Eagles Aren’t the Real Issue in Forest Dispute

Re “Who’s Really in Cahoots?” editorial, Dec. 21: It may certainly be tempting for The Times and others to think the racketeering lawsuit filed against three U.S. Forest Service employees and one co-conspirator is about economics, politics and the environment. In truth, it is about none of the above. It’s about government employees who we feel broke the law.

As much as the defendants would love to make this about bald eagles, it is not. After a full year of requesting documents under the Freedom of Information Act, there has been no proof that bald eagles have ever used the trees in question. Reports by independent experts state the area is not, and has never been, a bald eagle habitat. An examination of the facts shows the development has followed all environmental regulations. The real issue is that we are all defrauded when government employees break the law to perpetrate a land grab in their own personal interest.

Wayne Rosenbaum

Marina Point Development

attorney, San Diego