The Star was absolutely correct to label ADEM as “weak-kneed” in its recent editorial, “A Fight Joined — The State and Monsanto.” The Star has documented many times how ADEM’s shoddy, pro-industry behavior contributed to the deepening environmental morass our community finds itself in because of PCB exposure. Yet ironically, The Star seems to have total trust in ADEM’s regulation of the Army’s chemical weapon incinerator, which is scheduled to begin burning these deadly agents in our community later this year.Why is The Star not concerned that ADEM has limited the contractor’s liability to $1 million per incident, restricted the Army’s liability to accidents on post, and failed to require the Army to set aside any funds for financial responsibility in the event of an accident? The Reutter Wade report shows that the toxicity of the agents stored in our backyard is many times greater than ADEM’s permit assumes, yet ADEM decided to halt consideration of any updated data regarding toxicity. Why is The Star not concerned about this as well?
ADEM is the only regulatory agency making decisions about the accuracy of the Army’s permit assertions and the safety of its procedures. It is more than a little strange that The Star would find ADEM to be “weak-kneed” when it comes to Monsanto but a legitimate protector of our citizens when it comes to the chemical weapons incinerator.
Judy Lawrence
Anniston
Judge Roy
I would like to say that I was surprised to see that your Speak Out column had more readers defend the remarks of Judge Roy Moore than those that condemned his remarks. I am not surprised. Nor am I surprised that every time someone needs to make a joke about cousins dating and marrying one another, or anytime someone needs a character they can look down on, like the Banjo Boy in the movie Deliverance, they use Alabama.
Why don’t you use the same space in your paper afforded to Judge Moore, and his comments, to report the mass exodus of your best and your brightest fleeing your state in droves; with college degree in hand, looking for a better place to live and work.
Write about the many people, such as myself, that figured out some time ago that indeed I-20 leads to better places.
Do you people even care what is being said about you? Apparently not.
I was in line at a local restaurant a couple of weeks ago when I overheard two people talking about an article that was published that week, that said evolution on earth was over.
Bad news for Alabama. But then, is it not your official policy in public schools in Alabama to ignore the teaching of evolution anyway.
If it apparently has not caught on there, so why teach it?
People such as Judge Roy Moore, and his comments, can do harm to your state, more than you think. I know people who will not even allow for a connecting flight through your state, much less vacation there and spend money.
You can run all the ads you want to on television commercials that say “Come See Alabama,” the takers are few. It’s image people, image. And your state has a terrible one, surely someone cares?
Tim Robertson
Atlanta, Ga.
Former Anniston resident
Editor’s note: Banjo Boy was a Georgian.
Regarding 'Favorites’
A quick “thank you” for putting this aspect of the 3rd District race in perspective for the voters. Washington influence and money does taint the race and I resent that as a candidate and as a citizen.
The people of this district deserve a fair chance to hear what the candidates in this race have to say and they deserve the chance to make up their own minds. This assault of beltway-insider soft-money at this point in the race is a slap in the face to democracy itself. I applaud you for bringing it to the people’s attention.
Jason Dial
Anniston
