After “participating” in the virtual town hall hosted by Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson to discuss the upcoming algal bloom season that threatens Lake Erie, I was outraged at not only the content of the meeting, but also the format.
Technology and social media should be available to enhance our political outreach, not replace it. An arbitrary angry emoji or thumbs up is not how I want to engage with my elected officials, nor is it an adequate way to express my true and deep concerns as a resident of the community. I found this platform to be inappropriate when tackling such major issues as the health and quality of our drinking water and the Lake Erie ecosystem.
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As the mayor stated in this live event, “we have a huge watershed ecosystem that is out of balance,” but where is the policy that addresses this problem? I cannot put my faith in the very agencies that issue the permits for the legalized and allowable harm to my watershed. The more permits are issued, the more revenue they generate. Will those same agencies really be the ones to turn around and initiate meaningful change?
We have to be proactive as a community in protecting our water at the source of the pollution and runoff. This means no longer pretending that voluntary measures will win the day. This means supporting more sustainable agricultural practices and preventing harmful runoff, not regulating it. It means giving Lake Erie the right to thrive and flourish as an important and delicate ecosystem. We should have the right to prohibit projects and activities that threaten the health of the lake before the harm happens.
Toledoans for Safe Water, a grassroots organization of concerned citizens, is working to enact the Lake Erie Bill of Rights. This charter amendment would establish rights for Lake Erie, giving it legal standing in court to be protected from harmful threats. We cannot afford to continue to regard Lake Erie as mere property to be used by corporate entities for waste disposal and profits. The Lake Erie Bill of Rights empowers and enables Toledoans to stand up to unsustainable projects that threaten our health, environment, and yes, even our economic prosperity.
Direct democracy takes effort from the people. We need signatures to get this issue on the ballot to give all Toledo residents a voice. I urge all who are fed up with having their rights ignored to volunteer with Toledoans for Safe Water. I want water that is safe and clean, not just legally drinkable.
MARKIE MILLER
317th Street
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First Published July 13, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
