
GPDE - Wilmington Local
-Discussion and proposal to lay down Mid-County Local - David
McCorquodale
11:30 - 12:00 PM
-Open floor for proposals from membership
12:00 - 1:00 PM
- LUNCH (please support 4W5 Cafe by eating here)*
1:00 -
1:45 PM
-Keynote
speech and discussion - Pat LaMarche, 2004 Green Party
Vice-Presidential candidate
1:45 - 2:30 PM
-Desmond Kahn - Developing local issues
-Karen Igou - Sustainability/voluntary simplicity
2:30 - 3:00
PM
-Closing remarks
and clean-up
*The Green Party of Delaware wishes to thank
the owner and workers at 4W5 Cafe for generously giving us space
and equipment to hold our Annual Meeting in their establishment.
Green Things
National Broadcast Exclusive: Ousted Haitian
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide Speaks From Exile
In a
Democracy Now national broadcast exclusive, we spend the hour with
ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Fourteen months ago,
Aristide was flown to the Central African Republic in what he called
a modern-day kidnapping in the service of a coup d'etat backed by the
United States. Two weeks after his ouster, he defied Washington and
returned to the Caribbean accompanied by a delegation of U.S. and
Jamaican lawmakers. Aristide was eventually granted asylum in South
Africa, where he now lives.
In the first extended interview
in this country since his exile, we speak with President Aristide
about the ailing ousted Prime Minister Yvon Neptune, whether he will
return to Haiti, the continuation of the "black holocaust"
and much more. [includes rush transcript]
Haiti's former Prime
Minister Yvon Neptune remains near death. He has been on a hunger
strike for over three weeks. He was imprisoned in June and has yet to
see a judge in his case.
Meanwhile, the convictions of 38
Haitian former military leaders convicted of atrocities in 1994 have
been annulled. Among them could be Louis Jodel Chamblain, the death
squad leader who helped lead last year's coup.
Submitted by:
Vic Sadot
VasYVic@aol.com
*
THE BIGGEST MEDIA
SIN
by Sam Smith
WHICH
AMERICAN political party best reflects the views of a majority of
citizens on the Iraq war, environmental issues, health care, campaign
financing, population growth, genetically modified foods, and
marijuana use?
The answer, based on various polls, is the Green
Party.
That you may not be aware of this points to a problem with
American journalism far more important than plagiarism, blogs, or Fox
News, namely that our media - for all its professed objectivity - is
stunningly biased towards the views of the American elite and
particularly those who buy space in their papers or time on their
channels.
On the environmental issue alone, the Green Party has
been proven by the latest scientific data far more prescient and sane
than either of the older parties. Yet the media prefers to dismiss,
discredit or disregard the Greens as well as leaders who share their
views such as David Cobb or Ralph Nader.
But let's assume for a
moment that one is not entitled to coverage simply for being right
and let's adopt the childish media view that the only ideas that
count are those that demonstrate sufficient strength at the polls.
We're still left with all those Americans who agree with the Greens
and don't know it:
- The 52% of Americans who think Iraq war
was not worth fighting.
- The resolutions critical of the Patriot
Act that have been passed in 378 communities in 43 states including
six state-wide resolutions.
- The 68% who find the "problems
of the global environment: global warming, destruction of
rainforests, destruction of species, loss of ozone layer" to be
very or extremely important to their life.
- The 62% of
Americans who support universal health coverage as opposed to the
current system.
- The 68% of the public who support a version of
public campaign financing used in several states.
- The 78% who
think population is growing too fast.
- The 80% or more of
Americans who believe "protecting the environment will require
most of us to make major changes in the way we live," that an
underlying cause of environmental problems is that "the way we
live produces too much waste," that "we focus too much on
getting what we want now and not enough on future generations,"
that "we need to treat the earth as a living system," and
that "Americans should have more respect and reverence for
Nature."
- The 61% of the American public who oppose
arresting and jailing nonviolent marijuana smokers.
- The 76% who
believe that large companies have too much concentrated power.
-
The 73% who agree with the statement: "I regard myself as a
citizen of the world as well as a citizen of the United States."
Why do we hardly ever see any of these folks on cable
television, on the op ed pages of the Washington Post or the New York
Times, or mentioned in political analyses? It would be interesting,
for example, for a columnist to attempt to square the red vs. blue,
Christian vs. secular dichotomies currently in fashion with some of
the data above. Or to ask the question: do our elites want us to hate
each other so we don't find out what's really on our minds? And what
we have in common?
The Harris polling people report that over
the past ten years 31 million Americans have had someone close to
them die after the removal of life support systems, but the media
would have us believe it only happened once in Florida. 30,999,999
true stories left untold so one more myth can be created.
Here
then is the real sin of America's media: It has created an America it
chooses to see, not the one that exists. It has denied access to its
pages and its channels to voices representing the majority or even
greater percentages of Americans on key issues. And it has made us
dislike each other even when on many of the critical issues that it
ignores or distorts we have much in common.
http://prorev.com/mediasin.htm
Submitted by: David McCorquodale
mccorq@comcast.net and
John Atkeison john@atkeison.org
*
Interested in Green News Around the World?
Green Party of
the U.S. News Circulator for 5/2/05-5/9/05
For more Green
Party news go to http://web.greens.org/news/
1) GERMANY: DEMANDS TO WITHDRAW US TACTICAL WPNS HEARD IN
GERMANY
2) ENGLAND: GENERAL ELECTION 2005: BOOKMAKER'S ELECTION
VIEW; DALE TEMPEST SKYBET
3) IRAN: NUCLEAR-GERMANY-COAL
4)
GERMANY: E ON SPEAKS OUT AGAINST GREENS (EON: KAMPAGNE GEGEN GRUNE)
5) GERMANY: GERMAN DEFICIT SET TO BREACH EU RULES THIS YEAR:
GREEN PARTY
6) CANADA: WE ASK THE LEADERS WHAT THEY HOPE TO DO
TONIGHT
7) CANADA: GREEN'S WON'T ENDORSE, BUT LIKE ELECTORAL
REFORM
8) ENGLAND: FEATURE - COULD BRIGHTON SEE FIRST GREEN MP?;
RICHARD BAGLEY LOOKS AT WHAT'S ON OFFER IN THE GREEN PARTY'S ELECTION
MANIFESTO
9) ENGLAND: GREENS' CITY RAIL PLAN
10) ENGLAND:
MEANWHILE, LABOUR WIN TEEN POLL
11) CANADA: PANEL PICKS CARR AS
TV DEBATE WINNER: GREEN LEADER HAS 'SO
MUCH COMMON SENSE'
12)
IRELAND: ASTHMA IS AFFECTING ONE IN FIVE SAY GREENS;
13) ENGLAND:
GENERAL ELECTION 2005: STUDENTS 'NOT GIVEN POLLING CARDS
14)
CANADA: BACK ROOMS; WORSE THAN FAST FERRIES
15) ENGLAND: GOING
NUCLEAR
16): GREY DEBATE RELIEVED BY DIRECT ANSWER
17)
ENGLAND: NUCLEAR AGE SAW DOCKYARD SHRINK
18) WASHINGTON D.C.:
'INCREMENTS' TOO SLOW FOR STATEHOOD SUPPORTERS
19) CANADA: GREEN
CANDIDATE BLASTED FOR CUTTING DOWN TREES
20) ENGLAND: BRIGHTON
PAVILION: LEPPER NOTCHES UP A HAT-TRICK
21) ENGLAND: NO SEATS FOR
THE GREENS
22) ENGLAND: GREEN PARTY TURNS TO ICE FOR PUBLICITY
23) PENNSYLVANIAN: CITIZENS UNITE AGAINST CASINO
24) CANADA:
FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY THROUGH BLUFFS TIGHTENS THE RACE:
LIBERALS
ANGERED MANY WEST VAN VOTERS WITH SEA TO SKY UPGRADE DECISION
25)
IRELAND: Greens deplore 'bypassing of people' on EU policy decisions
26) ENGLAND: ELECTION 2005: GREENS FAIL TO WIN FIRST
PARLIAMENTARY SEAT
BUT THE SHOWING WAS RESPECTABLE
27) NEW
ZEALAND: CANDIDATE SELECTED
28) ENGLAND: THE GREEN PARTY CAPTURED
ITS FIRST COUNTY COUNCIL SEAT IN
NORFOLK.
29) ESTONIA:
ESTONIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO SET UP GREEN PARTY
30) SCOTLAND:
POLITICAL MINNOWS DEMAND ELECTORAL REFORM
Green
Action
The Tightening Noose
Latino Immigrants, Racism, and
Vigilantism in Delaware
A panel discussion sponsored by the
Phoenix Community in Delaware, Inc.
Sunday, May 22, 2005, 7:00
p.m.
New Ark United Church of Christ Wells Hall, 300 E. Main
Street, Newark, Delaware
Newark, May 12, 2005' Latino
activist and their allies, incensed by a proposed Elsmere ordinance
to roust immigrants suspected of lacking proper documents, will
discuss this and other immigrant issues at a May 22 panel sponsored
by the Phoenix Community in Delaware.
The program will take
place at the New Ark United Church of Christ Wells Hall, 300 East
Main Street in Newark, at 7:00 pm. A $5 donation is requested. Coffee
and dessert will be served.
Participating in the panel will
be Francisco Ramirez, President of the Canby Park Civic Association,
Cecilia Cardesa-Lusardi, activist with Voices Without Borders, and
Drewry Fennel, Executive Director of the Delaware ACLU.
Says
Phoenix Community Vice-President Phillip Bannowsky, 'the Elsmere
fiasco is only the latest outrage against the Latino immigrant
community. In Claymont, the proposed Renaissance Project threatens to
exile hundreds of poor and immigrant residents living in Brookview
with little concern for their housing and transportation needs. In
Sussex County, many agricultural workers are refugees from a
genocidal war in Guatemala, and raids by Immigration and
Naturalization Service officers are a cruel reward for folks who keep
us in cheap chicken and French fries. Scapegoating immigrant workers
is a diversion from issues that unite Americans such as economic
globalization, the suppression of trade-union rights, and the retreat
from Human Rights generally by the current administration.'
The
Phoenix Community in Delaware, Inc. is an ecumenical ministry with a
global perspective since 1954.
Submitted by: Phillip
Bannowsky <pbannow@comcast.net>
*
Peoples' Dioxin Pile Resolution
http://www.greendel.org/item.xhtml?name=dioxinpileresolution
SYNOPSIS:
"This Concurrent Resolution calls for
the removal of the DuPont Edgemoor "Dioxin Pile" for proper
treatment and disposal. In addition, it commends those Delaware
citizens who have investigated the situation."
143rd
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
_______CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. ____
SEEKING
THE REMOVAL OF A 500 THOUSAND TON PILE OF WASTES (THE "DIOXIN
PILE") FROM THE BANKS OF THE DELAWARE RIVER AND SHELLPOT CREEK
IN THE COMMUNITY OF EDGEMOOR, DELAWARE
WHEREAS, E.I. DuPont
de Nemours & Company (DuPont) has caused to be deposited near the
banks of the Delaware River and Shellpot, in the City of Wilmington
and near the communities of Edgemoor, a pile over 500 thousand tons
of dangerous wastes; and
WHEREAS, this waste pile is called
the "Iron Rich" pile by DuPont and the "Dioxin Pile"
by others; and
WHEREAS, both the United States Environmental
Protection Agency and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources
have determined that wastes of this nature are "hazardous;"
and
WHEREAS, the Dioxin Pile contains over three hundred
pounds of dioxins and over one hundred thousand pounds of radioactive
uranium and thorium, and many other poisonous and cancer-causing
materials including lead, chromium, arsenic, and PCBs; and
WHEREAS,
residents of the area are already suffering from many health
problems, and desire to improve their health and quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control made agreements with DuPont regarding the
Dioxin Pile without conducting independent investigations or
meaningful consultations with the community; and
WHEREAS,
Over six hundred people have already signed petitions, testified at
public meetings or hearings, or otherwise requested that the Dioxin
Pile be removed for proper treatment and disposal; and
WHEREAS,
the Dioxin Pile, if allowed to remain in place could represent a
permanent threat to the Delaware River and marine life dwelling
therein, and to the health and quality of life of area residents; and
WHEREAS, to allow the Dioxin Pile to remain in place would be
inconsistent with the intent of fundamental state and Federal
environmental laws and regulations; and
WHEREAS, treatment
facilities and technologies for the proper management of these wastes
are available; and
WHEREAS, no form of "stabilization,"
or "encapsulation" at the present environmentally sensitive
location is acceptable;
NOW, THEREFORE;
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the 143rd General Assembly of the State of
Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the
DuPont Edgemoor Dioxin Pile be removed for proper treatment and
disposal.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DuPont is encouraged to
alter the processes used at the Edgemoor Plant so as to reduce or
eliminate future production of dangerous wastes.
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the Senate commend the efforts
of those Delawarean's who have investigated the Dioxin Pile.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to
the Secretary of the DNREC and the Chairman and Directors of the
DuPont Company.
SYNOPSIS
This Senate Concurrent
Resolution calls for the removal of the DuPont Edgemoor "Dioxin
Pile" for proper treatment and disposal. In addition, it
commends those Delaware citizens who have investigated the situation.
Submitted by: Alan Muller amuller@dca.net
Letters to the Editor and Editorials
Green Urges Consideration of Alternative Fuels
I wonder
why The News Journal decided to put the 'smoking gun' piece
proving global climate change on page 9 of the 4/29/05 paper. Is it
because even though an American NASA scientist says it's real they
still aren't buying it? Is it because they don't want to incite
fear in a society so manipulated by media? Or is it because The News
Journal is, as so many are, entrenched in our capitalist,
short-sighted society to the point that they don't want to
acknowledge what is now proven true. Dependence on oil by America and
other industrialized nations is destroying the earth as we know it.
Maybe 'technology' will keep up with the changes and I shouldn't
be worried, but I was taught to have a savings account.
Drilling in ANWAR will give us so little oil in the big picture. Why
are we putting it off? PLEASE consider alternative fuels.
Karen
Igou
*
Greens Respond to Tim Sheldon's Support of
the Churchman's Road Extension Proposal
Tim Sheldon's
Letter:
New Castle County Council has passed the attached
Resolution supporting the Churchmans Road Extension. I am
requesting that you look into the reasonings that DELDOT has for
cutting this project from the FY 2006 budget.
This project
has been in the works for many years and has many citizens, civic
groups, and legislators anxious and eager to move forward with this
plan. The Christiana Hospital is undergoing an expansion and
has undergone expansions in the past years to accommodate the needs
of our citizens and neighboring counties. The surrounding
roadways and intersections severely hinder access to the hospital by
emergency vehicles, personnel and patients in need. This
increases the crucial time needed for urgent medical treatment.
Gary Ferguson, Chief Operating Officer of Christiana
Hospital, supports this project, stating that this access would help
reduce traffic back up at both entrances to the hospital for
patients, visitors and employees. (A copy of this letter is
available, if interested.)
Colonel David McAllister, Chief of
New Castle County Police, also is in support of the extension of
Churchmans Road. He believes that the project would
significantly decrease emergency response times in the area. He
also states that it would reduce traffic on secondary roadways that
were not originally designed to manage the excessive overflow
traffic. (A copy of this letter is available, if interested.)
David
Wilson, Chief of Mill Creek Fire Company, also writes in support of
this project. His reasons for his support is that it would
increase service to residents and businesses by improving access to
Christiana Hospital, especially during peak traffic hours. (A copy of
this letter is available, if interested)
William Fasy, Chief
Operating Officer of Delaware Park, asserts that Delaware Park
officials are looking forward to continue being a good neighbor
locally and continuing to work constructively with State, County and
local agencies and community groups regarding projects and
improvements that reasonably serve the collective best interests of
the State and our community. (A copy of this letter is available, if
interested)
I am asking the Governor, DELDOT and you to
re-examine this project for the FY2006 budget. With the
hospital and police, fire and medical Officials all supporting this
project for public safety reasons, I do not understand why DELDOT
would cut this project out of the budget. This project is one
that is essential to the public safety of our citizens!
Thank
you for your time. If you would like to address any of the
concerns or discuss this project, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Timothy P. Sheldon
New Castle County
Council
Ninth District
(302) 395-8349
*
Dear
Tim --
Thank you for sending me a copy of County Council's
resolution supporting the extension of Churchman's Road through
Delaware Park.
The issue before the Bond Bill
Committee is not funding for the extension -- rather, it is funding
for a feasibility study to determine the pros and cons of extending
Churchman's Road through Delaware Park.
I, for one,
will not support the extension unless/until a comprehensive study is
completed and we know what the impact of such an extension would be.
For example, the White Clay Creek would certainly be affected by
stormwater run-off from the extension. Given the flooding
problems we have had in communities along the White Clay Creek
(Newkirk Estates, Brookhaven, Sheffield Manor, Rutherford -- and
indirectly in Glenville and Stanton Crest) I am not going to support
adding millions of square feet of impervious material to the White
Clay Creek floodplain until I know how all of the stormwater can be
contained and not end up in the living rooms of our constituents.
Second, a traffic impact study is crucial in deciding whether or
not to move forward with such a project. I would not
support the extension if it negatively impacts the already-overloaded
Kirkwood Highway. Without a study, we will never know if it
does or doesn't.
Third, Delaware Park has already
indicated that it will not support building a bridge over the
railroad tracks that the extension would have to cross. That
leaves only one option -- an underpass. As we have learned from
the underpass at Stanton Industrial Park, building traffic
underpasses in floodplains is not a good idea.
I think
that these are all legitimate issues that need comprehensive study
before anybody starts clamoring for the extension. Therefore, I
support a study -- and depending on the findings of the study, I may
or may not support the extension.
Karen Igou
KarenLienau@aol.com
*
I, for one,
stand opposed to the project.
Building more roads like this
one will increase traffic congestion ("build it and they will
come"), will add to the already unacceptable poor air quality
(Christiana Hospital will really need to expand to treat all the
increasing cancer patients that will come their way), and will
continue to divert funds desperately needed to develop quality,
available and affordable mass transit options.
I urge NCCo
citizens to look beyond the short sighted needs of the moment and
consider our longer term future in making decisions such as these.
Let's put people to work creating a better place to live, not just
create work that that will eventually drive people away.
J.
Roy Cannon
2004 Green Party Candidate - NCCo Council, 9th
District
Share your ideas and your actions for a
better community and world. Submit your letters to the editor at
jcannon11@comcast.net
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