Another Letter of Support

Dear Editor,

Sadly, your headline, "BEC appeal delays new high school," (12/2) misplaces the blame on the Butte Environmental Council for new school construction delays, and inflames an already difficult community dilemma.

BEC is appealing the boundary line modification because it defies the California Environmental Quality Act, requiring environmentally-sensitive areas to be evaluated as a whole. Bruce Road Associates' attempt to modify boundaries and sell the land piecemeal is the very circumvention this law was designed to prevent. Mr. Goodwin, Chamber of Commerce director, calls BEC's appeal an "obstructionist act." Since when is enforcement of the law obstructionist? BEC's appeal is, instead, sound community stewardship. Our environment needs the protection encoded in state and federal laws, and these laws need guardians. BEC is acting as that guardian.

From the start, Bruce Road Associates was denied clearance for sale of the land due to environmental laws protecting Butte County meadowfoam, wetlands, and viewshed. Yet, CSUD continues to pursue this property for our new high school. Perhaps it is the best choice; however, blaming construction delays on BEC is dead wrong. BEC is simply doing what this community needs it to do -- keeping watch so that private interests do not circumvent the law and destroy Chico's irreplaceable, natural resources.

Now it's your turn, E-R to do something good for the community. In the future, please avoid incendiary headlines, pitting the education of our children against the protection of our environment. Such editorial bias serves only to antagonize community leaders most interested in working together to do what's best for Chico and our children.

Sincerely,

Jill Lacefield

This letter was published in the December 6, 1999 Chico Enterprise-Record.