• 80% say Titan will have negative impact in County Commissioners Poll!
• New Editorials Slam Titan Permit Process!
• N.C. Secretary of State Says Not So Fast Titan!

Commissioners Poll County on Titan—Then Hide the Results!

The Lumina News  is reporting this week that New Hanover County Commissioners spent $13,000 dollars on a recent survey allegedly to learn about how we feel about a sales tax hike (we could have told them that for free), but also included a number of political questions including two on Titan Cement. Debra Butler, a candidate for County Commissioner, also sent around the appropriate page. The survey asked the 400 respondents the following questions:

“There have been many news stories concerning the location of the new Titan America plant. Do you think this project will have a positive or negative impact on New Hanover County?”

143   35.8 Positive

171   42.8 Negative

86     DK (don’t know)/Refused

 

(400  Total) 

A solid majority believes it will have a negative impact with a lot of don’t knows. But then check out the next question of those who voted negative:

“If Titan America was to meet all state and federal permitting requirements, do you think the project will have a positive impact on New Hanover County?”

79.5 % said NO 

10.5 % said YES

9.9 % No answer.

An overwhelming NO even if Titan got all it's permits. And the majority of respondents in the poll were Republicans who supported tax incentives to industries! The way the Titan question was worded is also curious—County Commissioner Bill Caster, who is running for re-election, has repeatedly said he supports Titan as long as they meet all state and federal requirements. Hmmm. And the poll reportedly included a lot of demographic data on the respondents as well as favorability ratings of the commissioners—a veritable gold mine of voter info for any political candidate. Too bad they didn’t ask one more question:

Do you think tax payers should pay for a $13,000 survey to help Commissioner Bill Caster’s re-election campaign?”  [We think that would be 100% NO!]

Moreover, the Commissioners apparently didn’t want anyone to know about the Titan poll data. They only posted a few questions relating to the sales tax issue on their website—but not the part about Titan Cement.  To get that, you’ve got to pay about $27 for the 300+ page hard copy. Thanks to Debra Butler and Lumina News for bringing it to light.

Now we can’t endorse political candidates because of our 501c3 tax exempt status. But we can certainly educate folks on where they stand on the issue. And so during this election season we’re going to put a new page on our website with all the candidates names and their position on Titan Cement, so the voters will know. We’ll send out another note when it’s ready, so stay tuned!

Secretary of State Elaine Marshall says Put the Brakes on Titan, and other News!

 And speaking of politics, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, who is challenging Senator Richard Burr in November, released this bombshell on Titan this week:

 “Given the potential impact of this facility on the environment and our local economy, I support a careful review of this project,” Marshall said. “Tourism is now our largest industry in the state and we cannot take a short-term view on something which threatens the long-term health of our estuaries and our economy.”

We couldn’t agree more. Also make sure you read the new editorials from the Charlotte Observer, entitled “State’s Failure to Assess Cement Plant is Baffling.” Ditto. And in the Wilmington Star-News, “Ask How Titan Plans to Reduce Mercury,” as well as a nice opinion piece from a reader and local activist in Encore Magazine.

And there’s still that matter of the State Bureau of Investigation investigation hanging out there waiting to hit Titan like a tidal wave. Will the community defeat the Giant Multi-national Cement Corporation? Will the Governor and County Commissioners Wake UP and Smell the Public Opposition? Will the environmental lawyers force Titan to DO The Right Thing? Stay tuned. Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel….cause it’s likely to get pretty interesting real soon….

Your Friends and Neighbors at:
StopTitan.Org/Friends of the Lower Cape Fear

A note about our emails: Some friends have expressed confusion about emails they've received from other groups that are working with us in the Stop Titan Coalition, which includes a half dozen or more local and statewide organizations. We only send out action alerts for those who've signed up to receive them and all our action alerts and documents are clearly marked as coming from StopTitan.org/Friends of the Lower Cape Fear. If you're unsure who's in your inbox, learn more about all the groups in the StopTitan Coalition here.

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