The saga of South Bisbee continues
by Pamela Powers Hannley
South Bisbee is under seige by Freeport-McMoRan. The international mining giant is evacuating South Bisbee in order to do land reclamation.
Renters are being ousted. Home owners are being offered $50/square foot for their homes. Everyone who settles with the company must agree that neither they nor their relatives will seek any future damages against the company.
Last week, I posted a story and two videos about the goings on in this tiny border enclave, but the story continues to evolve.
Only one woman– featured in the video entitled "A Hero in South Bisbee"— has refused to settle with the company. In this video– available after the jump– you can hear Our Hero's reasons why she doesn't want to settle, but you can see a bird's eye view of tiny, green South Bisbee, surrounded by industrial mining waste. (Southern Arizona residents who may be living near the proposed Rosemont Mine, take note.) Outside of Our Hero's back window, there used to be a view of the desert; now she sees a mountain of tailings. No wonder the mining company wants South Bisbee residents to sign off on all future litigation. Living in houses surrounded by mining waste can't be good for your health.
Last night, the Bisbee City Council voted to support South Bisbee in their request for more time before they have to leave their houses.
Today, KGUN 9 on Your Side ventured to South Bisbee to do a story. Ironically, Freeport-McMoRan security showed up at the same time.
Check out two new LoneProtestor videos from South Bisbee after the jump.