Give everyone a voice…
17 months ago | 356 views | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend | print
We’ve been following the San Juan County Public Lands process since Sen. Bennett instigated it last spring. It was our impression that stakeholder groups would present information and proposals to Sen. Bennett and other stakeholders in an effort to see if consensus could be reached for various areas, and that San Juan County was but one of the stakeholders.

Craig Bigler’s Aug.12 article (“Future of Public Lands Uncertain as San Juan County Officials Complete Draft by the end of 2010”) suggests that instead of a legitimate public process, San Juan County Commissioners appear to be developing their own proposal, which they plan to hand off to Sen. Bennett, who will hopefully force it through the legislative process prior to his leaving office at the end of this year.

Have they forgotten that the land in question belongs to all Americans, not just citizens of San Juan County?

A “fast track” process like that which seems to be moving forward in San Juan County is no way to determine the future of these outstanding lands that are like nowhere else in the world and one of the main reasons many of us live here.

The citizens of Grand County need to be involved in creating this legislation; Behind the Rocks, Hatch Canyon, Indian Creek, Lockhart Basin are just a few examples of wilderness lands Grand County residents value and want protected.

We hope Sen. Bennett realizes how important the San Juan County lands are, not only to Grand County citizens, but people throughout America, by allowing all of us a voice.

—Mike Binyon

Moab
Share This Article |
similar stories

Update San Juan ordinances… | 2 years ago

Occupy hope… | 1 month ago

Find solutions… | 3 months ago

Peace should have place at table... | 4 years ago

Inappropriate venue… | 3 months ago

report abuse...

Express yourself:

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.