Clay/Cherokee Counties Chapter, Stop I-3 Coalition
Group Statement
Our Purpose:
To educate and inform our community members about the Interstate
3 proposal and to demonstrate that it will irreparably damage
our mountains and our communities. We intend to encourage
our neighbors to join together and persuade our elected officials
to stop this road from being built.
Our Values:
We wish to protect….
--The scenic beauty of our area and the quality of life
which currently exists in our communities.
--The integrity of our watersheds and the quality of our
air.
--The diversity and health of our forests and wildlife.
--Local landowners from having their homes, farms, and businesses
bought up by the government through eminent domain to make
room for a huge highway.
--The existing network of roads and the accessibility of
our communities to each other.
--The local economy which is currently based on the beauty
of the area and our Mountain heritage and is thriving on
homebuilding, health care, tourism, agriculture, crafts
and cottage industries, small business, and light industry.
--The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park, the Nantahala National Forest,
and the Appalachian Trail from intrusion by a heavy duty
industrial highway.
--Our citizens and our ecosystems from the dangers of radioactive
traffic on the proposed interstate.
--Future generations of taxpayers from having to finance
this massively expensive project.
Our means:
We will work to…
--Organize public meetings to inform citizens about the proposed
interstate and all of the issues surrounding its construction.
--Participate in feasibility studies and encourage widespread
participation by local people.
--Encourage letter writing and send information to congressional
representatives and state and local officials.
--Cooperate with the larger Stop I-3 Coalition in the creation
of solidarity among all the mountain communities of NC, GA,
TN, and SC to ensure that this interstate does not cross the
Blue Ridge.
--Gather information and distribute it by means of local and
regional press, email and phone communications, and the Stop
I-3.org website.
--Unite groups of people and individuals who may be opposed
to the interstate proposal for a wide variety of reasons.
To Join Our Efforts:
To request that your name be added to our mailing list,
send an email to John Clarke at jkqualla@verizon.net
. This list will only be used for Stop I-3 purposes. You will
receive updates throughout the period of the feasibility study
and notices about meetings and hearings.
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