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Manne's
tirade
by KEITH EASTHOUSE
It came as small surprise to
us, and we expect to many members of the community, that the
Pacific Lumber Co. had bankrolled a last-minute push for signatures
to get the recall of District Attorney Paul Gallegos placed on
the ballot next March.
According to CEO Robert Manne,
the company provided "$40,000 in `in-kind' support of the
signature gathering effort." The Oct. 24 letter, addressed
to company employees, represents a switch. Previously PL, the
target of a multi-million dollar fraud suit brought by Gallegos,
had stated that it would not take a stand in the recall effort.
There is nothing illegal about
this, although it sets a terrible precedent. What happens the
next time a Humboldt County district attorney decides to take
on one of the big guys? Answer: If Gallegos is recalled, the
question likely won't arise as future DA's will be loathe to
risk the wrath of any company, or any individual for that matter,
with deep pockets. Ask Gray Davis -- getting booted out of office
isn't fun.
We were more taken aback by
Manne's incendiary rhetoric against those he obviously considers
to be his enemies. Included in this axis of evil are the DA's
office, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board,
the Environmental Protection Information Center and residents
of the Freshwater area. All, according to Manne, are lacking
in "character" and "integrity."
"The only conclusion I
can reach as to why they continue their attacks against us is
that they lead empty lives and need to put blame on everything
around them in order to negatively impact those that are happier
than them," Manne wrote. "This gives them power with
their constituents and importance in the eyes of their friends
and other PALCO haters."
This kind of language is needless
and potentially dangerous. Maybe Manne was so frustrated that
he simply had to vent. Or perhaps he was deliberately trying
to further divide the community by throwing fuel on the smoldering
resentment that has been building for years between his company
and its critics.
Either way, such a statement
from the CEO of one of the county's most important economic players
is unacceptable. Don't forget that it was an angry logger that
felled the redwood which crushed activist David "Gypsy"
Chain in 1998.
We call on Manne to publicly
apologize, although we're not going to hold our breath. At the
least, he should consider the example of his predecessor, John
Campbell, the personable Aussie who led the company through the
stormy `90s.
Campbell was far from perfect,
and who knows what he said privately about his opponents. But
if he had any contempt in him, at least he was smart enough not
to show it.
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