Fwd: The Warehouse was defeated. The Aquifer won!

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Sean Strub

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Dec 8, 2023, 4:28:45 PM12/8/23
to Protect Pike Listserve


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>>>> As news circulated yesterday afternoon and today that NLD withdrew their application to Milford Township for the proposed mega-warehouse development that would put the Milford Aquifer—and our water supply—at risk, the sense of relief was almost palpable in the streets.
>>>>> I see two important lessons in how this played out.
>>>>> The first is how effective a multi-faceted grassroots community effort can be, with many, many players, each contributing in their own way.
>>>>> There was no master plan or “top-down” strategy; opposition and advocacy efforts developed organically.
>>>>> It started with Vito DiBiasi’s passion, research and persistence, creating Friends of the Milford Aquifer as a platform through which he raised the alarm, enlisted other organizations and confronted and held accountable political and community leaders. He never gave up and absent Vito’s effort, the warehouse might very well have been built.
>>>>> There were a number of pivotal developments in this effort. A few of them are when:
>>>>> - Delaware Valley Action paid for the Water Not Warehouse signs and undertook community education efforts;
>>>>> - Congressman Matt Cartwright appointed a bi-partisan Blue Ribbon Commission with representatives from the Milford Borough Council and Milford Water Authority, as well as business, environmental and civic leaders;
>>>>> - The Blue Ribbon Commission’s Nancy Pinchot and Bill Rosado successfully recruited Senator Lisa Baker and Representative Joe Adams to join the Blue Ribbon Commission; and when
>>>>> - Christa Caceres made protection of the aquifer, and a more sophisticated economic development strategy for Pike County, key issues in her successful campaign for county commissioner.
>>>>> All of the above was abetted by the hundreds of people who put up Water Not Warehouse signs and/or attended Milford Township, Pike County Commissioner and/or Economic Development Authority meetings, the scores of folks who kept the issue top of mind by writing letters to the editors and posting on social media, Fred Weber’s timely updates to his email list, Jennifer Liu’s initiative in launching an informative website and facilitating the creation of a fund at Greater Pike Community Foundation to raise money to support the Milford Aquifer Task Force (that arose out of the Blue Ribbon Commission), the seriousness with which the Milford Water Authority and the Milford Borough Council took this threat and the folks who volunteered for it or donated to Christa Caceres’ campaign. We all owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who did any of these things.
>>>>> The second lesson is how critically important it is for us to be proactive, when we have a better chance to influence outcomes, rather than just reactive when it is sometimes too late or we have to play catch-up.
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>>>>> While this specific project at this site is no longer a risk, there will surely be other projects proposed for the fragile aquifer site. Milford Township’s zoning ordinance provides inadequate protection and must be revised to provide, at a minimum, the protection Dingman Township has for the properties on the other side of Route 6.
>>>> Other municipalities need to update their ordinances to make sure they are able to adequately evaluate and control proposed developments. The EDA and NDL have also promoted sites on I-84 exchanges in Blooming Grove and Greene Townships. I can’t speak to the appropriateness of either site for a mega-warehouse, or how prepared those municipalities are, in terms of their zoning ordinances, to provide adequate protection,
>>>> The Pike County Economic Development Authority needs to create a sustainable low-impact economic development strategy, with broad community input and support, to refocus their efforts on creating good jobs rather than attractive real estate deals for developers.
>>>> We must not rest on our laurels. It is great to win this battle—for now—but the war on our pristine Pike County environment and high quality of life, in the “name of progress” is not over.
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>>>> Sean Strub
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Barbara McNamara

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Dec 8, 2023, 5:40:06 PM12/8/23
to Sean Strub, Protect Pike Listserve, Hubby
Fantastic news! 

Barbara McNamara, CSA
President
Barbara McNamara Casting, LLC
Please excuse typos sent from fingertips

On Fri, Dec 8, 2023, 4:28 PM Sean Strub <sean....@gmail.com> wrote:


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Suzanne Levine

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Dec 8, 2023, 5:40:06 PM12/8/23
to Sean Strub, Protect Pike Listserve
A win for the environment, for Milford, and for community activism!
Suzanne Levine



Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 8, 2023, at 16:28, Sean Strub <sean....@gmail.com> wrote:
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Jacqueline Damian

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Dec 8, 2023, 8:01:04 PM12/8/23
to Suzanne Levine, Protect Pike Listserve, Sean Strub
This happy outcome makes me optimistic about prospects for the Santos Farm project. Things can happen when there’s community support.

Karen Haycox

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Dec 8, 2023, 8:01:04 PM12/8/23
to Suzanne Levine, Protect Pike Listserve, Sean Strub
Amazing news - amazing teamwork! 
Congratulations to all involved and most importantly, thank you!!!

Scott Aronin

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Dec 8, 2023, 8:34:48 PM12/8/23
to Sean Strub, Protect Pike Listserve
Great news! Community activism and action work!

On Fri, Dec 8, 2023 at 4:28 PM Sean Strub <sean....@gmail.com> wrote:


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marilyn vasta

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Dec 8, 2023, 10:47:09 PM12/8/23
to Karen Haycox, Suzanne Levine, Protect Pike Listserve, Sean Strub
This is such great news. A holiday gift to all who value our precious ecosystem - from all who fought so hard for this win.  Thank you!


Best wishes,

On Dec 8, 2023, at 8:01 PM, Karen Haycox <khay...@gmail.com> wrote:



A G

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Dec 9, 2023, 12:45:46 AM12/9/23
to marilyn vasta, Karen Haycox, Suzanne Levine, Protect Pike Listserve, Sean Strub
What a relief! Good job all around. Happy holidays everyone!


pawalker

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Dec 9, 2023, 3:16:41 AM12/9/23
to Suzanne Levine, Sean Strub, Protect Pike Listserve
Thanks to each and every one of you who played a part. It takes a village and collectively you all prevailed. Stay vigilant!
 
From: 'Suzanne <Prote...@googlegroups.com>
To: Sean <sean....@gmail.com>
Cc: Protect <prote...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Friday, 8 December 2023 5:40 PM EST
Subject: Re: [Milford Covid Task Force] Fwd: The Warehouse was defeated. The Aquifer won!

Rosann K

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Dec 9, 2023, 9:06:40 AM12/9/23
to Suzanne Levine, Sean Strub, pawa...@ptd.net, Protect Pike Listserve
So very thankful!

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