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I'm listening in to the special #WA State Parks meeting to hear public comment on the Navy's proposal to use parks for SEAL training. https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/military/article248645175.html
You can watch along with me, here: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2021011044&autoStartStream=true
Right now, we're hearing a presentation from the commission on potential mitigation efforts. A decision on the Navy permits is expected during a regular parks commission meeting this Thursday.
Public speakers are limited to two minutes each over the next four hours and had to register to provide comment by Friday, Jan. 22.
80 people are scheduled to speak.
Speaking now, Mike Spence, who says the Navy has proven over the last five years that their training in state parks puts no one at risk. Says their previous permit should be a testament to their professionalism and commitment to serving the public.
Fourth speaker, Steve Bristow, points out that many of Washington's parks have military backgrounds.
Bristow also rebuts the idea that children in state parks will be traumatized by the training: "I've seen children traumatized by Santa, the Easter Bunny and a Coca Cola Polar Bear."
There's a pretty even amount of speakers on both sides of this argument tonight.
Larry Salter, president of Navy League PNW, is one of the speakers. He says he'd like to "debunk some of the emotional arguments" around the proposal. Says most of the training is happening in remote parks, at night, when they're closed.
"I reject the notion that rejecting this proposal is a rejection of the military" one speaker said. "It is possible to support military training and reject this proposal."
Angie Homala, a Navy spouse, says the men and women of the U.S. Navy are committed to preserving the areas they train in. But that the Navy hasn't done due diligence in engaging with the public.
The comments against this proposal have been 3:1, Homala said. She adds that although the Navy has had over a year of negotiations with the commission, the public was only notified of the opportunity for a public comment hearing in Dec. 2020.
