Drakes Estero: Former Mayor Speaks out in Support of Point Reyes Wilderness

Lynn Hamilton, former Mayor for the City of Sebastopol, writes in the Healdburg Tribune in support of allowing Drakes Estero to finally become the wilderness area Congress intended. She notes that Drakes Bay Oyster Company's signs being spread throughout Marin and Sanoma Counties should say "Save Point Reyes Wilderness" which DBOC is preventing from occurring.

She writes: This is not an issue of “farmer” vs big government. The real issue here is that private development and industry interests have been working for years to overturn environmental laws and allow natural resource extraction and commercial development in the wilderness areas, national parks, oceans, estuaries and other publicly owned and protected lands.

The Lunny family knew that their rights to using the uplands, tidelands and waters in Drakes Estero would end in 2012. Instead of being grateful for the use of public lands for almost 7 years, from which they have profited handsomely, they have instead chosen to allow themselves to be allied with industries whose view on wilderness areas is that they are a hindrance to their expansion and profitability. The oil, mining, timber and other industries would love nothing more than to see DBOC be allowed to continue their commercial operation covering over 1,000 acres in this wilderness.

The Lunny family needs to consider what they wish to leave as their legacy to future generations.