Are you happy that the state approved an air quality permit for Titan Cement to build a new plant in Castle Hayne?

Those who are in favor of this plant because it will create jobs would do well to consider the fact that this company will not necessarily hire local people. In any case, we would do well to try to attract companies that will not befoul our environment. Have we not seen enough heartbreak in this region from the poisoned water at Camp Lejeune? Let the buyer beware.

I would like to point out that the wording of this very poll inaccurately portrays and skews perception of the issue.

It is NOT JUST a dualistic "jobs or environment" issue. There are many reasons why residents might be opposed to the proposed cement plant, not just environment.

Consider: health impacts to human beings from emissions from the coal-burning plant.

Consider: impacts to tourism industry. Who wants to come to a place with an ugly skyline and pollution-filled air?

Consider: living near a heavy industry that creates trucking traffic, loud noise, and bright lights at night

Consider: loss of income to fishing industry when fish are unhealthy and inedible from absorbing heavy metals from polluted water

Consider: how would you react if you turned on your faucet and no water came out - because your aquifer ran dry from an industry pumping the water out for its own benefit

Consider the many ways that the proposed cement plant might impact YOU and your neighbors.

This is not just an "environment vs jobs" issue. This is a good neighbor issue. Who would you rather have living nearby? Industry that might bring all of these impacts and a few jobs...or industry that will bring a few jobs and NONE of these impacts?

Let's think creatively and work together to bring industries here that will give us what we really need: JOBS and protecting all of the great things that make this area a lovely place to live right now.

This is couched like a push poll. How about an option for "No, we need the jobs?" Have the people who think this is just an environmentalist movement been attending any of the public hearings? I have watched doctors, professors, hunters, fishermen, beekeepers, teachers, parents, grandparents, business leaders, minimum wage workers, film makers, former cement plant workers, schoolchildren, and many, many others standing up for their own reasons, which are often less about the environment and more about concerns over health and the futures of their industries with the country's fourth-largest cement plant operating on the banks of the Northeast Cape Fear. This is clearly not a long-term solution to our regional unemployment. The manufacturing industry shed far more jobs when the recession hit than did the professional and service industries operating here. The promise of jobs is a tired mantra repeated for the last three years by the handful of people who stand to prosper from this insane project. It is a shame when that hollow message begins to get reinforced by our local media.

I'd like to share a little post from someone who has lived here a very long time and is in the target area, my very sharp friend Rick Wilson.
Discussions settled with well thought out logic? As I grow older, and presumably wiser, it becomes painfully clear that logic does not belong in my vocabulary anymore. I catch myself throwing my hands into the air and saying nothing surprises me anymore. This is not a logical thing for me to do. As soon as I make this statement, I get surprised.
Case in point, titan. This issue has divided a community for a long time now. Normally decent, caring people get upset and start doing intimations of a spitting cobras, spraying venom at everyone.
I am against titan for many reasons.
I do not like foreign corporations that use our court systems to sue our citizens.
I do not like foreign corporations that use our court systems as a means of stalling to keep from complying to our country's rules and regulations.
I do not like a foreign corporation that refuses to answer questions/concerns from the public whose community they are trying to invade.
I do not like foreign corporations because the profits leave this country.
I do not like foreign corporations that attempt to take over an entire community.
I do not like foreign corporations that add pollution to an already polluted area.
I have friends on the opposite side of this issue. They bring up points that I understand. I don't believe that any side is completely right or wrong when it comes to an issue such as this.
I have no problem when valid talking points are made.
I do have a problem when logic such as this is used. “The area is already polluted, industry that is already here is worse than titan, so we should allow titan to come here.” If your neighbors dog decided that your yard was now going to become his personal bathroom, using your logic, it is now ok for all the dogs in the neighborhood to use your yard as their personal bathroom? Sound reasonable? A little poop is ok, so a bunch more is better? If this is ok with you, please send me your address. I am always looking for new places to walk my dog. I will also inform my friends in foreign countries that it is ok for them to bring their dogs to your yard. And I am grateful that you don't mind cleaning up after I'm gone. It is nice of you to be so accommodating. You really didn't want to walk in your yard anymore did you? And I'm sure you will get used to the smell after awhile. I am not so sure your neighbors will feel the same way.........................................but maybe, with proper logic, they can be convinced.
We should require the existing industry to start cleaning up their pollution. The Sutton Power Plant is converting from coal to gas on it's own. A great first step from an American owned company. The technology is available to make all companies better stewards of the environment.
The problem wasn't created overnight, and it will not be solved overnight.
But, there is at least one absolute in this discussion, you CAN NOT reduce or start the cleaning process by adding more pollution. Sound logical?
Rick Wilson Castle Hayne, N.C.

we will lose far more jobs because of lack of tourism and fishing as the eastern part of our state dies off

I totally get hooray for jobs. I am glad there will be air quality controls in place. The issue is that concrete plants use a tremendous amount of water. Titan hasn't explained how that water will be obtained, used, recycled, cleaned and kept from absolutely harming the fish and wildlife in our area. It is the wrong business for our area.

Get real people, they are going to bring people in to work at their earth killing machine! Not hire locally, how many of you have actually interviewed for a job and followed up to find that someone from another state got the job. A very small percentage of those jobs will be filled by local people! GET REAL!

There will be plenty of jobs available when all the people who care about air quality pick up and move.

Obviously none of you who voted "no" are looking for a job.

I feel like our state government is not working in the best interest of our community's well-being. It's very concerning that they would issue yet another poison permission slip for an industry with a terrible track record for fighting the rules it's supposed abide by. NHC is so polluted, so densely populated, and our state government thinks that we don't deserve better apparently.

This decision makes me sick but probably not as sick as Titan will make our community, especially our children. Way to work for corporations DAQ, you should change your mission statement.

Citizens should be outraged that our state agency is permitting Titan to add more toxic pollutants to the TOP EMITTING COUNTY for toxic emissions in North Carolina. Share this poll with everyone you know. We gotta mobilize folks. Comment on each news story and encourage your friends to, too!

Obviously our regulators and Governor are not concerned with the health of the citizens in New Hanover or our neighbors in Pender and Brunswick.

I wonder how many of the anti titan extremists are logging onto multiple computers just to vote no in this poll.

WHAT ABOUT GE. DOES IT HURT THE ENVIRONMENT. THE URANIUM WASTE IS STORED THROUGHOUT THE LAND OF GE, ABOVE AND UNDER THE GROUND. WE NEED JOBS. ALL OF US DIDN'T WORK GREAT JOBS IN THE NORTH AND COME HERE TO BY HOMES AND LIVE OFF OF RETIREMENT PENSIONS. WILMINGTON NEED HIGH PAYING JOBS.

the status of the lawsuit filed by Titan against Dr. David Hill and the other person?

Did you know that New Hanover County is ranked as the #1 toxic emitting county in NC and the #2 most polluted county in the state(second only to Columbus Co., the home of International Paper)? WHY do our political leaders still see this as a viable issue?

I can't believe D A Q gave them an air permit . I thought they were there to protect us ? how stupid can you be ? But it looks like 48% of the population is pretty stupid to kill children for a few jobs. I really thought more of North Carolina than this !I have lived here for 58 years , and this is the most embarrased I have EVER been to live here.Seems I might look for a more intelligent place to live.

The 160 jobs that this company will bring to the area is so small compared to the damage that will not only be done to our air quality, but water also. Wake up people!