Should residents feel guilty about their divided feelings about Micron in Clay? Although backers tend to act disgusted about residents who want solid answers to environmental concerns, given the challenges to fresh water supplies, trying to be proactive makes good sense. Many of us remember the pollution of Onondaga Lake when we thought regatta rowers who fell in the lake might glow in the dark. We live in a beautiful green place resembling paintings by English landscape artists. One problem with living in such rural splendor is the few jobs and the fact that they don’t pay very well. Weighing our options between jobs and environmental concerns is what is filling us with anxiety.
Micron will have to fill in several important wetlands, although they say they will create several others. Onondaga County seemed reluctant to release the environmental studies pertinent to Micron.
Don’t blame citizens for their caution and their desire to have good jobs against their desire to preserve the beauty of our northern suburbs. We hope we can have both if we work together.
Submitted to Syracuse Post-Standard on May 14
Nancy Brisson
Syracuse