And after sitting through more than seven hours of hearings featuring county staff and representatives of this giant corporation …

We’re celebrating that finally the People are getting a chance to speak!

We only get 3 minutes apiece, but more than 60 people have signed up to speak in opposition to expanding this monstrosity that insults everything we stand for.

If you’d like to show your support for the people who will be speaking on Tuesday night, even if you might not be able or comfortable to speak yourself, please come by and join us for a peaceful rally in the north end of the parking lot for the Kalapuya Building (county offices).

Our aim is to be peaceful and celebratory. We’re encouraged that members of the Planning Commission have been asking some very penetrating questions, which show that they’re skeptical of the company’s claims.

And if you need a little motivation, get this:

At last Thursday’s session, Brian Rupe, the regional corporate vice president who flew in from suburban Seattle to pitch this expansion, said something like:

“Only about 200 people have sent in testimony in opposition. That’s just 0.2 percent of Benton County residents who are opposed.”

“Let them eat cake” much?

We’d like to show Mr. Rupe that it’s not just 200 people.

Please share this with your networks!