I am so pleased to finally get some letters! A hearty Thanksgiving “thank you” to all who wrote. Please keep ‘em coming. A healthy letters section is the sign of a paper that’s doing its job. At least, that’s what I’ve always believed.
Incidentally, we did receive about an equal number of notes supporting our earlier editorial. These were relatively short and uninteresting, so have not been published.
The sage grouse issue could prove important. We plan to cover it closely, and keep an open mind. Should our initial impressions prove naive or inaccurate, we will be the first to admit it.
Our current research, though, suggests that LUPA is hardly a death knell for ag or for mining in Humboldt County.
Ranchers and commissioners we’ve spoken with cite a million reasons — far too many, really — why the LUPA policy is flawed. Then, finally, they admit it boils down to control. They want to be in charge of the public land they use, with as few restrictions as possible.
This makes sense. People building a business need reasonable assurances that their investment will not be in vain. If that investment stretches through multiple generations and incalculable effort, then people understandably get touchy about change.
Time will tell what may happen. If it does start to look like LUPA policy is being applied unfairly, or in such a way as to damage our local economy, you have my word I will aim to make the paper the first and loudest voice complaining about it.
Thanks again for writing, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. — Ed.
