Yesterday, the Piedmont Group of the Sierra Club released a vision statement that includes "values that [Sierra Club members] cherish," according to Club president Tom Olivier. While local officials found much of the statement agreeable in principle, one provision prompted criticism from two Albemarle County Supervisors.
Both Ken Boyd and Rodney Thomas reacted negatively to the statement’s wish for the maintenance of "stable or near-stable population size." Boyd told the Daily Progress that he was confused about how to implement such a vision, and asked whether the Sierra Club’s aim meant "limiting the number of babies people can have."
Cynthia Neff, who recently announced her candidacy for Boyd’s supervisor seat, told C-VILLE that she “wasn’t surprised” by the comments from Boyd and Thomas, "given their recent reaction to the concept of sustainability." Neff, a member of the Advocates for a Sustainable Albemarle Population Board of Directors, said she supports the Sierra Club’s conclusions about sustainable population growth, and added that "we’re fooling ourselves if we don’t think ‘size matters.’" What do you think? Leave your comments below.