To the editor:
The Journal's June 27 PFAS update stated where three water treatment plants would be located: in the Industrial
Park, Wallin Park, and Lions Park. However, these sites were only suggestions from a Feasibility Study (available
at the Hastings city web site). Two of these sites are residential areas, but there were no criteria used to
comprehensively identify and consider the various advantages and disadvantages of site location for the city and residents. In response to my questions the Hastings City Administrator confirmed that the study was not intended to identify the final sites and that “Public Works has begun identifying several potential sites for water treatment plants #2 (central) and #3 (west)” with a strong preference to avoid residential neighborhoods. He anticipated that the results would be brought to a Utilities Committee meeting or a City Council workshop in early August. It’s further stated that Hastings and other cities are working to fix a public health problem that they did not create. However, consider our shared responsibility. What we’re seeing is simply an outcome of our profit-prioritized system of capitalism. This is happening on many fronts. Why would corporations consider the public good when regulations are lacking or think they can skirt such rules? Our system keeps corporate leadership focused on
profit to the shareholders and company enrichment, not on any societal responsibility. Given this, it’s alarming that
we have a conservative-led Supreme Court seemingly committed to further degrading the capabilities of the
agencies established to protect our health, safety and wellbeing and a conservative political party with this same
commitment. What kind of environmental legacy are we leaving our children? Do you think this is what they want? A commitment to regain, maintain, and strengthen public protections can only be reflected in the voting booth.
James Hill
Hastings