It's how they roll
In retrospect you'd think they should have known better. The population of Southern California doesn't exactly have a reputation for being level-headed economy-minded pillars of stability. The ferocity of resistance that certain elements would organize on such short notice, however, couldn't have been foreseen by anyone.
You see, Potrero CA has a population of about 800, but with a median household income of $42,087 in an area where the average home costs $450,300. When Blackwater Worldwide submitted an application to build a law enforcement and military training facility on an 824-acre former chicken ranch near Potrero, the city's Planning Committee recognized an economic boon when they saw one and supported it. The application was of course contingent on gunfire noises from the rifle ranges on the East property line being within San Diego County noise limits (50 dB or less), so tests were begun.
In the meantime, the word spread about the application and its well-known submitter, and the tiny population of Potrero suddenly swelled with ranks of noted environmentalist groups and anti-war protest groups. Op-eds in local papers delivered blistering criticism using idiotic terms such as "mercenary base", and this was bolstered by a Planning Committee recall election petition with more than 13,000 signatures (remember, Potrero has about 800 residents). In the end, all five Planning Committee members that supported the Blackwater application were removed.
When the gunfire noise tests showed reports spiking at 80 decibels -- the only mitigation being the erection of roofs over every single range -- Blackwater decided to cancel the application. Opponents of the project rejoiced, even convincing the city to throw a conciliatory party for actual area residents with an utter jackass by the name of Congressman Bob Filner supplying the keynote address.
Let's be sure we understand what precisely happened here: a business that would have provided the local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel that protect people with access to low-cost superior training facilities, while boosting the regional economy with much-needed money and jobs, was violently opposed by a whole lot of outsiders with no stake in the matter at hand. On behalf of the Potrero residents these outsiders lobbied to oppose the training site, and once the project was cancelled, in no way because of their efforts, they said "let's all still be friends" as they abandoned the community to its former condition.
You see, Potrero CA has a population of about 800, but with a median household income of $42,087 in an area where the average home costs $450,300. When Blackwater Worldwide submitted an application to build a law enforcement and military training facility on an 824-acre former chicken ranch near Potrero, the city's Planning Committee recognized an economic boon when they saw one and supported it. The application was of course contingent on gunfire noises from the rifle ranges on the East property line being within San Diego County noise limits (50 dB or less), so tests were begun.
In the meantime, the word spread about the application and its well-known submitter, and the tiny population of Potrero suddenly swelled with ranks of noted environmentalist groups and anti-war protest groups. Op-eds in local papers delivered blistering criticism using idiotic terms such as "mercenary base", and this was bolstered by a Planning Committee recall election petition with more than 13,000 signatures (remember, Potrero has about 800 residents). In the end, all five Planning Committee members that supported the Blackwater application were removed.
When the gunfire noise tests showed reports spiking at 80 decibels -- the only mitigation being the erection of roofs over every single range -- Blackwater decided to cancel the application. Opponents of the project rejoiced, even convincing the city to throw a conciliatory party for actual area residents with an utter jackass by the name of Congressman Bob Filner supplying the keynote address.
Let's be sure we understand what precisely happened here: a business that would have provided the local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel that protect people with access to low-cost superior training facilities, while boosting the regional economy with much-needed money and jobs, was violently opposed by a whole lot of outsiders with no stake in the matter at hand. On behalf of the Potrero residents these outsiders lobbied to oppose the training site, and once the project was cancelled, in no way because of their efforts, they said "let's all still be friends" as they abandoned the community to its former condition.