The New Suit, the long fight

[Braden Crooks]

Hi all,

hello from New York, where a freak tropical storm has once again descended over the city. 

I continue to be in awe and in envy of this group, which has organized so quickly and effectively against this threat to State College's Energy Sovereignty (an excellent explanation of the way we really should be dealing with our energy). I'm also compelled to send this note in solidarity, because State College is so close to my heart and I really can't help myself but share my outrage!

It think it's especially important in these moments not to be drawn into a fight over details included in the lawsuit, but to keep the discourse about what we think is important: the Bill of Rights, and the goal of local energy sovereignty. Is everything we're doing a step in that direction: opening up the process to local self-determination, and creating a more transparent and equitable situation? 

It's also important to remember that Rodney Erickson and Penn State could put an end to any suit if they wanted, and he is ultimately responsible for this pipeline: so we should keep the pressure where the buck stops on this whole project. The culture of the University desperately needs to change, and their partner in the project suing the borough is a disaster for town and gown relations, deepening the crisis of leadership at our school. 

That's the long game of a sustainable local future and an open, cooperative Penn State, in my mind anyway, which is nothing controversial or unreasonable to create.

eagerly,

Braden

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B  R  A  D  E  N  C  R  O  O  K  S

MS in Design and Urban Ecologies, Parsons

Groundswell PA www.groundswell.gs

Late Night New York latenightnyc.com