Missing the point
State Senator Tim McGough offered an odd response to an article in the Washington Post that the federal government intended to warehouse immigrants in a facility located in Merrimack.
He offered his assurance that the law would be followed in connection with this project “in accordance with all applicable planning, zoning, and regulatory requirements.” Nothing about the Constitution, no mention of due process of law, living conditions, separation of families or access to legal services. Just make sure it’s within the proper district, with adequate parking, acceptable signage and the required setbacks have been met.
Is there a provision in the Merrimack zoning ordinance that will permit human warehousing? Is a structure to confine up to 1,500 people a valid “residential” use? Is the federal government even bound by local ordinances when it comes to meeting a declared “national emergency”?
It would seem that Sen. McGough has no problem with the concept of what will be, in effect, a concentration camp within his community, with little or no actual oversight or control of the facility by the local government. He might want to rethink his position on this. There is a higher law than zoning.