Justin J. McCarthy
Green Party candidate for Summit County Commissioner
justinjmccarthy@excite.com , McCarthy for Commissioner: PO Box 23309, Silverthorne, CO 80498
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Hello. My name is Justin J McCarthy and I am running as Green Party candidate for County Commissioner in Summit County, District 1, in the Nov. 5, 2002 election.
As Greens, we represent the only national political party in our nation that offers integrity and truly addresses the severity of the environmental, economic and human rights issues of our times. Our sincerity and passion on the issues can not be matched. As the Green Party we stand for democracy at a grass roots and global level. We are the only national party to address the negative effects of the economic globalization upon working people’s rights and the environment. We refuse to accept corporate donations that have poisoned the Democratic and Republican parties. Integrity is our charge. We are the only national party that caries no “ifs or buts “ in the pursuit for equal rights for all citizens including our brothers and sisters in the gay and lesbian communities. We are the only party that acknowledges the ancient Native wisdom to plan seven generations ahead. To honor those who inherit the land after we pass. The Republican and Democratic parties both seriously lack any environmental agenda. Environmental sustainability is our issue alone.
We are the only national party that acknowledges the need to addresses the long neglected treaty rights of the indigenous First Nations and the dangers of nuclear waste. The Bush administration currently plans to ship thousands of tons of nuclear waste through the nation including through our state on I-70, I-25 and rail lines through Denver and just north of Summit County, to Yucca Mountain on the Nevada Test Site north of Las Vegas. The proposed facility has fault lines running through it and lies over the water aquifer that supports many people and livestock. In addition these lands are dominated by the federal government illegally and belong to the Western Shohsone Nation according to the Treaty of Duck Valley of 1863, signed by both parties.
We are the only national party that opposes the Drug War which wages war on our Constitutional rights and targets the working class and minorities to be put only in prison for non-violent crime. The Drug War continues to cover up the corporate influence over our government to suppress industrial hemp, which would threaten the lumber industry as an economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative for paper products. We must continue to stand against the trend of the privatization of the prison system, which profits on obtaining felons and keeping them behind bars often longer than violent offenders do.
Here in Summit County, there are too many issues going ignored. We face an environmental crisis, too many workers are underpaid and there is a serious lack of affordable housing. The Green Party is the only political party that is striving to address these issues. I believe our free market economic system must be responsible not only to investors but, also to workers, the environment and society as a whole. Our tourist economy is a blessing for us in Summit County and the ski areas make up a very important component of our economy. Our planning process is unevenly represented and it necessary for the political process to work together for everyone’s benefit in this county. Local government does need to know when to compromise and when not to compromise. Local government needs the strength to be able to say “No” to unwise development. We need vision at the County level to be able to see the needs for the many of the long term instead the needs of the few for the short term.
There needs to be affordable housing in this County that is truly affordable. The current building of housing for over $200,000 is not affordable and does not target workers and their families that need it most. More and more of our workers are being priced out of our communities and are now commuting from more affordable communities outside our County. The result is an exodus of locals no longer able to live or vote in the place they once called home. Our locals are replaced with immigrants who are denied citizenship, thus lack the ability to vote and many are unaware of what few rights they have. The result is a push to keep wages down and housing costs up as little new stock is built to house those working the increasing number of service industry jobs. In order to address the housing shortage, the Summit County Housing Authority needs reliable and permanent funding to carry out its goals.
The ski areas need to be held more responsible to the environment that supports us all economically, ecologically and spiritually. Environmental issues go abandoned, workers go underpaid and the real estate market fuels ski area expansion. As we grow our infrastructure is failing to serve our local and tourist needs adequately. New development’s demand for water supplies are becoming more in conflict with ecological and recreational needs. This summer we will most likely see the lowest cfs flows in over twenty years. This situation only tightens our scarce water situation. Low water can mean higher temperatures and less in water oxygen, which can result in disease in fish populations. In addition lower flows mean more acute levels of heavy metals in our rivers and streams. Without the preservation of our natural resources, Summit County will lack the ability to compete with other destination resorts
The real-estate industry’s continual push for high-end ski in and out second homes has fueled irresponsible ski area expansions. Proposed development on Peaks 7 and 8 which threaten Cucumber Gulch and further stress the existing infrastructure of the town of Breckenridge go unchallenged and un-debated. These developments are even supported by tax dollars from the town as a form of corporate welfare. Pressure to develop important wildlife corridors such as Jones Gulch in Keystone goes on with no strong policy direction from the BOCC. It is important that wild herds are kept genetically healthy as a natural resource and as part of our heritage for those of us in the Rocky Mountains.
We must deal with the continuing pollution of our mining past before considering development that threatens water quality and quantity. This past fall the BOCC willingly abandoned its 1041 review powers over the development of water rights for golf courses and ski areas. Water issues on the Snake River Watershed that continues to spiral downward concern water quality and quantity. At the same time local ski areas continue to develop their water rights for snowmaking. This water shed can no longer sustain life in much of its flow yet the BOCC remains un-alarmed. The BOCC has failed to support continual attempts by the Lower Blue Planning Commission to write an environmentally sensitive master plan which uses the tools of mandatory provisions to enable the planning commissions to write a more effective plan. The Lower Blue Planning Commission has taken in important provisions to protect the water of the Blue, which now may no longer be a Gold Medal stream. My opponent has given truly weak support and minimal commentary on this issue. Even our ability as citizens to be involved at the sub basin land planning process has been threatened. Our planning commissions have faced attack from the BOCC for being a voice for the public interest. If it were not for public support of the planning commissions, we would have seen their demise at the hands of the BOCC last fall.
As your Commissioner I will directly address these issues. I will state a vision of clear public policy for affordable housing and environmental policy to preserve and protect our natural resources for future generations. I will serve as a voice for higher wages and working conditions for our citizens. I will continue to demand that local police forces respect civil liberties. I will lobby our congressional delegation for a sane solution instead of trucking nuclear waste through our home. I will challenge the ski areas to have environmental vision statements be more than Public Relation statements but actual corporate policy.
It is not powerful men and women whose hearts have grown weak with greed that we have most to fear. Our true enemy is complacency and ignorance. This campaign will target those not registered to vote. This campaign will strive to awaken the hearts of those who have felt they have had nothing to vote for before. We will be a new political force to be reckoned with and with all of your help Summit County will have a new direction and a new Commissioner in office. I humbly ask you to join me in this fight.
Respect to all of my relations,
Justin