Whether it’s extreme environmentalists putting up roadblocks to any economic development project they don’t like, or militant unions driving away business, or losses of demand for certain products, ports up and down the West Coast are struggling. A recent editorial in the Longview Daily News specifically calls out extreme “green” activists for making circumstances worse with their unjustifiable demands and claims. The editorial reads,
“During this down time we continue to hear the ‘We can do better’ voices shout to the rafters every time a new project is proposed. After listening to ‘We can do better’ for years now, we hope the community at large sees this slogan for what it is … a myth that’s not coming true.”
The editorial goes on to points out that investments worth hundreds of millions and even billions are being proposed in areas like Longview and Vancouver. However, these investments are being shut down. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in Cowlitz County continues to sit well above the state and national average at 7%. Yet, new industry and jobs are turned down “like it doesn’t matter.” The Longview Daily News,
“We read the ‘spin’ about coal dust in TDN’s Letters to the Editor. What some of you might not know is that 44 coal trains roll through Kelso every week on the way to Centralia. That’s 44 coal trains a week or about 2,288 coal trains every year. These trains have been coming through Kelso for years.
“Go to the Kelso train station and look for the coal dust. You won’t find any.”
The editorial concludes with the simple, honest truth: communities must find a “reasonable balance between environmental concerns and growing the local economy.” If that doesn’t happen, working families will continue to bear the brunt of the consequences. The Longview Daily News,
“Employees here at TDN have spouses who, in some cases, have not been able to find a job in years. That’s just not acceptable. So as we look at the bigger picture it’s clear ports up and down the coast will be vying for every possible project. It will be tough enough to attract significant investment to our community, but it will be almost impossible if we keep thinking we can do better.”
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