Document text
SATURDAY April 3 , 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 23, 2003 Fighting for air quality standards makes sense It's good for the economy, we are told. It will bring jobs, we are assured. It will improve quality of life, we are instructed. Mostly, it will not damage the environment, we are promised. Sorry, but we don't buy it. Jackson County Board of Commissioners is "lending its support," to ease air quality restrictions in the county with the hopes of luring more industrial business, according to recent news reports. The board is on the record as saying the easing of restrictions won't significantly increase pollutants in the Valley. We urge stiff opposition to those plans. Trying to build the local economy on the bricks of industrial plants runs counter to the very strengths the region has to offer. It may be largely anecdotal evidence, but how often do people cite the environment, the clean air and the lack of urban congestion as key reasons for their ending up here? While it's true the entire region needs to look for ways to boost its economy and the jobs it offers local residents, lowering air quality restrictions is not the answer. Building on the region's strengths is far better. These strengths include chiefly among others, tourism. Tourism is the cleanest industry among many that can sustain an area. People come, spend money and leave. You don't have to build schools, or increase public utilities and other expensive infrastructure. Rarely do cities have to rapidly expand their police force or city staff to accommodate a growing tourist trade. Yet, tourists pour economic vitality into the region. The Jackson County Commissioners would have us believe cars are the great evil of air quality. In a recent meeting the board asked the staff to report back how to lessen the negative impact of cars. We think this is like asking a rock musician deaf from years of concerts to clean out his ears with a Q-tip. while they may need cleaning, the larger problem remains. Cars are an essential part of our society. Cars bring the vast majority of those tourists who bolster our economy. Yes, we need to be more responsible with our automobiles and the pollution they cause. But somehow trying to shift staff attention to the issue of cars while trying to lessen air quality standards on a much broader level seems more like political spin than genuine concern. We would welcome and support the county rejecting the lowering of air quality standards, while exploring ways to reduce individual pollution. Lowering air quality standards jeopardizes one of the greatest assets the region has to offer and compromises the quality of life we all enjoy. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: The new search is here! Click here for more information. .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams