Opinion: Pechanga Band, environmentalists winning on mine

Monday, September 5, 2011  

"If the battle over the Liberty Quarry was a football game, the announcer might say: "And in a surprise at halftime, the environmentalists lead the big money."

Yes ye of little faith, it really is true. The Riverside County Planning Commission rejected the quarry and the economic development it promised.

In the midst of a recession with no end in sight in a southwest end of the county whose population has exploded the past quarter century because developers mostly got what they wanted, big money is losing.

The second half will be played on the Board of Supervisors' turf because Granite is appealing the verdict.

The developer's quarterback, Gary Johnson, says he looks forward to a fair hearing from the supervisors.

Veteran environmentalist Kathleen Hamilton confidently says, Bring it on!"

Get the Story:
Carl Love: Quarry losing at halftime (The Riverside Press-Enteprise 9/4)

Related Stories:
Permit rejected for quarry mine at Pechanga Band sacred site (9/1)
KPBS: Vote planned on quarry mine at Pechanga sacred site (8/31)
SCPR: Company wants delay on quarry mine near sacred site (8/29)
City supports Pechanga Band in bill to ban mine near sacred site (8/24)
Bill barring quarry mine near Pechanga sacred site gets hearing (8/23)
Pechanga Band clashes with developer at hearing on quarry mine (8/16)
Pechanga Band pushes bill to stop quarry mine near sacred site (8/5)
Opinion: Pechanga Band helps build case against quarry mine (6/29)
Pechanga Band continues fight against proposed quarry mine (6/23)
Pechanga Band says quarry mine will destroy sacred site (4/27)