My letter to Diamond Bar City Council

You can e-mail Diamond Bar City Council and the Mayor at: CityCouncil@ci.diamond-bar.ca.us

Have your voice be heard! This is what I sent to them:

"Dear Diamond Bar Mayor and City Council Members-
I am a native Southern Californian, born in Anaheim, raised in Phillips Ranch and Chino Hills, having attended Lorbeer Junior High in your city and having lived in the area for the large portion of my life. I was away for three years in New York City. Upon my return, I was shocked to see that much of the open space that I know and love in the area has been developed or is threatening to be developed. The land in question is known as "The Pretty Way" to my family. As a child, when my mom would take my brother and I to visit my father at his law office in Fullerton, she would often ask us which route we preferred to take. We always opted for Brea Canyon and would peer outside the window and marvel at the expanse of hills that fostered our imagination of what California used to be like in the "old days." Today, my gut wrenches at the possibilty that one of the last remaining natural open spaces will be lost. Though we are born in a different age than those of the "old days" when agriculture was the primary means, we have a tie to the land that we can never escape. We must recognize that we would not be here flourishing and enjoying life if it were not for the resources it has provided. It is our job as residents of the area to protect the remaining land for future generations to enjoy. It is not our job to give way to oil companies and let them become more prosperous than they already are. Though each of the small amount of open space remaining in the area can be thought in monetary and developmental terms, all land cannot be developed. The land in question is a wildlife corridor~ a biodiversity hotspot. This means that its existence is vital, not only locally, but globally as well. In this day and age, we can no longer think locally. We must think globally. Our choices that we make for our local environments shape the future of the planet. So much is being lost at an alarming rate. Even humans, well adapted to living in man-made environments cannot do without the land. We would be more prosperous to live and have natural space available than to live and have all spaces developed. By developing the proposed piece of land, the wildlife in that area would be threatened and surely will lose all chances of survival. Are they not entitled to their homes as well? We have taken so much and given so little. It is for the future that we must be always steering our decisions towards. What kind of future would you like your children to live in? What kind of future would you like all children to live in? If children of the future have no opportunity to appreciate the natural qualities of their birthland, then chances are they will not feel any strong ties to it. I believe one must have such ties~ it is an integral part of a healthy human being and citizen. I urge you to reconsider the path that you as mayor and council are taking. Though the benefits may sound appealing, the negatives far outweigh them. It is your duty as public servants to shape a bright future for all those that live now and will live. Follow in the politics of Lincoln: honesty and truth should be your only creed. Save what little is left for the future.

Sincerely,
Erin Hicks"