Savannah’s behind the curve on the environment
Editor,
I was interested in the article you recently ran by a young woman whose child suffered from asthma and was upset by the mosquito spraying that goes on here in town (“Our dark secret,” by Stacey Kronquest).
I sympathize and wonder what kind of an administration this city has to be so far behind other cities in ecology and a general serious awareness of what it takes to make a town a good place to live.
Connect Savannah is alone in running articles which set out problems, and your readers must be full of suggestions and solutions that would cost little or no money -- simply a willingness to implement them.
Perhaps you should consider a column devoted to those ideas and we might be motivated to push them at City Council.
The mosquito spraying is an example of something that was probably begun years ago and never reconsidered. It is absolutely ridiculous, and any mosquitoes killed are no doubt far fewer than the other beneficial insects, birds and small lizards that nature has provided for free for their control. All pets and humans are poisoned needlessly, and at a fee we are paying ourselves.
But I see no change for the better here, at least in my neighborhood (Cedar and 40th Streets). Just recently, our lane and those of a few adjoining streets has been chained off with a hideous chainlink painted violent pink. A metal sign swings from it reading “No illegal dumping.”
I have lived in my house for about six years and have never seen anything “dumped.” But the chainlink that crosses the lane will absolutely prevent any emergency vehicles through, or a workman to enter the house through the back door.
Soon after the chain arrived, a City truck bringing men to clear the lane appeared. I had recently planted liriope against my stone wall and Virginia creeper trails over it, looking very pretty all summer.
I was shocked when they pulled out spraying materials and sprayed the whole lane with insecticide. The wildflowers that were there are all gone. The liriope I planted, the Virginia creeper, all dead. The ground is brown and ugly and I have not seen a bird there since.
I grow herbs for kitchen use just over my wall and I know that pesticides leach into the soil.
Yesterday I went for a walk along Habersham, as far as 63rd Street. Every lane has small shrubs, some flowering, wildflowers and a grass border, good for birds and beneficial wildlife.
They look neat, clean, usable -- while I sit behind a blighted landscape.
I can only think that the reason behind the differing treatments is the fact that my neighborhood has poorer households. This City needs new management, one with imagination and a sense of fairness to all its citizens.
Lillian Thorsen
Thanks from Greg Williams
Editor,
I wanted to say thank you to the readers of Connect Savannah for voting me Best Local Songwriter 2006. I feel lucky to be able to do what I love in the first place, but I am twice blessed to have my work listened to and appreciated.
Bob Dylan said, “songs are dreams that you hope will come true”. Many of my dreams have come true. There is so much talent here in the Southeast, and I am honored to be in such esteemed company.
As someone who has been supported and informed by Connect Savannah over the years, I would also like to commend you on the fine work you all do. I know the hours are long and sometimes the job can seem thankless. There are plenty of readers who are glad to have you.
Greg Williams
Best Local Songwriter 2006
Best Acoustic Artist 2005
