8 UCW AUGUST 26-SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM
Choices have consequences
by RON ROSS
Choices have consequences! As
a dad, grandpa and great-grandpa,
I have always taught my children
and grandchildren that they are
responsible for their actions. Work-
ing with children in the Boys &
Girls Clubs in Cumberland County,
and as the Executive Director for
the past 37 years, I have empha-
sized that same basic principle
with them — everyone should be
accountable for their choices.
Chemours/Dupont has made
choices for years. Those choices were
made in its best financial interests,
not those of our community's. Now
the consequence of their choices has
come to light — GenX contaminated
water throughout our community.
Drinking water, showers, animals
and gardens can be affected. The
solution that was accepted was to
bring water lines to two Gray's Creek
elementary schools. Someone has to
pay for that! Who? The Cumberland
County Schools will chip in. PWC
has agreed to fund part of it. Where
do those entities get that money?
From you and I! That's where — from
the taxpayer.
Did you benefit from the financial
choices Chemours/Dupont made?
No. Gray's Creek homeowners have
had to readjust their lives with
bottled water for drinking. Some
have accepted filtration systems for
drinking water in their homes.
Others are concerned about
property values declining. Many
are experiencing severe health
issues. Who knows how pets and
livestock are affected? What is the ef-
fect of this ecological disaster on our
crops? New housing developers have
to increase costs by paying for run-
ning water lines, they, in turn, pass
those costs along to the new home-
owners. Why would any business de-
velop this area? Where is Chemours/
Dupont's accountability in all this?
Why aren't they paying? Why do we,
the taxpayers, and the Gray's Creek
community have to feel the brunt of
choices someone else made?
You may think you are a small
fish in a big pond, but together we
can make a difference. We can hold
people and industries accountable for
their choices. A strong Cumberland
County Board of Commissioners
should hold Chemours/Dupont
accountable for its choices. ese
choices don't just affect Gray's Creek
— taxes come from across our county.
Everyone is paying for Chemours/
Dupont's choices. Help me help us all
hold them accountable.
To discuss this further, please
contact me via email at boysgirlsrobe-
son@carolina.net . I am Ron Ross,
and I am running for the Cumberland
County Board of Commissioner Dis-
trict 2 seat to make your voice heard
and your tax-dollar valued.
POLITICS
RON ROSS. Cumberland County Board
of Commissioner District 2 candidate.
COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin-
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Chemours/Dupont has made choices for years. ose choices were made in its best fi-
nancial interests, not those of our community's. Now the consequence of their choices has
come to light — GenX contaminated water throughout our community.
