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Virtual Community

Week 3

Global issues have a profound impact everywhere and New Harbor is no exception. As you enter the community this week, make sure your first stop is the Action News 7 Studio. This week’s news broadcast will give you key insight into how a specific global issue is affecting the city. Follow up by exploring the other hot spots to see what other citizens are saying about it and then consider the impact of the controversy on the role you selected in Week 1.

Action News 7

Miles Johnson: Good evening. I’m Miles Johnson. In honor of the upcoming mayoral election, we continue our series tonight called “Our Changing City” where we look at the challenges that lie ahead for New Harbor’s mayor during the next four years.

Tonight we are going to focus on something you’ve probably heard a lot about recently – Zebra Mussels. Our own Channel 7’s James Grant is here to talk to us about the story and where this transatlantic pest came from and what it means to the community. James?

James Grant: Thanks, Miles. Zebra Mussels. We’ve all heard the complaints and if you’re an avid swimmer or water sports enthusiast there’s even a good chance you’ve stepped on one, but where do they come from? And is there anything that we can do about it?

The waterfront today saw the biggest protest yet against the zebra mussels when volunteers from the group Peacetree descended on the harbor to protest the entry of a ship from China. It is from these ships that the Zebra Mussels are able to enter into our waters by gaining passage in the ballast water of the ship. It may sound coincidental but it can happen by the thousands with each ship that dumps their water here.

Susan McDonald: (ED of Peacetree) I think a lot of people are surprised by the sheer volume of alien mussels that we’ve seen introduced into the harbor, but if you do even the slightest bit of research you’ll find that this has been happening in every harbor that services a high level of international ships. The Great Lakes certainly experienced it a few years back and it was big news! …So I find it particularly irresponsible that the people who allowed all of these ships to come here didn’t bother to consider the environmental impact.

James Grant: And that impact is certainly being felt. Once in our waters, the female Zebra Mussels begin rapidly reproducing. This threatens the eco-balance of our marine life by overpowering and reducing our own native mussel populations. They are also responsible for clogging numerous industrial water intake pipes and as swimmers can attest, their presence on the beaches has been a painful addition to a day out in the sun.

Alec Coppel: I think it goes without saying that the presence of the mussels is in direct correlation to our increased shipping practices and the state of our industry here at home. I don’t have the exact figures with me, but well, we all know that New Harbor used to be a titan of manufacturing. We made toys. We made car parts. We processed food. And we made home supplies. But look at what happened. Thanks to the policies of the Taylors almost all of the factories and plants that used to keep this city buoyant have closed down sending our workers to the streets while the jobs go overseas. And lo and behold –these Zebra Mussels are now entering our waterways via ships that are bringing – you guessed it: Toys, car parts, food products, and home supplies! Now it doesn’t take a genius to see that we not only gave our jobs to the Chinese, but we’re also letting them destroy our ecosystem as well and we need to reverse that.

James Grant: The Zebra Mussel invasion has in fact become a major issue of the mayoral campaign with both of the major party candidates pointing blame without offering much solution.

Samuel Taylor: I know my opponent is fond of making me look like the bad guy but let’s look at the facts. I have been a staunch fiscal conservative my entire life and every vote or speech I’ve made has been in favor of local business. New Harbor has obviously hit hard times and its regrettable that even a single business has had to close, but to suggest that all of that has happened in only the past four years is preposterous. Mr. Coppel has been on the city council for 12 years – does he honestly not think his liberal policies contributed to this mess?

James Grant: And while the Republican and Democrat battle it out to place the blame, Independent candidate Mary Davenport is taking a different approach.

Mary Davenport: We could spend the whole day bickering about what the root of the problem is, but I think our energies are better spent finding a solution. Ya know, I’ve been down here for years working with these people, trying to help all the people who’ve been laid off get back on their feet. That’s where the real problem lies. So many New Harborans are out of work right now and although we can’t actually get their jobs back from places like China and India, we can set them on a new course right here at home. Now, I’ve been working with some scientists and a couple people from Peacetree and we’ve formulated a plan to start employing people to start cleaning out the Zebra Mussel population and protecting our own marine species. And of course that means working with the Port Authority to identify which ships are most dangerous to our waters.

Tad Scott (Sit-down interview): The profiling of ships coming into the harbor is a really big task and I’ve been asking for more funds to do so since I got on the job. We already have our hands full trying to keep tabs on ships that might be trafficking in humans or drugs, much less some zebra mussels.

People want to complain about these little beasts as the biggest nuisance in the world but they’re ignoring the fact that human trafficking and drug smuggling have increased right alongside these mussels but even at an even steeper rate!

Reporter (off screen): So would you advocate checking every ship for every threat – be it terrorist or zebra mussel?

Tad Scott: I can’t be done. There is honestly no time or manpower to search every single ship for every single threat, at least not with what I’m given. Don’t get me wrong - if it were up to me we’d put up a giant protective bubble around the whole city and every creature or object coming in would have the most intense pat down and cavity search known to man… but until that happens I need to prioritize and do what I can with what I’ve got.

James Grant (Back in studio): Discouraging words there from Port Authority Director Scott, but as you can see, Miles, this is a very complicated issue with really no end in sight.

Miles Johnson: Indeed and I have no doubt we’ll be hearing about this issue…the next three weeks at least leading up to the elections. Thanks James for your report.

Up next: Flu vaccinations. Will this be the year we run out?

Reaction Points Around Town

“I’ve been living in the U.S. for 20 years. I worked very hard to get to this country and I work even harder now. I came here for a better a life and for the most part I have found that. These mussels that are our clogging our dirty harbor are everyone’s problem. To suggest that just because they come from my native country, that I am somehow responsible for their being here -- this is just plain ludicrous. We are all worried about the mussels and we must all deal with them.”

- Young Ngao, Hairdresser, 37, Independent

“The New Harbor Port Authority came on my boat looking for trouble. We had done nothing wrong. We are a friendly vessel. We carry oil. We carry fruit! Ever since 9/11, they see a ship with an Arabic name, and they are suspicious. It would be OK to come on the boat for a well-mannered inspection, but the Port Authority here, today, was aggressive and unfriendly. It does not make for friendship or good trading.”

- Ahmed Efriam, Ship’s Captain, 56, non-U.S. citizen

“These mussels are bad news and once they hit the host location they are extremely tough to control. There are ways to control their spread but many of the methods are very costly. Manufacturers and municipalities take a huge hit here. They could oxidize the mussels using chlorine or chlorine dioxide, manually remove them using high pressure washing, or freeze or use heated air steam injections to get them out of a space. Acoustical vibration works, and there are a number of other methods but the trick is to not let them in in the first place, which is sadly next to impossible.”

- Sheila Decker, University Marine Biologist, 48, Democrat

“Believe me, I see where the mussels are a huge problem but you also have to see where the good outweighs the bad. The ships that are bringing over the mussel larvae in their ballast tanks are also bringing very high quality products to our shores. Cloth, fiber, cotton, dry goods, synthetics – a world of textiles and commodities that we all need for everyday living. And what’s wonderful is the prices are fantastic. It’s amazingly high quality stuff! We’re truly getting the best bang for our buck.”

- Alan Ilardo, Ilardo Importers, 37, Republican

“The mussels are devastating New Harbor. They’ve found their way into the engine of my jet ski; they’re impossible to get out. They’re on the bottom of the river bed, everywhere you walk and swim; they cut your feet like little blades. Ten years ago they were not even here. Now they’re omnipresent and all my favorite things to do, the reason I live on the shore – it isn’t even worth it anymore. What are we going to do about this truly terrible tragedy?”

- Erica Zimlin, School Guidance Counselor/Water Sports Enthusiast, 45, Independent

“These mussels are a multi-million, possibly billion dollar threat to industrial and municipal water supplies, so this is no laughing matter. If mussel populations continue to increase at their current rates, mussel infestations at power plants and industrial facilities will devastate many New Harbor operations. Mussels will continue to colonize water intake pipes at these sites unless we act swiftly. Mayor Taylor and every candidate must address this issue so we can determine what to do to repair our damaged facilities.”

- Harvey Goldstein, Steel Manufacturer, 65, Republican

Jensen Construction Headquarters

“A lot of things have been said and reported about Jensen Construction in the past week but we respectfully ask everyone involved to weigh all evidence before passing judgments and allow us our fair day in court. We built the Axis Chemicals plant based on specifications directly from Axis Chemicals that we were told to be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Every safety precaution that could have been taken in the building of such a facility was taken and we stand by our work and certify that this was a sound structure. Any faults or leaks in said facility could only result from negligence on the part of Axis Chemicals in their original plans or follow-up internal construction. We have ample evidence at our disposal to refute any claims against our work and look forward to presenting these documents in court. Thank you.”

- Jensen Construction Spokesperson

Port Authority Holding Facility

“It’s not a problem that a lot people talk about but I’m so grateful for the Port Authority. Two years ago I was living on the streets of Zagreb, Croatia where I was kidnapped and sold into a human trafficking ring. I eventually ended up being smuggled onto a ship coming to America with a few others and insane amounts of narcotics. Luckily, our ship was thoroughly searched coming into New Harbor and I was rescued. Tad Scott personally met us at the dock and got us into protective services. I’ll always be grateful and hope they don’t stop doing what they’re doing.”

- Elena Girkova, refugee, 23, Croatian, Non-voter

Unemployment Office

“Well, here I am standing in line at the Unemployment Office AGAIN. This is going to be my last week of benefits and then who knows what’ll happen to me. Ever since I got laid off at the plant I’ve applied for what feels like 80 jobs a week but nothing comes through. The kinds of jobs for a guy like me just don’t exist here anymore. There used to be hundreds of options but now I’m choosing between paying rent and eating. Never thought I’d be in this position.”

- Bill Breaux, Unemployed, 37, White, Republican

“I’ve been working here at the unemployment office for almost thirty years now but I’ve just never seen it this bad. I used to see maybe a handful or two of people per day but now the line is never-ending. It’s even more heartbreaking knowing that I don’t have good news for any of them. There just aren’t any jobs to be had in New Harbor right now! I’d hire them all to help me here in the office if I could but we all know that’s not gonna happen. We just gotta hope it gets better for these people soon.”

- Janet Tomino, Unemployment Assistance Officer, 58, African American, Democrat