on the web at: https://sodacanyonroad.org/forum.php?p=630

Skyline Wilderness Park has innate value that transcends its status as a natural “resource”, or as a backdrop for human leisure. This is our home, with Skyline’s inhabitants, both plants and animals, as part of our community, our neighbors with whom we share the land. So to that end, I implore the commissioners:

When do we say enough? So this quarry expansion may add a couple more jobs in the short-term, then what? Take another mountain top until there are none left? There’s not even any guarantee that members of the local Napa community would be the ones hired or that the Napa economy would benefit.

In fact, evidence is to the contrary in that it would actually DECREASE Napa’s revenue from real estate costs in south Napa, and that there would be less tourism and patronage of Skyline. Not to mention anyone living or working on Imola Avenue would suffer a decrease in quality of life due to the noise, chemicals and increased traffic.

Instead of destroying more wilderness for short-term bandaids that don’t actually contribute to the long-term wellbeing of all species, how about we learn from our past and start investing in what we already have, and cleaning up what we’ve already created. There are plenty of jobs out there that have nothing to do with destroying more of our precious wildlife, and so much material waste already; Can’t we use our human brains and create jobs by turning that into the raw materials we need to support our failing infrastructure?

I know that everyone here loves natural beauty, loves to look at trees, feel the sun, or take in a beautiful vista from a mountain top. Imagine the feeling of loss, if that were all gone. If we slide on Skyline, then what’s to stop us from sliding on what else is left of the natural world? We have an opportunity here, to fully embody our ethics as human beings, as stewards of the Earth, and make a decision for the betterment of all life. Isn’t that what we’re ultimately living for? It is time to make a decision and act in accordance with the kind of world we want.

Skyline needs us, needs our help and protection, not our violence and greed. Let’s not let her down.