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On April 4, I went to the Superior Town Council meeting looking for answers. I prepared a statement for public comments, to see if anyone was willing to give them to me. But I feel more confused now than I did before that meeting.
My questions were simple, I thought. First, since Resolution Copper gave its 2013 allotment of monies set aside in the mutual benefits agreement early, but the Council has now terminated that agreement, does the Town plan to pay that money back?
Secondly, if the Town is in such bad financial shape, how is that we were able to send not one, but TWO of our Council Members to Washington, DC in order to testify against the land exchange?
When it was time for the Council Members to make their comments, I hoped for some answers to my questions. Instead, what I received was a tongue lashing from Councilman Gilbert Aguilar that my statement was flat out wrong, because the Town did NOT pay for them to go. I could not help but ask, ”well then who did?” Even though I did speak out of turn, and I do publicly apologize for the disrespect I showed by doing that, Mr. Aguilar and Ms. Peralta responded to me anyway. Their response? “It doesn’t matter.”
It doesn’t matter… IT DOESN’T MATTER?? Are you kidding me? You are public officials speaking supposedly on behalf of the residents. You went to our nation’s capital, supposedly representing the voice of the people—MY VOICE. I’m sorry if you feel entitled to secrecy and discretion, but the fact is you are a PUBLIC official. When you do something that is on behalf of the Town of Superior, it should be subject to any public questioning, and you should be prepared to give the public an answer.
Mr. Aguilar and Ms. Peralta continue to say that they are in support of the mine; they just aren’t in support of the land exchange. However, if your way to Washington, DC was paid by the Retired Miners Coalition, or Roy Chavez, (who, I might add has proudly told numerous people in this community that it was), you have aligned the Town with Earthworks. Earthworks is an organization which has gone on record to say that there is not a single current U.S. mine that they support. In other words, they are against ALL mining currently taking place in the United States. If you align us with them, you unfortunately are also saying that you are NOT in support of mining, in particular this mine, regardless of how the land exchange bill is written.
So I beg to differ with you, Mr. Aguilar and Ms. Peralta. It VERY MUCH matters who paid your way. I now challenge you to set the record straight. Who did pay your way? If it wasn’t the taxpayers’ money, then tell me who I can thank for deliberately attempting to sabotage this company who just six months ago bailed you out of a financial disaster.
Sincerely,
/s/ Aja DeZeeuw
Town of Superior Resident
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