FORUM:
Whatever happened to justice? It did not make an appearance in Riverside County at the Board of Supervisors meeting on July 31.
A large corporation, Granite Construction, may or may not have made deals with three Riverside County supervisors to win their vote on "fast-tracking" Granite's revised proposal to build Liberty Quarry south of Temecula. But who knows what kind of undue influence and pressure brought three of the five supervisors into Granite's camp.
After certifying Liberty Quarry's seriously flawed environmental impact report and, therefore, leaving the door open for Granite to come back with a quarry project in the same location ---- which it did immediately ---- Supervisor John Benoit then added insult to injury by proposing "fast-tracking" of this highly contentious project through the board. This quarry, with all its negative impacts, if "fast-tracked," will force vehemently opposed residents of Southwest County, who do not want this quarry overlooking Temecula, to accept the unacceptable.
The will of the people was completely overlooked. Justice was not served, only big business and greed. This decision reeks of "possible backroom deals" and undue political influence.
Anyone attending this meeting could not miss the outrageous pandering to Granite. Supervisor Benoit couldn't have been more obvious and transparent about being "Granite's Boy." Doesn't Supervisor Benoit realize that even the appearance of conflict of interest is all, and this very bad and contentious decision could haunt him the rest of his political life?
Why is Supervisor Benoit continuing to say he voted for the quarry because of "jobs," when it was proven over and over through multiple hearings that the greater truth is that it will simply be an exchange of jobs within the industry?
The potential for lost jobs is very high, however, because Temecula's Wine Country tourist destination could suffer due to pollution and fewer visitors. Pollution alone could stop people from moving to the Temecula area and cause housing and property values to plummet. Who wants to face gravel truck gridlock on Interstate 15 every day?
Why is Benoit meddling in Supervisor Jeff Stone's district with this "fast-tracking proposal" anyway? The supervisors are supposed to work together for the good of the entire county. With "fast-tracking," other harmful projects could be blithely passed through the board, without important public input and proper oversight ---- to heck with the consequences!
The lack of regard, and the prejudice toward Southwest County by these Northern Riverside County supervisors is totally obvious. It is my most fervent wish that if they force the quarry down our throats, that perhaps a nuclear facility, a prison, or landfill will be "fast-tracked" into Benoit's district, and his constituents will finally see the need to replace him.
Lady Justice, with her scales, is weeping under her blindfold because she knows there is no justice for the people in Southwest County, with Supervisor Benoit trying to control Riverside County.
