Carolina Journal’s Rick Henderson reports on celebrity activist Erin Brockovich’s appearance in Raleigh to advocate on behalf of the state takeover of four hydroelectric dams owned by Alcoa. During the press event, Brockovich displayed a knack for sound bite rhetoric but a clear lack of understanding of the fundamental issues involved here. (emphasis is mine)
When asked what she hoped to accomplish with her visit, Brockovich was unable to cite any specific aspects of the legislation.
“I haven’t really looked at the licensing issue,” she said. “It is probably going to be really your state’s issue.”
When a reporter asked what she thought about Alcoa’s contention that seizing the dams and surrounding land would amount to an unconstitutional taking of private property, she said, “I don’t get into eminent domain issues.”
Brockovich said she hoped the bill would pass, “putting money into a trust [so] you can put people to work, you can create green jobs, you can clean up the pollution, and you can put some sense of justice and well-being into a community.”
Huh?
Henderson also lays out the connection between Brockovich’s visit, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, and Councilwoman Nancy McFarlane. The details are here.
