Headlines cheering steps forward in redressing 40-year-old wrongs on Rogers Road are getting ahead of themselves.
It’s been nearly 41 years since local governments promised that community a sewer line. And even if plans for the new line proceed without further setbacks, it will likely be 2015 before work begins.
The landfill, which is only now about to close, stayed open 30 years longer than the historically black and low-income neighborhood was originally told. And residents say they’re experiencing negative health effects from the landfill and contaminated well water.
Our failure to make good on our promises is embarrassing, and our sluggish response to health concerns is simply indefensible.
Leaders in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County should be applauded for working through the many bureaucratic obstructions that make this project so complicated. And the sewer line plans on the table are a good step forward. But nothing should be celebrated until we see material progress.
Financial issues have already limited the feasible proposals, but we need to ensure that the project in its final form truly helps the neighborhood.
It would be far too easy for us to congratulate ourselves now on the little progress we can see, and then to forget our concerns and let justice again be delayed into oblivion.
There will be time to celebrate when we finally see needs being met.
