Bravo to environmental stewardship

To the editor,

To Myrt Jones’ letter last week (12/29/21 issue of Lagniappe), I say “AMEN SISTER.” Mobile and Baldwin residents have no idea of what a treasure Myrt is to the environmental health of our community. She knows and understands how the political system works and what real environmental stewardship means.

Having worked in the environmental field for 3 decades, I always was grateful for the Myrt’s and Irmatean Watson’s (effective activists) of the world. They kept developers, industrial and political entities honest by true activism. They made my job easier, when I had to be honest with the powers at be about the consequences of bad environmental decision-making. Trust me, it is not easy on the engineers and environmental scientists when they have to deliver truth of consequences news to corporate leaders, developers and governmental bodies, especially when they control your paycheck or employment. Here is the reason: good environmental decisions cost developers, industrial companies and government entities’ profit. However, good environmental decisions usually mean tremendous cost savings by preventing catastrophic environmental disasters. A ruptured holding pond clean-up will ultimately cost the fishing industry; Baldwin and Mobile counties will suffer bad publicity; the actual clean up out of a water body will be much higher than the “saved” profit by Alabama Power and it will potentially jeopardize our environmental stability and health of the bay. It is much less expensive to move and permanently close a pond upfront than to suffer the consequences of disaster. This is a no-brainer.

Alabama Power’s in-situ pond will fail at some point. There was a reason it was a “temporary” pond. Perhaps it will fail after the 30-year or so period when they are allowed to quit maintaining infrastructure. This will be when all the political entities and corporate leaders making the bad decisions have left or retired which makes accountability difficult. They have worked out the strategy of delaying consequences. When catastrophic failure occurs, it will likely be triple the cost of making the right decision in the first place. The time for accountability is in the beginning of the process.

It is also important to look at the timing of both the dredge decision [Editor’s Note: after the receipt of this letter, the period on this decision was extended to Feb. 3] and Alabama Power’s holding pond decisions, both set during the holidays when regular people are busy and focused on living their already busy lives. Alabama Power had 20-30 years to figure out how and when to close their ponds, yet the decision was rushed through between the end-of-year holidays and one of the most controversial elections ever held in this country. Now, the dredge decision is being made in the same manner.

Myrt has experience in the power of one person to influence and change the system and knows the meaning of life purpose. Many of us live lives of quiet desperation, where we don’t feel we have a say or we are not “supposed” to get angry or speak up. This has been designed into our current internet programming of “be happy” or “only spin the positive.” Problem-solving is quite different from that. It is vital to embrace the full impact of consequences (ie: the bad news). How can you solve problems if you can’t admit a problem? Myrt comes from an era where environmental activism came from “sit-in protests,” standing up at city council meetings en masse, and writing letters to the editor of vital importance. The recent trend in environmental activism comes in the form of money raising, sending faceless emails and “green drinks.” While this approach relieves our conscience, it doesn’t solve problems. A physical and real presence is required like Myrt’s letter, a strong statement of fact.

Current television shows reflect young people with superpowers saving the day or apocalyptic ends of gruesome details. What they do not show are empowered young adults standing up to the politicians at a City Council or Planning Commission meeting. I have not seen any Planning Commission coverage on the television news for years despite multiple requests to our local television station. It amazes me that people invest millions of dollars for high-end homes near or on the water, but don’t go to Planning Commission meetings and other government meetings to demand that our political bodies protect the health and well-being of our environment. What good does a home on the bay do, if you can’t swim or fish in the bay?

Myrt reassured me once again that somebody still cares and is willing to say a decision is ridiculous and she means it. She is not pussy-footing around being positive and not hurting feelings. She is honest. She cares and for that, Myrt, I thank you! The youth of Baldwin County could learn from her example and know they do have power, they just need to exercise it. It is their future at stake.

Nancy Milford