Letters to the Editor
Posted May 3, 2007
What gall
To the Editor:
This letter is in response to Dan O'Bryon's "advice to the Island's law enforcement and drinking establishments." First off, he should get a clue. He is an irresponsible and immature self-deemed "partier" and an alcoholic that deserves a much more severe punishment than he received. I about threw up when I read in his letter that he only received two and a half years in jail. I know this is not his first offense in a vehicular situation with him obliterated behind the wheel. The word around the Island is, the first words out of the car after the accident were, "I've done it this time, did I kill her?" For Mr. O'Bryon to have the gall to write a letter to the editor in the first place is fairly brave, but a bit ridiculous. Although I am sure, anything to process the damage he has caused, not only to Samantha and her family, but to the taxpayers and bank accounts of all the hard working Islanders that are paying his stay in jail, well, I am sure the guilt is a lot to bear.
And, I know that writing letters of responsibility is something I am sure he is doing with his mandatory AA. Lets hope AA keeps him sober for the rest of his life. But, to turn around and say that our law enforcement doesn't do an upstanding job, and that the bartenders in the local establishments need to hold his hand and tell him when he may have had a few too many, is completely absurd.
Growing up with alcoholism in my home and throughout my family, I can proudly say I am not an alcoholic by choice. Mr. O'Bryon made that choice to be one, it isn't something that you do without putting that fist of cash in your pocket, and going to the bar and getting wasted. Then to top it off, you are stupid enough to get in your car and drive. Multiple times Mr. O'Bryon has, and he did again the night he changed Sammy's life forever.
In the letter, Mr. O'Bryon took responsibility for the accident he caused, but didn't even say how sorry he is for what he did to Samantha.
Does he know she may have trouble walking the rest of her life?
That every day, she has to work harder than she ever did at college just because of the physical damage Mr. O'Bryon caused her. That it is even hard for Samantha to sit long periods of time in class, because of the pins that had to be put in her hips and all the way thru her pelvis to put her back together. Yes, to put her back together.
That from her facial reconstruction, she suffers from severe headaches and nosebleeds every day?
And, she will face more surgery this summer, and may never fully recover or do some of the things in her life she has always wanted to do, because of Mr. O'Bryon getting behind the wheel. Shame on him.
He admits knowing better.
He admits he is an addict.
He admits that he got behind the wheel every time he drank, and like an idiot drove our roads on this Island. That he blew thru the stop sign going over 65 miles an hour on impact with the car Sam and her friend were driving.
I bet he would have been really bummed to get pulled over at a police sobriety road-block (like the one he suggests) because of his previous offenses. He would have gone to jail anyhow, wouldn't he?
Individuals like Mr. O'Bryon should be locked up for much longer than he is going to be. He is right in saying there is a lot of alcoholism on Martha's Vineyard. And I know our law enforcement does do what they can in order to assert the muscle needed to make the Island safe for locals and visitors alike. Yes, it is true that bars and other establishments that serve liquor ought to think about cutting people off if they are falling down drunk, or passing out in the streets. I believe Mr. O'Bryon may have been asked to leave for fighting in the bar that night, and then returned anyhow to drink more. And yes, he was served, which shouldn't have happened. This is a small Island, and people do see what goes on. It is really a shame what has happened, because when Sammy chose to get in the car with her girlfriend, and be a responsible friend and drive home sober, she had to meet someone like Mr. O'Bryon on the road. Fewer drunk drivers on our Island would be ideal, but it takes the individual alcoholic to take the first step, and not drink in the first place.
Samantha is one of the most amazing women I know. Her mom and dad are really good people who work very hard and give a lot to our community. Her brothers, grandma, and everyone that loves her is helping her heal and become who she needs to be to be able to cope and continue to create the amazing life she has already begun, regardless of what Mr. O'Bryon has done to change her life.
What a tragedy he has caused for the Church family and community that loves Sam. Thank her lucky stars she survived, and we didn't lose her or her friend that night Mr. O'Bryon drove drunk.
I hope he stays sober and when has done his time in the clink, he will leave the Island and do something real with his life to educate others about what can happen when you drink and drive. Encouraging other like-minded partiers to be sure to have a safe ride before they head out to get wasted is a start in the right direction. He should do it for Samantha, and for himself. Be an educator, not just an encourager.
Heather Thurber
West Tisbury
More care needed
To the Editor:
The letter "More respect deserved" that appeared in the M.V. Times of April 26, made clear to me how easily people can feel disrespected and how carefully we should be about what we say and write. In my letter to the M.V. Times of April 19, 2007, I primarily wished to state my surprise and dismay that someone with a remarkable memory for faces, Leonard Jason, had not himself been recognized, and as a result encountered difficulties.
In my letter, I had interpreted statements that I had read in a News in Brief article in the M.V. Times of April 12, in an attempt to better understand what occurred. I do not know anything about the court officer who was involved in the interaction described, and upon further reflection, I realize that I should not have written anything that interpreted how she did her job. I thank Jessica Burnham for making this clear, and I extend my apology to the court officer.
As I ended my letter of April 19, "I hope this matter is resolved amicably and thank the M.V. Times for reporting the details with concern for accuracy and with concern for the personal dignity of everyone involved."
Doug Goldsmith
Chilmark and New York City
Get both sides
To the Editor:
In response to Doug Goldsmith's April 10 letter, "Praise for Leonard Jason", I would ask Mr. Goldsmith to get both sides of the story before writing his letters to the editor.
It's really nice that Mr. Jason recognized Mr. Goldsmith in Chilmark, but to the real issue: the girl "performing the task of coat check attendant" is the security officer hired and trained by the state of Massachusetts. She performs her job well.
Instead of calling names, come visit our courthouse. Maybe after she does her job as security officer, she'll check your coat and hat. Don't be fooled by the white shirt people with badges you see. They are just walking tour guides, not court officers.
Stephen Nichols
Tisbury
Paddle not
to the sea
To the Editor:
In mid-July, 1965, at about 12:25 am, I was headed home to Rocking Horse Cottage, Chappaquiddick in the family speedboat when the engine - Evinrude, I think - quit. It wouldn't start again, try as I might.
My task was to move Bullett with a canoe paddle shifting from port to starboard and back. So the bow shifted, and progress was slow. I beached Bullett at 5 am, made the cottage, and slept. Otherwise I would have drifted out to the Atlantic Ocean at Norton Point.
My gig was as one of the "Riffs", a summer rock band local to all Martha's Vineyard, all of the summer of 1965 long. That's what kept me out late, past the hours for the On Time car ferry.
Michael Haydn
of "The Riffs", 1965
Vineyard Haven
Foolish request
To the Editor:
The rush to "heal the breach" at Norton Point by Winn Davis was done impulsively, without talking to people who have a knowledge of the beach and past breaches. I hope the state has enough sense to realize that it would be a complete waste of taxpayer dollars to try to fill it in. That was tried once with no success. To try to bridge it, and comparing it with State Beach, is utterly ridiculous. One faces the Atlantic Ocean, the other Nantucket Sound.
Norton Point Beach is continually changing, and we might find a bridge to nowhere one day, when the sand shifts out from under it. To think of Norton Point as an "escape route" is equally ridiculous. Many parts of the beach have frequent washovers, and it is unsafe to drive in storms or winter conditions.
People who live on Chappy appreciate the times when they can drive the beach, but also know that they are mostly dependent on the Chappy Ferry. Most moved here, accepting the ferry and an uncertain beach as a fact of life.
If history repeats itself, it will be a long time before the beach closes. In the meantime we must accept Mother Nature's work. I hope that Mr. Davis will consult his commissioners before rushing into a foolish request to the state in the future.
Edith W. Potter
Edgartown
What was
he thinking?
To the Editor:
What is Dukes County manager Winn Davis thinking?
I am shocked by his rash actions, the complete lack of preparation, the dramatic misrepresentation and overstatement, and a very superficial and selective solicitation for feedback regarding his recent report and filing with the MEMA organization.
As others have pointed out, Katama Bay has had a long history of breaches and, arguably, has been open to the ocean as long as it has been closed to the ocean.
Since when has a breach been immediately judged as an awful and evil event? Breaches are natural events that actually provide useful and positive benefits in restoring pond water quality and replenishing shellfish populations.
Mr. Davis's declaration of the barrier beach as a "disaster" is just an opinion and a misrepresentation.
To try to dramatize this by characterizing the beach as a "well established road" or an emergency evacuation route is something that being a seven-year resident on Chappaquiddick is complete news to me. I have never come across this description or reference to the beach in any Island literature or within the town of Edgartown web site. Is this a fact or another conveniently improvised opinion?
I find it frightening that Mr. Davis feels he has the complete authority to race forward and not only misrepresent the situation but then advocate and value the solution. "Filling it in," "Building a bridge" or "install a culvert"? On what basis is he recommending this? Does Mr. Davis have an engineering degree or a coastal management background?
While it is unfortunate that the recent storm caused some damage to the Island and property, I think it is even more unfortunate that Mr. Davis's rash actions and judgments appear to be more indicative and representative of a government body trying to capitalize on this situation.
Mr. Davis, please stop trying to "fix" Norton Beach, it isn't broken. Mother Nature has a long history of doing this. Ask the state for help on fixing some real problems.
Jack McCauley
Chappaquiddick
A job for
Ice House abutters
To the Editors:
The abutters of Ice House Pond have demonstrated considerable care and concern for the health and future of the pond.
Each abutter should flush Liquid Power Tracing Dye into their septic system to analyze and trace any septic water moving toward the pond. Because they care, I'm sure they will do it, soon, and make the results public.
Ken Rusczyk
Oak Bluffs
Ferry crewman disputes SSA critic
To the Editor:
In a recent letter to the editor from an author in West Tisbury regarding the SSA, I found the first couple of points interesting, but feel the need to address several points of the third suggestion. First, is the misconception about the over abundance of well-paid employees on the vessels. If that were so, how come the executive secretary in West Tisbury gets paid more than most captains? I don't remember there being an executive secretary until recently. Is that position a full-time job? If so, does it entail spending as much as 60 hours per week away from home and payment for only 42? Does that position have the responsibility for the safety, lives and property of as many as 1,200 people per trip as well as a $33 million vessel? The building inspector makes more than some of the more senior captains plus expenses. Is that person away from his home 60 hours a week, and when frequent inclement weather strikes protecting a ship instead of his home and family? If building inspectors are so vital for communities how is it that counties in Western states that are larger than West Tisbury have eliminated that position in order to save taxpayers money and only require a BLP (building location permit)?
The letter continues to talk about the expensive upgrade from the Islander to the Island Home. I would say that upgrade is pretty much akin to the five-million-dollar plus renovation of the Town Hall that relatively few, many with emotional ties, have managed to railroad through. The city I grew up in of more than 60,000 residents, in one of the wealthiest counties on the East Coast, has a city hall that is relatively equivalent in size to what West Tisbury is going to have, a city that provides almost all municipal services imaginable. West Tisbury provides more disservices than services. For the services, it does provide, a $500,000 building would suffice. The Town Hall waste of money project pales compared to the Up-Island School District deal. Again, a small group with their own interests, many more emotional than sensible, have prevailed. It was stated by the Town Treasurer at the annual town meeting that like the federal government "we have no exit strategy." So, like the federal government the town will keep doing the same illogical and expensive thing over and over again.
Petty prejudices and misconceptions have a way of thriving, especially in West Tisbury. At the annual town meeting two years ago a member of the finance committee prefaced their approval for town employee raises by saying how everyone is being gouged by the SSA. I attempted to compare the proposed town employee raises to other public employees albeit the perceived lowest class - the SSA vessel employees. I stated I had never seen a pay raise of that magnitude in the 30 years I have been there, but I was promptly cut off by the moderator. At that time, SSA vessel employees had not received a pay raise for three years. As of this date, the majority of them have not received a pay raise in five years.
I am sure there are ways to cut expenses at the SSA. One way would have been to standardize the vessels. This was attempted during the great ferry debate. Management at that time wanted to build two more Martha's Vineyard-type vessels at the cost of approximately one double-ender. Islanders insisted they wanted the more expensive double-ender.
The deal with the high-speed ferries running to New Bedford empty for the most part of the time is wasteful. Riggs Parker had some good ideas, but petty prejudices prevailed. Someone else other than the SSA should be subsidizing those fast ferries. The Staten Island ferries (which are more or less standardized) are free. They are subsidized, but Islanders are afraid of losing local control.
The article I am referring to closes by stating how bizarre it would be if Islanders boycotted the boats. If so, then I can`t help but think how much money could be saved for all parties concerned if the unions, perhaps, took a cue from the New York City transit workers, who also are not allowed to strike and shut down the vessels and paid the associated fines rather than have everyone pay lawyers to negotiate (or pretend to negotiate) for five years. It typically takes about five minutes to approve a West Tisbury town employee pay raise.
James M. Sepanara
West Tisbury
Faith restored
To the Editor:
Do you remember the days when most people actually took pride in their work? Yes, I know - takes a bit of "checking the archives" to recall a precise moment when you received such care and consideration that it prompted a letter to the editor. Well, allow me to share our experience
at the Airport Mobil in Edgartown, this past Saturday afternoon, April 28.
See, some crazed Robin decided to create its best "Jackson Pollock" on one of our cars. Actually it was both our cars - it just flew back and forth between them for about 15 minutes, just totally emptying itself. Damnedest thing we ever saw. Anyway, we did the logical thing and took a ride out to the Airport Mobil to get a car wash. We took advantage of the deal where you fill up past eight gallons and get half off a car wash.
So there we are at the pump. Nice young man immediately comes out - with a smile - and starts to fill our tank. We notice he's taken aback by the nice "gloss job" said bird performed on our Toyota and immediately begins to clean it off. My wife and I turn to each other and marvel at the fact that here is this kid (couldn't be more than 20, if he's that old), doing things the old-fashioned way.
It may sound like nothing to some, but to us it restored our faith in the work ethic of some of the "young-uns" on their way up (and it was just a bonus that our eight-year-old daughter was in the car to witness the whole thing).
We let him know just how much we appreciated his ethic and attitude, verbally and with a little something to put in his pocket. His surprised reaction was so genuine, it further prompted me to write this letter.
Didn't catch his name, but if the owner and/or manager of Airport Mobil reads this, you've got the best employee who's ever come through there.
Please let him know what a fine job he's doing. In today's apathetic world, nothing is more important than some positive feedback to the "societal contributors" of tomorrow.
Good job, Buddy. Keep up the good work.
Ray Whitaker
Oak Bluffs
It's about sustainability
To the Editor:
As the tension arises from the economic, physical, and emotional turmoil on the earth, it is important to remember that sustainability, upon which life and vitality is founded, is the understanding that when you kill the land, you destroy the human soul.
Fred Thornbrugh
Vineyard Haven
No deadlines for war
To the Editor:
Not that long ago, leading Democrats thought arbitrary and rigid timetables were a bad idea. In 2005, the current chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Joseph Biden, said "A deadline for pulling out will only encourage our enemies to wait us out." He added it would be "a Lebanon in 1985. And God knows where it goes from there."
N.Y. Sen. Hillary Clinton said on Nov. 21, 2005, that an immediate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq would be "a big mistake." She also stated, "I don't believe it's smart to set a date for withdrawal. I don't think you should ever telegraph your intentions to the enemy so they can await you."
Speaking at the National Press Club in 2005, now Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid stated, "As for setting a timeline, we learned in the Balkans, that's not a wise decision, because it only empowers those who don't want us there, and it doesn't work well to do that." In 2006, Sen. Reid stated that a hike in U.S. troops in Iraq was okay with him.
Now, what kind of message is Senate Majority Leader Sen. Reid sending to our brave men and women in uniform, "especially those serving in Iraq" when he proclaimed, "this war is lost?" To put it in plain English, Sen. Reid figuratively spit in the face of our men and women serving in the Armed Forces of the United States and told them, that they were risking their lives for nothing." You aren't good enough to win.
Sen. Reid's reckless undermining of our American troops took place just weeks after Nancy Pelosi convened her unauthorized meeting, and possibly in violation of the Logan Act with Syria's president, a known supporter of terrorism. (The Logan Act is a United States Federal Law that forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. It was passed in 1799 and last amended in 1994. Violation of the Logan Act is a felony, punishable under federal law with imprisonment of up to three years. The text of the act is broad and is addressed at any attempt of a US citizen to conduct foreign relations without authority.)
Sen. Reid has sent the same message that Tokyo Rose broadcast to our troops in the Far East during World War II. After the war, Tokyo Rose was tried and convicted of treason. But, then again, Tokyo Rose wasn't the Majority Leader of the Senate.
Senator Reid's comments should only be seen as aiding and comforting the enemy in wartime. I personally believe Sen. Reid has betrayed the office he holds, shamed the American people he represents and made the Democratic Party he leads synonymous with surrender. There is only one way he can repair the damage he's done to our country and troops and
that's to step down. But Sen. Reid will never step down voluntarily. He and a huge majority of the Democrats that are in office are too bloated with
power, too corrupted by partisan greed, too willing to put politics above the security of America and the needs of our men and women in uniform. They are too busy conducting a war on President Bush and his administration than conducting a war on terrorism. They seem to be more then willing to become the party of appeasers. If Sen. Reid was a Republican, the biased liberal left news media and Democrats in power would be screaming, he should be expelled or impeached.
Setting a date certain for withdrawal, regardless of conditions on the ground and the trajectory of events, is exactly what our enemies want. Osama bin Laden said, "Success in Baghdad will be success for the United States. Failure in Iraq is the failure of the United States. Their defeat in Iraq will mean defeat in all their wars." Ayman al Zawahiri, the number two
leader of al Qaeda, said that Iraq "is now the place for the greatest battle of Islam in this era." He also said, "the Jihad in Iraq requires several incremental goals, the first stage is to expel the Americans from Iraq." It
is clear, even if we retreat from Iraq, Islamic jihadists will not just fade gently into the night. When Sen. Reid stated our troops can't win, he more than crossed the line, he basically told the enemies of America they can't lose.
Sen. Reid said last November that the Democrats would never "limit or cut off funds." Then, in April he announced his support of Senator Russ Feingold's bill to deprive our forces of arms and ammunition by some arbitrary deadline. Did Sen. Reid lie in November? I don't even believe it's about the war, which at one time Sen. Reid voted to authorize. I believe it's about furthering his left wing agenda. Like confirming liberal judges to the U.S. Supreme Court, raising taxes on hard working Americans to fund more pet projects, expanding the welfare state, and more government control and less individual freedom. Even if it means undermining our men and women fighting for freedom half a world away. Setting a deadline and withdrawing will only embolden our enemies, which essentially means we give the terrorist a green light to start committing more atrocities on U.S. soil. Tragically there have been 3,346 Americans killed in Iraq since the start of the war. Our troops that were killed died fighting for freedom. Ours and the Iraqis.
Robert Reed
Oak Bluffs
Thanks
To the Editor:
This is a letter to thank all the individuals and businesses that help us put on the Monday night community suppers at the Whaling Church in Edgartown. Members of the United Methodist Cooperative Parish and the Rotary Club work very hard to provide good food and companionship for Martha's Vineyard residents. The suppers serve between 50 and 80 people every Monday evening from the end of October to Easter.
In addition to individuals from other churches who have been a great help, we could not provide this service without the wonderful support from these Island businesses: Stop and Shop and Island Food Products. We thank them for their ongoing, important interest in helping us serve the community.
Judith Bunge
Coordinator
Monday Night Community Suppers
Generous donation
To the Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark and Bernadette Crossland of Crossland Landscape Services for their most generous donation of landscape materials to the Oak Bluffs Council on Aging.
The work performed by Mr. Crossland and his crew has greatly enhanced the beauty and charm of our building. Without Mr. Crossland's assistance and expertise, this would not have been possible.
Roger Wey
Director
Oak Bluffs Council on Aging
Care was extraordinary
To the Editor:
At this time of sorrow, I want to thank all of the people who helped my wife, Betty, these past years. The care that she received from the nurses and doctors here at MV Hospital, at the Cape Cod Hospital, and the Dialysis Center in Mashpee was extraordinary.
The nurses that gave her dialysis at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital gave her more than dialysis. They gave her hope, and the way they helped her laugh was a great joy for me, because I knew what a struggle it was for Betty. My special thanks to all of them.
My thanks to all of our family members and friends, and I also want to thank the members of the VNA who cared for her, and the EMTs who transported her to the hospital.
If I missed any one, please forgive me, because it was not intentional.
Anthony (Tony) Puwal
Edgartown
Affordable housing, yes, but what about the rules
To the Editor:
I live next door to a Brazilian homeowner. The owner is looking to divide his property to sell a non buildable parcel of land to Habitat for Humanity. HFH claims this is a 6,960-square-foot lot. The proposed building is for 1,100-square-foot home.
There was a meeting on April 21 to introduce this project to the neighbors. I, being the immediate abutter, attended. My two neighbors across the street did not receive the notice. At the meeting, I requested property markers be installed. As of today, that has not been done. We discussed different options for this project, as the representatives for Habitat for Humanity spoke as if it were a "done deal."
The approval with the zoning board of appeals meeting is May 10, at 7:30. Also, the numbers for the dwelling grew as the meeting went on - 1,100, 1,120, 1,140. I grew more and more distrustful as the meeting ensued.
While this is a very compassionate and worthy endeavor, as a Tisbury homeowner, I believe the applications supporting this mission are becoming more and more manipulated for a distorted purpose, especially when non compliance of local board requirements are so popular with these projects.
The letter sent to the select neighbors introducing the project depicted the Department of Housing and Urban Development as a level of authorization in the approval process. This agency is for funding purposes only, upon approval from the local town. I quote, "Our application was approved and we have received their letter authorizing our use of the lot for an affordable house."
The neighborhood I live in is already a street of pre existing non conforming dwellings. The people here, to include myself, could easily qualify for affordable housing. We are a hard-working class of people, with some of the families being here for generations. The road for the proposed project is a typical bumpy dirt road loaded with divots. There are huge rhododendrons on this land that extend onto mine that have been there for a very long time.
The original dwelling proposed has the largest footprint of all the other houses on the street, and is intended to be a three-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home, for a single mother with three children. I mention again, the lot is stated to be 6,960 square feet. Looking at these numbers, I also question if it leaves the owner of this property with less than 10,000 square feet for his dwelling, leaving it to be non conforming.
This is a very compassionate endeavor. I more than anyone know and understand this, being a single mother with two children. I bought my home singularly about eight years ago. Four years after being here, I realized I was not going to make it financially if I didn't do something to increase my income. I enrolled in college and commuted for the following three years, off-Island, while my children walked to and from elementary school. I now can afford to live and remain here. I received no financial assistance from the town, nor did I violate local board structure, laws and/or bylaws.
I have a petition exercising my right to oppose and contest this project. Most of the neighbors are in agreement. The petition clearly states, "We would like it understood, we are not opposed to supporting people in need of affordable housing. We are opposed to the misuse of hardship variances without a forum for neighbors to voice, or vote on these issues. These decisions are at the sole discretion of the appointed and/or elected board members, which, with all due respect, may not always take into account the abutting homeowners, and taxpayers."
There is also Land Bank property approximately within 200 yards of this non buildable lot. Cannot the Habitat for Humanity propel their mission with the already existing zoning structure, with respect to protecting the habitat? Cannot the Habitat for Humanity operate to exist with respect to the land, the environment, the already taxed neighborhood, without crunching in another home to further offend all who live and coexist in an area that should be grossly protected at this point? Cannot Habitat for Humanity do as section 40B was intended to do: to put multiple unit homes for low-income families in "snob neighborhoods" with respect to existing board of health, building and zoning laws, bylaws, and structure?
I'd like to invite anyone interested in this issue to visit Andrews Road, off of Cook, across from Skiff. Observe this parcel next door to mine, as it is the very tiny one with all the beautiful rhododendrons, on the left toward the end of the street. If further interested, please attend the meeting with ZBA for this project May 10, 7:30, at the annex.
Kelly Wheeler
Vineyard Haven
Protest report
To the Editor:
In addition to all the drivers who "Honk for Peace" when they drive through Five Corners when we demonstrate, reminding people that they have the right to protest our government's actions, the M.V. Peace Council has enjoyed the attention of the press in the past at our End The War demonstrations there at what we now call "Peace Corner." However, on April 27, we were unrecorded. So we decided to send you our own picture in case you want to include us this week! The attached file is a picture of us all taken by a young man visiting from New York with several friends, who stopped in to demonstrate on their way to the boat and then sent me the photo. We also had a couple join in from Nebraska who were happy about their Sen. Chuck Hagel's position on the Iraq. Thank you for including our piece of the Island news in your paper. We will keep demonstrating.
Sarah Nevin
Edgartown
Affordable housing
disrupts neighborhoods
To the Editor:
It has become politically correct on the Vineyard to be an advocate of affordable housing, however I am convinced that the current regulations to promote that goal are ill-conceived.
In order to promote affordable housing, state legislation includes the 40B statute that promotes and assists both developers and towns in implementing affordable housing statewide.
This 40B law essentially allows a developer to come into your neighborhood and ignore almost all prior zoning regulations to maximize a town's housing stock. When this occurs, almost every time, and rightly so, the neighborhood becomes defensive and often files suit to prevent an onslaught on their zoning rights. A neighborhood rightly claims they have all followed the strict zoning regulations, which have resulted in an orderly, peaceful, and protected environment, and now comes a project which can ignore most of these regulations. Not only does this intrusion cause a severe disruption, but a neighborhood´s real estate values can often plummet as a result.
Surely there is a need for affordable housing, but I challenge the right to force these needs into unsuspecting neighborhoods across our Island and suggest this in not the solution. Each town usually has either a business district or owns other property devoid of settled and established neighborhoods, and this is where these large-scale affordable housing units should be located.
I suggest each town map out these less intrusive areas and provide zoning in these areas for developers to promote affordable housing. Merely following the current 40B legislation, which is not sensitive to these issues, is not the answer.
I feel there is a way to supply affordable housing, without disrupting many tight-knit neighborhoods across our Island.
Paul D. Adler
West Tisbury
Pounds of trash
To the Editor:
Forty-five minutes, plus one-tenth of a mile = 107 pounds. That's an interesting equation. Let us explain it. During Earth Day weekend, we spent 45 minutes walking one-tenth of a mile along East Chop Drive, beginning at the New York Avenue end. We picked up 107 pounds of bottles, primarily beer and nips. This in itself is an impressive total, but consider that we cleaned this area last year as well.
One person neatly piled up eight nip bottles. Were they from one afternoon?
We love the beauty of this Island and can't understand those who choose to mess it up. We know it's not kids, and it's not tourists.
The other issue that is disturbing is the number of people who are obviously driving after drinking.
We want to commend the Oak Bluffs Police Department for their sympathy for our complaint. They promise to be more vigilant. And the crew at BFI was very accommodating in receiving all this trash.
East Chop is a beautiful spot to unwind at the end of the day. Just, please take your trash home.
There's still a lot of trash on the rest of the road. Cleaning helpers appreciated.
Joyce and Tom Dresser
Oak Bluffs
A fine time, don't miss it
To the Editor:
For many years, a very animated, passionate and highly entertaining game of softball was played regularly on Friday nights at the Fire Station field in West Tisbury. As I slowly aged (along with my teammates), the game gradually fell apart due to attrition and diminishing skills. For five years, valiant attempts have been made to reconstruct this wonderful pastime, but we seem to fall short by about six players. Thus, the inordinately boring exercise of playing six v. six, or fielding three teams of four.
Happily, this year the relentless efforts of the highly skilled and charismatic Andrew Aliberti seems to have created a groundswell of enthusiasm for a resumption of our casually competitive pick-up game. Andrew has been recruiting for the last four weeks and has announced that tomorrow will be our first game of 2007.
Folks of all ages, sexes, and levels of skill are encouraged to appear at 5 pm, raring to go. It has been a long and somewhat isolating off-season, and this is as good a place as any to reacquaint ourselves with a fun-loving community of softball enthusiasts. While my knees are basically shot, and I doubt I could even make it to first, I plan to be there anyway, to help organize and umpire. We hope anyone reading this letter, with even the slightest amount of incentive, will be there. A fine time is guaranteed for all.
Peter Simon
Chilmark
