Coastal voices: No-growth stand is unfriendly

Why are people against Wal Mart?

Why do we allow a few of our friends to dictate what kind of businesses are located in Crescent City? Recently a certain faction has decided to tie up Wal-Mart's effort to build a larger store in our town. Don't they realize that a new Wal-Mart will create about 170 permanent jobs for this area, not to mention the temporary jobs while it is being built?

Our young people leave the area because there are no jobs and here is a company that wants to add jobs. But a few people that want no growth here manage to tie things up for years and cost the county considerable sums of money to defend such actions and usually the outcome is the same — the store is allowed to be built.

At the same time a 150-unit apartment complex, that is directly behind where the Wal-Mart would be built was not subjected to the same scrutiny by our friends. It is also on the same creek that these folks say would be harmed by Wal-Mart's construction. How is it possible that one project will damage the environment and the other will not — according to our friends?

It has also come to my attention that our friends are opposed to the new airport terminal because it will harm the environment. How? It is in a fairly remote area and, for every acre of the wetlands that are used for the new terminal, it is my understanding that 3 acres must be given by the county to replace that one acre. Sounds like a pretty good exchange to me. Our little airport is vital to our emergency services here, not to mention tourism, but it is nearly 60 years old and in need of replacement.

There are only three roads into and out of Crescent City that I'm aware of, so what happens if a natural disaster, such as a tsunami or earthquake, closes all or most of them? The only way in or out for emergency services or food would be by air. But our friends would have you believe that we should not only not allow the new terminal to be built but the old one should be closed and passengers should be bussed to Arcata in order to catch a flight. That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. And it would affect not just Crescent City but communities at least as far north as Gold Beach, because they consider it their airport, too.

I'm all for the environment but people should come first. They want you to believe that horrible things will happen if we allow a newer Wal-Mart and a new airport terminal to be built. I seriously doubt that the world will end if that happens.

Both our elected county officials and Wal-Mart are bending over backwards to not hurt the environment on both of these issues. But that's not good enough for a few people — they want it all their way or they are going to have a fit. What happens if our friends lose in court? Absolutely nothing. We as citizens of Del Norte County are still stuck with all the legal bills that have been racked up to defend this issue.

As citizens we should be outraged at what it's going to cost to defend this county against a few people who want no growth in this community. If we do not allow some growth around here then we are signing Del Norte County's eventual death warrant. With friends like these, who needs enemies?