NAHB Suggestions for dealing with ELF, and others

[No Mandate Here.]

Eco-Terrorists Intensifying No-Growth Battles in California

Parts of a report about a panel discussion among big builders.

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Panelists suggested a number of strategies for successfully battling the enemy at the door, whether or not they are outright criminals:

At the interface of urban areas and natural lands is where builders will find themselves most at risk, according to __________. And if there is a college nearby, “that trumps everything,” he said, because there are “radical professors at college who fire up students who fire up your houses.” Those who feel they are at risk of a criminal attack should alert their local law enforcement leaders and meet with them or security consultants to discuss the precautions they can take.

If perpetrators of terrorist acts are apprehended, and they have financial asserts, builders could have recourse to a civil remedy, ________ said. Most of the perpetrators who have been caught have been college students from middle- or upper-class families, he said. Builders will have a hard time suing environmentalists for making false claims about their projects, ___________said. “But your opponents don’t have much integrity, so don’t let their claims go unchallenged” and “never assume that their claims are true.” When falsehoods are discovered, refute them in a letter to the president of their organization and send copies to the city council, mayor and other decision makers, he recommended. “Use their own words against them.”

To create a more receptive environment for new housing, ________ recommended using local-based design that incorporates a sense of place and aspects of great neighborhoods; tapping into local community values; emphasizing green building strategies; finding opportunities to identify the public benefit of the project and quality of life issues. “Recruit supporters,” he said, “and expose the extremists. Take the high road, keep your message simple and talk about the community instead of the project.” The only balanced panelist, IMHO


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[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Link?

Looks interesting, I'd like to read more.