Disappointment in Dow's dissent

Editor:

I was very surprised and disappointed to read City Councilman Rick Dow's comments and vote regarding the signing of a proclamation sponsored by Recycle Hi-Line to celebrate Earth Day on April 22.

Perhaps Mr. Dow and Mr. Barrows, who also voted against the proclamation, do not realize that the positive goal of the Earth Day organization is to achieve a cleaner environment for everyone. Or perhaps they don't know about the organizations choosing to partner with Earth Day. Some of these include the American Council on Renewable Energy, the Audubon Society, Girl Scouts and the March of Dimes. I cannot imagine that these wonderful groups would partner with Earth Day if its mission was one of ill intent as Mr. Dow alludes.

Further, by failing to support the proclamation, Rick Dow and Brian Barrows fail to support Recycle Hi-Line, a nonprofit organization made up of all volunteers. Perhaps Mr. Dow and Mr. Barrows do not realize that this is a group of hard-working Hi-Line people helping to preserve God's green Earth and make it a better place for all of us, including Mr. Dow and Mr. Barrows, free of charge.

Recycle Hi-Line members work toward improving our world's condition through education about the "where, why, and how to" of recycling and by physically helping people to recycle.

I would like to invite Mr. Dow and Mr. Barrows to bring their recyclable commodities to the monthly, free, Recycle Drive held every third Saturday from 8 to noon at 1st Street and 5th Avenue.

Perhaps, by seeing the volunteers in action, they will understand what Recycle Hi-Line is accomplishing by keeping tons of recyclable garbage from the landfill. Less garbage in the landfill means extending the life of the landfill and landfill equipment saving taxpayers money. I would think that Mr. Dow and Mr. Barrows would agree that saving taxpayer's money is a good thing. I would also like to believe that Mr. Dow and Mr. Barrows want to be a part of the solution, not the problem.

My hope is that both Mr. Barrows and Mr. Dow will be open-minded in the future and contemplate how their decisions affect many people.

I also would like to wish Mr. Dow good luck and clear thinking in his future endeavors.

Candi Zion

Havre

(Candi Zion is chair of Recycle Hi-Line.)