Re: M&C G-16745:
As your appointee to the now defunct Urban Forestry Board I enthusiastically support a fine with no negotiated settlement for Chesapeake Energy for illegally clear-cutting 231 trees.
For the Fort Worth City Council to even consider this deal justifies my concerns for elimination of the board. The gas drilling ordinance already allows generous exemptions for this industry that have resulted in the tragic loss of thousands of acres of valuable Fort Worth green space.
This action has, at minimum, the appearance of deceit on the part of city staffers who advised and assured UFB members that the trees and green space of Fort Worth would remain well protected by the Tree Ordinance after the UFB duties were transferred to another board.
Further, this action indicates a vital need to reestablish the UFB with strengthened rules. As I stated in my previous letter to you of May 24, 2009, the negative impact of gas production on air quality alone requires the city to go above and beyond what other cities do to protect green space.
Several air quality studies bear out my long-held contention that Fort Worth air quality has been and is being eroded by gas drilling. We need to send a message that no person or corporation is beyond the law.
The spirit of our Tree Ordinance is defiled when we allow arrogant and powerful industries to undermine what we know to be true and just.
Sincerely-
Don Young
1 comment:
This would almost be like the federal government agreeing to free convicted tax cheats in exchange for their helping thousands of people with their tax returns. Or making deals with car thieves to allow them to work as valet parkers. Of course, as with the tax cheats and car theieves we the people should be perfectly comfortable taking CHK's words and promises to nurture the trees--after they had shown such arrogant disregard not too long ago. CHK's recent public statements and actions related to the Carter Ave. pipeline controversy make anything they say practically meaningless and not trustworthy--unless you're just like them in your morals and ethics. The City and Council seem to be very comfortable with CHK. This is even more disturbing.
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