Swain County still getting shortchanged

I was born and raised in Swain County and am a registered Democrat, but sometimes I get disturbed about the [Democratic] Party operations.

I read your paper’s article about Heath Shuler [“Shuler’s First 100 Days,” April 11]. The part that is most disturbing is about the North Shore Road project. Heath has never met with the people that lost everything and has never showed any interest in our feelings or needs. The extreme environmentalist[s] and crooked politicians took him over from the beginning. Our people were forced to sell out and leave, and [were] given a lot less than they needed to get some place to start over again. I’ve been told some never got anything for their homes and property.

Shuler keeps using the $600-million price for a road to get support of other representatives for a cash settlement. The EIS [Environmental Impact Study] included many unnecessary expenses, such as high bridges (not needful). A [representative of a] very large construction company has [estimated] a price of around one-half that [amount]. The $600 million is being used as a weapon against Swain County. Cash would only satisfy a few money-hungry people and will never settle the 1943 agreement. I pray our elected officials will check into matters of the real effects their decisions have on people and stop bargaining amongst themselves.

— Vivian Cook
Bryson City

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