The author makes some good points but lost me here.
Humans have the potential to end all life on earth above microbial level. Polar bears don't. In a few decades we will very likely have the potential to end all life or even destroy the planet or the sun.
We should think about what we do and how we do it so that we don't cause such disastrous effects.
The brainless notion that any and all potential human actions are good is as idiotic as the equally brainless notion that they are all bad.
Redwood City is not a suburb of San Francisco. It is the county seat of San Mateo County, and is about 40 miles away. It has a long history and goes back at least 100 years; to call it a “suburb” would be like calling the reporter “competent”.