Letter to the Editor, Posted: 8/16/05
TO THE EDITOR:
Does the end justify the means, and what price do you put on your integrity?
These are the questions I believe should be asked after Thursdayís City Council night work session.
After abstaining week after week on the Green Acres rezoning issue, because of a potential conflict of interest, (and the rezoning was denied 2-2 vote) Councilwoman Kathy Blomquist has now decided she will ìprobablyî vote on Aug. 22 to rescind the 2-2 vote.
As an employee of Ecumen, the organization that runs the nursing home, she, in my opinion, has a direct conflict of interest. You must ask these questions -who does she get her pay check from? Who can fire her or promote her? Who benefits from her vote??
Whether you believe we should put 146 houses on that pristine piece of property, weaken our infrastructure, increase property taxes, (as residential development does not pay for itself) or whatever, a conflict of interest does exist.
Kathy has repeatedly blown off all rumors that she would change her mind and vote. No is No!
Well, not really. Last night proved that wasnít the case.
As a self-proclaimed environmentalist, I canít believe that she could possibly vote to rezone to a ëpack and stackí development.
She did (offer) to vote with some stipulations. They donít amount, at this point, to a ìhill of beans.î
Seventy of the 80 acres are in the wildlife corridor and have, according to the state study, the possibility of having endangered species there. Also we must take into consideration the already impaired Sunrise River.
Once the trees are gone, it takes years to replace. Wildlife may never return to manmade wetlands.
After attending numerous county and city meetings, I can only remember one alternative way to fund this and that was a bond and the county decided against it. So taxpayers will forfeit the county-owned 80 acres, the city will give TIF and so on and so on.
Our seniors deserve better than the back of Tanger Mall. The old Green Acres property, which I wish you all could go walk, deserves better than being ìmined.î Too bad this project couldnít have been better planned. Donít the seniors we are all so arduously jumping up and down to protect, deserve better? THINK!
Barbara Burrington
North Branch
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