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Water vs. Football
by Lucy Dunn, President and CEO |
Sep 29, 2009
Comments: 10 |
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The press reported recently that an L.A. businessman wants to build a 75,000-seat football stadium in the City of Industry. Now that local objections to the project have been settled, the state legislature plans to waive environmental and planning rules for the new structure, arguing that the stadium is a job-creating machine. A bill granting that waiver, which bends rules every other builder must comply with, passed the state Assembly earlier this month and now awaits approval from the Senate. I don't get it. How can the state legislature even propose to "bend the rules" to complete a stadium for a mere Sunday afternoon sporting event but they can't "bend the rules" to get water to one half of the state's population? No government in the history of civilized society has turned off a water supply for its people until now. Because of a protected fish, water pumps have been turned off, drying food-producing fields, killing jobs in Central California, and threatening water supply for all of Southern California. Water rates are skyrocketing and mandatory conservation, even water rationing, is the order of the day. Are special interests standing up to fight to complete the state's water system by seeking environmental short-cuts? I haven't seen it yet, however, they were reportedly supportive of short-cuts for the promise of jobs to create a new football stadium. And what about the other designer environmental laws, such as AB 32 global warming? And SB 375 greenhouse gas reductions? Apparently the ref didn't see it. Governor Ronald Reagan may have signed CEQA into law, but even The Gipper would acknowledge an "offsides" here.
In any event, it shouldn't be water vs. football. It should be water and football, and roads and bridges, and schools, and you name it. Bottom line: if an environmental exemption is appropriate for a football stadium, it's appropriate for all major infrastructure projects that can create jobs in this tough economy. Touchdown! Game won!
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| We're Not Draining the Delta - It's Being Replenish by Nature!!! |
Dec 27, 2009
User: Catherine Paquette-Richardson |
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We're not draining the delta. It's being replenished by nature every year! Some years more than others. The delta smelt is being affected by much more than the water pumps and so is the ecosystem, habitat. Turning the water pumps off was a mean act of mean people who don't want to share the water and abide by contracts and agreements made long ago. They also don't like our Southern California lifestyles, have judged us and want to dictate how we should live -- in dense cities, nevermind that a higher standard of living is having space. There is abundance in this world and in California. We are not focusing on it. The only drought we have in all of our resources are self imposed by self serving, mean people. We need to stop listening to them.
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| The Food Chain is Not that Fragile!! |
Dec 21, 2009
User: reason & liberty |
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The food chain is not that fragile!! But, to make the people believe that it is gives politicians, our government, the power to enact legislation to control business and people. This is exactly what is happening. Radical environmentalism coupled with radical political agendas not in line with our U.S. Constitution is destroying our country. Yes, let's hear from all the experts and scientists and not intimidate or shut out the voice that differs.
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| long term effects of ignoring water crisis |
Oct 29, 2009
User: deb m |
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I think the little fish arent the issue. it's the long term effects of draining the delta. trying to make a complex problem a sound bite doesnt serve any of us well. the food chain is fragile. we owe it to ourselves to listen to scientists and experts. and waiving the football stadium environmental rules doesn't make it ok either. and i like football.
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| Farmers before football |
Sep 30, 2009
User: George Malouf |
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Lucy, I agree with you 100%. We recently drove up the central valley and witnessed the dead fruit trees lining I-5. The scene evoked a visceral anger that still burns me. Only one thing left to do: throw the bums out!
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| Right to the last drop |
Sep 30, 2009
User: Tom |
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Keep the message going. What's next to bring your message to a broader audience?
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| But Lucy... |
Sep 29, 2009
User: Kyle Hjelmeseth |
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We're not talking about a "a mere Sunday afternoon sporting event." We're talking about FOOTBALL!
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| Throw the flag |
Sep 29, 2009
User: Rebecca Hall |
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Great message Lucy! I'm glad you are throwing a flag on the field and asking the refs to "review the play." I'm in the cheering section for both jobs and the environment (not one against the other).
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| delta smelts beware |
Sep 29, 2009
User: Pat Neal |
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Bravo Lucy - how will the environmental community explain this Solomon choice. Jobs, yes- we need them, but that hasn't been a consideration when housing and transportation projects have been shot down or held hostage by environmental interests and local communities. What type ransom was paid , I wonder.
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| But they like football |
Sep 29, 2009
User: Rational realist |
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This will not be just a football stadium. It will be the perfect venue for these goverment hacks to do business. It's not just the jobs but the carrots to dangle in front of special interests. They can be romanced with tickets, advertising dollars and long term contracts. You can't do that with tiny fish or acres of crops.
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| Now that mezzo has sung |
Sep 29, 2009
User: Pat Kapp |
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Lucy, Now the mezzo has sung we need to get the entire orchestra read the music and play together for water, roads and our education system. Thank you for your thoughts. You hit all the high notes.
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