Methanol: Old tactics won't fly any longer

The methanol plant editorial (TNT, 2-23) missed the importance of “total public transparency.”

Government, in an age of social media, must learn that its old tactics of only engaging local groups that normally support its plans and not engaging the public early in the process will doom those plans.

Many in Tacoma have lost trust in their elected government and feel they no longer represent them on projects that impact their community’s health, safety and development issues. The trust deficit is compounded because The News Tribune is no longer the people’s watchdog.

We’re seeing a groundswell of people angry with bad decisions made by elected officials. The continued lack of total transparency with a public that’s impacted by their decisions is fueling the fire for local activists.

Groups are learning to use the ballot box to reverse bad decisions made by elected officials that are influenced by special interest more than their own constituents. Government must not put up legal roadblocks to stop the people’s process. Any attempts to derail the local initiative will only be seen as voter suppression.

Find a petition to sign and let the voters decide the fate of this plant.

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Methanol: Old tactics won't fly any longer."