Easter is a time for renewal - natural and spiritual. Churches throughout Delaware’s Cape Region are doing their best to work for spiritual renewal. As far as nature goes, all of us need to work harder and start beating the drums louder to resurrect the once-pristine quality of our water and waterways.
There are too many official signs along our rivers and bays advising people to avoid contact with polluted waters, and reminding them that harvesting and consuming fish and shellfish from many restricted areas can cause health issues. How embarrassing and sad, not to mention threatening to the health of our vital tourism industry.
As of this writing, there are at least six new hotels either under construction or in the late phases of planning for Delaware’s Cape Region, and there are three more proposed. Two new hotels are in the ocean block of Rehoboth where the water and beach top the list of why tourists come. The rest are short driving distances from the waterways that attract thousands each year for healthy outdoor recreation.
Investors in these projects know what they’re doing. They’ve researched the market and know what we all know. Coastal Delaware is a good place to live and to visit. With so many reasons to come here for culture, recreation and entertainment, people are arriving in ever-increasing numbers, and they need places to stay.
All of those visitors are good for the local economy, but if we don’t start making serious investments in cleaning up our waterways for ourselves, our children and grandchildren, and our visitors, we will be shortchanging everyone. We certainly don’t want visitors second-guessing whether they should come. We don't want to risk anyone’s health by not taking responsible action.
Our General Assembly will be in session until June 30. It’s time to let our lawmakers know we expect them to write and support bills designed to clean up deteriorating waterways and pass a budget that appropriates serious money to begin reversing the pollution that threatens our future.
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Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
