Townsend and Son celebrate environmental destruction on Labor Day

From Senator Townsend's Facebook page:

This toddler loves heavy equipment, dirt, and the book “Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site.” Thanks to BG for taking the time to help make a little guy’s story times into a reality -- and thank you for all workers who help build the progress, safety, and values at the heart of Labor Day!

What kind of world does Townsend expect to leave his children given the myriad of scientific data and reports coming at us daily about the grave situation our planet is now in? According to The Guardian among countless others:

=> Up to 1M species are at risk of annihilation, many within decades, according to a leaked draft of the global assessment report, which has been compiled over three years by the UN’s leading research body on nature.

=> The 1,800-page study will show people living today, as well as wildlife and future generations, are at risk unless urgent action is taken to reverse the loss of plants, insects and other creatures on which humanity depends for food, pollination, clean water and a stable climate.

And here's the Wilmington News Journal, for a more local perspective:

=> Nearly half of Delaware’s native plants are either threatened or already extinct. More than three-quarters of the state’s freshwater mussels are gone. One in five of our native fish species have disappeared.

=> It’s time to recognize species loss as a canary in a coal mine and act now, while we still can. Wildlife has no borders; neither does extinction, and neither should our response. I urge our congressional delegation to support RAWA now, before it’s too late. 

Let's revisit Townsend's page where he attempts to vindicate himself of wrongdoing in selling out the 180 acre Orphanage Property, its wetlands and critical habitat area -- and with that, the last remaining chance for a regional park for his Ogletown constituents:

=> This picture is one of deep hopes more deeply dashed. As a state senator, I have been proud to pass key legislation for Delaware and to serve constituents in my district. Sometimes my efforts have been unsuccessful. One of the deepest regrets I will ever have is that I was unsuccessful in my efforts with State Rep. Ed Osienski to preserve the open space on the orphanage property along Route 4 near Ogletown. This land could and should have become a regional county park for densely populated, hard-working neighborhoods. Instead, it will become mixed housing.

=> What happened is a complicated story, and Rep. Osienski and I have posted the details [here]. But this photo shows how I feel about it. I grew up in one of the neighborhoods next to this open space and flew kites here as a child. I wanted to fly kites here with my son someday, in a county park. I wanted every child and family along Route 4 to be able to do so, for generations to come. It meant so much to me as a legislator and as a father who grew up in this community. I did all that I could, and I will always regret that my efforts fell short.

Now lets talk about what really happened, by simply looking at Senator Townsend's campaign donor list, breaking it down among several categories including individual donors. His legislative companion, Ogletown's State Rep. Edward Osienki, is similarly weighted with builder interests.

No wonder the two concealed the Chestnut Hill "Preserve" from their constituents for two full years from the time it was first conceived in 2013. Doing so kept environmental and quality of life Advocates at bay, and allowed the development plans to reach a point of no return. From there, the two could make excuses and lie their way to its finished conclusion.

Senator Townsend (along with his Democrat minions in the House and NCC Council) will have to answer someday for why he trampled the wishes of the overwhelming majority of his constituents. He will have to answer for his failure to defend their quality of life in an entire region of Delaware, and in the grand scheme of things, hastened climate change and mass extinction.