ISSUE # 74: Ant Alert: Sign the Hydro Petition
February 20 "The accomplice to the crime of corruption is frequently our own indifference." -- Bess Myerson
AN AUSPICIOUS START TO THE NEW YEAR!
A diverse group of citizens recently initiated a formal petition to repeal Ordinance 30 of 2011. The ordinance, integrally related to the city's disastrous hydro plant project, re-zoned land in the Marolt Open Space subdivision for industrial use by the Castle Creek Energy Center and Hydro Plant. At issue? The city does not have federal approval to build the plant and will not for several years to come, if ever.
This was a premature action and one in which City Council brazenly ignored all input except that from city staff before unanimously approving the land use change.
Led by Aspenites Ward Hauenstein and Maurice Emmer, an effort is underway to collect 600 signatures from REGISTERED CITY OF ASPEN VOTERS. Upon reaching that threshold, city council will have two choices: repeal the ordinance OR refer the issue to the electorate at a special election.
I have recently volunteered to circulate a petition and collect signatures. As you are well aware, The Red Ant is vehemently opposed to the city's management of the hydro plant project, primarily based on the fiscal picture. We have seen a budget of $6.2M in 2007 balloon out of control to $10.5M in costs today, and this is certain to rise. (HERE is a full-page ad I ran in the December 28 Aspen Daily News with cost details on the project.) There are numerous serious environmental concerns as well. Even the Daily News is in support of the petition effort, acknowledging that "the local press failed to do its job" educating the voters about the issue when it was approved in 2007. Read their editorial HERE.
PLEASE sign the petition! Just hit "reply" to this email and let me know when and where I can come to you for your signature. There are 2 weeks left to collect the signatures and I would like to do my part! See you soon!
Happy New Year! May 2012 be the year we take our government back!
P.S. Voters in the County and elsewhere, please email your support for the effort to CitizensPetition81611@gmail.com While these messages will not be counted in the "official" ordinance repeal process, your voices will be collected and heard as efforts continue to reign in this mess! Thank you!