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Toxic Town Response From
Reader
December 2002
Dear Betty,
Thank you for your excellent article on
"Toxic Town;" it's one of the most articulate and cogent explanations of
this horrible situation that anyone in the media has dared to report. You
obviously have done your homework, and have brought to light the
mind-boggling, deceptive tactics that have been used by these corporations
at the expense of the health of Metroplex citizens. The amazing thing, as
your article explains very well, is that the TCEQ (formerly TNRCC), our
supposed State "watchdog and monitoring agency," is so "in the pocket" of
these companies and so UNWILLING to do the job WE THE CITIZENS PAY THEM TO
DO!
Thank you, also, for recognizing the very
brave citizens who have worked so hard, on a VOLUNTEER basis, to try to
remedy this situation.....it's a thankless task. The "average citizen" in
the Metroplex has no concept of the enormous TIME, ENERGY, RESOURCES, and,
yes, MONEY, it takes for this "David vs. Goliath" battle. The CORPORATE
POLLUTERS have endless streams of money and attorneys at their disposal, and
it's a double insult when the very agency that's supposedly protecting our
rights not only fails to do so, but hands these polluters OUR precious money
as well. WHY AREN'T THEY HELPING TO PAY OUR LEGAL COSTS, as well, since
WE'RE HAVING TO DO THEIR JOB TO PROTECT THE CITIZENS' HEALTH? Your article
points out just how SCEWED this whole scenario has become!
And, last but not least, thanks for
recognizing brave citizens and organizations like DOWNWINDERS AT RISK and
BLUE SKIES ALLIANCE for the countless hours spent on digging up the TRUTH,
the mind-numbing statistics, doing the research, and going to countless
meetings and hearings to try to protect our health. For those of us who have
made our voices heard at numerous TNRCC hearings, meetings, etc., we
appreciate the vigilance of such dedicated organizations. It's yeomen's
duty, and all the citizens of the Metroplex should say thank-you by opening
their wallets to make a generous end-of-the-year contribution to help their
valiant efforts. After all, they seem to be the only ones.....the lone
voices in the "Texas environmental protection wilderness" looking out for
our best interests and health.
Please feel free to print my letter in the
Letters to the Editor. The citizens of the Metroplex need to be aware of WHO
IS POISONING THEM NOW.
Here's to CLEAN AIR SOON!
Esther McElfish- Ft. Worth,TX |
