It's the Golden Rule - Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A simple concept, one endorsed by most religions and taught to children when first they learn to share. (Although truth be told, my late father regularly suggested we do unto others before they do unto us. Funny one, Dad.) It's the starting point for many interesting discussions on human rights and ethics and what it means to live in a civilized community. And let's hope I can figure out a way to link the Golden Rule, the Ethic of Reciprocity, to Morrisville toilets.
Back in 2005, almost by accident, residents of the Wake county town of New Hill discovered that their community had made the short list of "Best Places in the Triangle to Locate Utilities Nobody Else Wants." In addition to hosting the Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant, New Hill was selected to become the home to a mega sewer plant. My community of Morrisville, along with Holly Springs, Apex and Cary formed the Western Wake Partners and quietly decided to plop down a shared sewer plant smack dab in the middle of historic New Hill. Before one could say "Hey, could someone jiggle the handle!" the deal was done. Property was condemned, plans were drawn, EIS' were put into motion and cost estimates were readied. That was in 2005. Enter the New Hill Community Association.
Time after time after time, going on 4 years now, this amazing group of neighbors has turned out in force to ask that the partner towns of Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, and yes, Morrisville, reconsider their choice of location for the sewer plant. And the thing is.... the New Hill residents and property owners have not taken a NIMBY stance. Far from it. They have asked only that the Western Wake Partners move our sewer plant about a mile down the road, from the front porch of historic New Hill, to the backyard of the community. The very definition of win-win.
Which brings us back to the Golden Rule. I'm quite sure do unto others applies to pumping sewage into your neighbor's community. Unless my dad had it right all along.
4/17 UPDATE: Cary News' Vickie Jean DeHamer has an article online ahead of the 4/22 publication date. WRAL also has a story on air this weekend and available for viewing on their website. And not to be missed: Matt Saldana's Indy Week Blog.
For additional information, be sure to click comments.
Jackie, you are correct that we should all be living by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
ReplyDeleteAs a member of the New Hill Community Association, many of my neighbors and I have spoken at many Town Council meetings, and have written many letters to the elected officials of each of the 4 towns of the Western Wake Partners. Since we first formed our organization, our message has been simple, treat us as equals, or treat us as you would want to be treated.
As you know, the Western Wake Partners have refused to treat us with anything but disdain, consequently, we have been fighting the siting of the sewage plant for close to 4 years now.
As you eluded to, we have not questioned the need for the sewage plant, nor have we said it should not go in the New Hill vicinity, all we have requested is that it be moved one mile away and placed on Progress Energy property.
By the way, our community also had this property taken from us by CP&L back in the 1960s. CP&L has admitted they took 16,000 more acres than they needed for the Shearon Harris facility. Since the land was taken from us for utility purposes, we think that is where the sewage plant should go.
PE has said they will not contest the Partners taking enough land for the sewage plant. The Partners consultants evaluated PE sites, and ranked then first, second, and third. The site in the middle of New Hill was ranked fourth. No one can explain to us why the Partners did not choose PE sites since they were ranked so high.
Our message last night at the public hearing was mainly to point out the errors that have been made in the past; inform the Corps of Engineers that the predominantly white towns of Apex, Cary, Holly-Springs, and Morrisville are imposing their sewage plant on a predominantly African-American community when there are other viable alternative sites with little, or no, human impact.
Had the Partners treated us via the Golden Rule, we would not be in this situation, and the Partners would be well on the way towards constructing their sewage plant. As it is, they are several years behind schedule.
Thanks for your support.
Bob