Protecting our water, our families, and our future

Dear Editor,

As RFK Jr. wisely stated, “When we destroy nature, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine.” I’ve experienced this firsthand while enjoying the peace and beauty of the Northeast Cape Fear River, creating cherished memories with my children. But those moments have been overshadowed by the pollution caused by Lear — a multimillion-dollar corporation, indifferent politicians, and regulatory agencies failing to protect our water.

For months, myself and many others have worked to bring attention to this crisis, sending countless emails and pleading with agencies and elected officials to act—not just for my family but for thousands of others from Kenansville to Wilmington. Despite these efforts, the response has been minimal and disheartening. Clean water should be a basic right, but instead, we are met with bureaucracy, delays, and indifference.

The lack of accountability is glaring, particularly from District 4 Representative Jimmy Dixon, who chairs the Environmental Review Commission and is a member of the Environment Committee. Despite his knowledge of PFAS contamination in our state and his 2017 promise in an ERC meeting to address it, he has done little to fulfill his commitments. His dismissal of EPA safety standards as “unachievable,” accusations that environmentalists are exaggerating data, and blaming Democrats are not only unhelpful but insulting to those suffering the consequences of inaction.

I am not an environmentalist—I am a mother whose children have unknowingly played in a contaminated river. His inaction, compounded by campaign donations tied to corporate interests, speaks volumes about misplaced priorities.

This issue extends beyond one representative. The Southern Environmental Law Center recently petitioned the EPA, highlighting systemic failures within North Carolina’s legislature, which has weakened the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) through underfunding, political interference, and laws favoring polluters. The legislature’s actions prioritize corporate profits over public health, leaving our communities vulnerable and our environment compromised.

The Northeast Cape Fear River isn’t just a body of water—it is a lifeline for our community. Families depend on it for fishing, recreation, and their livelihood. Yet, the toxic contamination caused by corporations and enabled by legislative inaction has turned this lifeline into a health hazard. This is not just about environmental harm; it is a public health crisis affecting thousands of people.

We must demand transparency, accountability, and action from those in power. It is time to end political pollution and restore trust in our institutions. We cannot allow corporations and complicit lawmakers to continue prioritizing profit over the well-being of our families and our future.

Make no mistake, the decisions made now will set a precedent for every waterway in our state!  Will we allow toxic contamination to define our rivers and streams, or will we take a stand to protect them? The time has come to repair this broken system, restore public trust, and guarantee that the safety of our water and communities is never compromised again.

I urge you, and anyone else concerned about our water, health, and environment to join us at the public comment session on Dec. 17, 2024, at 6 p.m. in the Monk Auditorium at James Sprunt Community College. Even if you do not plan to speak, your presence sends a powerful message that we will not stand idly by while our health and environment are jeopardized. Together, we can advocate for the safety and well-being of our families, our communities, and our future.

Sincerely,
Jessica Thomas
Sarecta