Disasters, legacies for Kerns

<p>Editor: Mike Kerns has represented the south county and Petaluma for the past 11 years as a Sonoma County Supervisor. During much of this time, local environmental groups have given him a D-minus rating.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>In 2005, he pushed to create Tolay Lake Regional Park. Some of us said, “Thank heavens Mike has seen the light and is getting in step with our environmental community.” Alas, Tolay has yet to open to the public and probably will not for several more years. </p><p>Then, in 2006, Mr. Kerns came out in favor of building the Dutra asphalt plant across the river from Shollenberger Park without any input from Petalumans. He is, to this day, the strongest backer of that project and says that he sees no correlation between toxic chemicals coming from a Dutra asphalt plant and community health issues. He explains this away by saying that as a retired cop he always looked for the smoking gun before pointing the finger at anyone. </p><p>In one way I can see this. The bullet from a gun travels at almost 2,000 feet per second, hits the victim who falls down, frequently dead. Chemical killers act much slower, sometimes taking years or decades to destroy the health of a victim. </p><p>Wake up, Mr. Kerns, and consider the long-term health of your constituents over the possible short-term financial gains for Dutra from an unneeded Petaluma asphalt plant. It is not too late to change your vote to “no plant” and be remembered as an environmental leader, not as the co-developer of the Dutra/Kerns, or is it the Kerns/Dutra, asphalt plant?</p><p>Mary Edith Moore, Petaluma</p>