FCPG run by dictator

Attending a meeting last Monday night of the Fallbrook Community Planning Group, I was amazed at the absolutely dictatorial control with which Chairman, Jim Russell ran that meeting.

I, along with many others, was there in opposition of Liberty Quarry, which had been put on this agenda at the August meeting.

After Rainbow Planning Group, with Rua Petty at the helm, stood with the community in opposing this quarry project I anticipated seeing the same in Fallbrook. Now, with the people becoming aware of the impacts, holding anti-quarry meetings, and formation of the regional area Political Action Committee “NOPIT,” the people were joining with Rainbow and Temecula to say, “This is the wrong place for a quarry.”

The support of FCPG seemed eminent. Many passionate, knowledgeable people spoke against this project. I was appalled at the rude manner in which Mr. Russell handled this meeting. Several board members obviously had important information to bring to this discussion and the disrespectful way they were treated was unacceptable.

Chairman Russell’s ham-handed assertion that this is “NOT” a San Diego County issue was wholly inaccurate and misleading. The County of San Diego, it’s Board of Supervisors, and the San Diego County Department of Planning and Land Use properly asserted jurisdiction and regulatory oversight over the proposed quarry as early as August 17, 2005, and have reconfirmed that fact as recently as July 16, 2007.

A quarry will radically change the way people look at our communities. They will become an “industrial area.” The decrease in land values is only part of the damage which is certain to occur.

Is this what we want for Fallbrook?

Jerri Arganda