So, there we have an interesting piece in the Sun about the endangered Las Vegas buckwheat, pictured at right as seen by moi on a recent poppy-hike, and who does reporter Phoebe Sweet dig up for the obligatory anti-environment tirade? None other than Nor’Towner Sharon Powers:
Sharon Powers, president and chief executive of the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, says a mere plant shouldn’t stand in the way of the economic engine that drives this valley.
“Where does it stop? We can have a great conservation area where all this land is protected, but if it doesn’t bring jobs and commerce into an area, what good does it do?” Powers said.
She said there is little scientific evidence to support claims that the buckwheat is its own species, exists only in the Las Vegas Valley and deserves federal or state protection. Protecting the plant, she said, would be premature.
“There’s a balance between going off the deep end and trying to preserve every plant that’s out there, as opposed to the economic well-being of our community,” she said. “We really feel at the chamber that this is just a tool that conservationists are using to control growth.” (Sun)
This isn’t the first time she has spewed up on the buckwheat. The Las Vegas Business Press has a bad habit of publishing her views occasionally on the subject as well. (LVBP)
My question for North Las Vegas businesses is: does Powers really speak for you? Do you all really want to take the most extreme, intransigent perspective on environmental and land use questions in North Las Vegas?
Nor’Towners should become acquainted with who is in the North Las Vegas Chamber. There’s a list over here. Is your bank, your grocery store (Sam’s Club, Costco), your lawyer listed there? Perhaps the next time you visit them, you might ask if they really agree with Powers’ views on the Las Vegas Buckwheat. Then, you might want to wonder if you want to continue doing business with them if you don’t like the answer.
How about your church? These churches are listed as members of the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce:
- First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
- GNJ Family Life Center
- North Gate Christian Church
- St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
- First African Methodist Episcopal Church
Ask your priest, pastor, or guru: do you really stand for growth without conscience? Is that what stewardship of the earth means? Should your church really be affiliated with an institution promoting such a scorched earth philosophy?
Or is it time to put the Nor’Town Chamber under new management?
As for Ms. Powers “scientific” claims about the plant–no doubt she will not want to claim an expertise in botany among her many accomplishments, you all might want to do a little reading up on stuff written by real scientists:
Center for Biological Diversity, be sure to read their petition.
Wow, Spewster, look at all these comments! You’ve really nailed public sentiment with this post!
Gee, Bob, aren’t you just sooooo eloquent?!
I read the newspaper article, yesterday, in which Ms Powers was quoted “concerning” the Las Vegas Buckwheat. Today, a friend sent me this link. I LOVE it! I’m a resident of Nor’town since 8/06, Nevada since 3/91. Been kickin’ and screaming the whole time. But, I’ve found a cause to “Make Nevada Home” and that cause is POTS. You know, those of us who are “mad as hell” about indiscriminate development. Those of us who see that this arid valley DOES have some history and I’m not talking about the brick and mortar kind. Thank you VERY much, whoever writes this blog, I’ll be watching! Shut up, Bob!
Thank you for getting the word out on the plight of the Las Vegas buckwheat (and bearpoppies!), as well as the short-sightedness of the NLV C of C. We can also add the NLV Council and Management to that same group!