Protecting Parkland
The following speech in opposition to Crown Hydro's proposed hydropower project on park land was given at the June 17, 2009 Park Board meeting during Open Time.
June 17, 2009
Commissioners:
First I would like to thank you for your previous decisions not to spend any further time or resources on the Crown Hydro project. Now, Crown is back with a renewed request for environmental review of its proposal. Nothing material has changed, and I urge you reject this project once and for all.
On its face, an EAW may sound appealing. Why not support a fact-finding exercise? Well, there are many reasons, and the main one is that you already have more than enough information to make a decision on this proposal.
1. We know that the Park Board mission is to "permanently preserve, protect, maintain, improve and enhance its natural resources, parkland, and recreational opportunities for current and future generations."
2. We know that the public will lose control over St. Anthony Falls to a private developer and the FERC. No one can predict water flows over the next 50 to 100 years, and an EAW will not enlighten you on this topic. The FERC will have the authority to let the Falls run dry in order to produce energy.
3. We know that a FERC hydropower license will preempt local control of historic preservation issues.
4. We know from experience that this particular developer is willing to breach agreements when it serves its interests.
While it's true the DNR concluded that there are two mandatory EAW categories that could apply to this project, the DNR did not conclude that an EAW must be done. If there is no project, then there is no need for an EAW.
I urge you to stand by your earlier decisions and follow your mission: say no to Crown Hydro. Protect the Falls and this parkland for future generations.
Sincerely,
Arlene Fried Co-founder of Park Watch
Posted by Liz Wielinski on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 10:55pm
I can fisk this at great length, and will.
And I'll do it on Monday; I got stuff to do today, such as attend the send-off ceremony for the Minnesota troops of Alpha Company 452nd Combat Support Hospital - they're being deployed to Afghanistan.
For those interested, it starts at 10 in Building 505 at Fort Snelling.
Come Monday, though, it'll be time to rip Parkwatch a new one.
And why will the ol' TwoPutter rip 'em a new one?
The old-fashioned reason, Ladies and Gents: they've EARNED it.
For now, though, consider this, from the extremists at Parkwatch: They're agitating to save a parking lot, and they claim, above, several times that: "we know...."
No, they DON'T know - and they don't need no stinkin' facts that an EAW would determine.
Actually, they don't WANT facts.
The funniest/saddest thing about that ParkWatch post, on the ParkWatch website?
That "we don't need no stinkin' information" is just below this post:
Mprb Unalloted $2.5 Million For 2010 Budget
During the MPRB meeting of June 17th as part of the Superintendent's budget wrap up for 2008 he discussed the expected LGA ( Local Government Aid) unallotment allocations for the MPRB for 2009 and 2010 based on the current plan proposed by the governor.
Posted by Liz Wielinski on Thu, 06/18/2009 - 11:21pm
For you Minneapolis voters, remember next November that Liz Wielinski is a candidate for Park Board. And perhaps you might want to ask her, why roughly $300,000 per year from Crown Hydro - for rent of a parking lot - is such a "bad thing" when Governor T-Bag is looking to cut the Park Board's budget by $2,500,000?
Here's Liz's website:
http://www.lizforparks.com/Sit... |
