‘L.A. Would Be Amazed’
To the editor:
The tone of last week’s Letter From the Arts Editor about the recent American Horror Story filming in Provincetown was unnecessarily dismissive. I’ll bet folks in L.A. would be amazed by malasada making at the Portuguese Bakery and enchanted with someone painting a townscape on Commercial Street. So, I was sad to read that we shouldn’t pay attention when L.A. gives us the opportunity to see how they bring forth good things.
Although I did not spend any time watching the filming, I caught glimpses as I went about my days. Many of the crew were living next door and I saw them day in and day out. All of the skills and talents of the workers — cast and crew — are indeed worthy of attention.
Bob Nee
Provincetown
Small-Town Values
To the editor:
I mistakenly answered a telemarketing sales call. “Chloe” wanted to lower my car insurance and save me money. She asked if she could get some information to run some quotes.
When I responded that I wasn’t interested, Chloe wanted to know why. I explained that I live in a small town at the end of the Cape and we’re mostly mom-and-pop businesses. Saving money off Cape is less important to us than supporting one another.
Later, it occurred to me that, even though Chloe didn’t get it, most of us living here do. Though we can differ in opinions, let us remember who we are and what we have.
Raife Menold
Provincetown
Don’t Trash Trailer Life
To the editor:
Mondays and Thursdays are my favorite days. Mondays bring me the New York Times’s easy crossword puzzle, and Thursdays, the Provincetown Independent, to read word-for-fabulous-word with lunch.
The Independent’s Arts & Minds reviews of Nomadland and Minari by Howard Karren [March 11, page B3] clearly placed both films in the realm of art. Sadly, though, the use of the term “trailer-trash” to describe the nomadic van life that Fern (Frances McDormand) fell into from “middle-class” sent me reeling. “Trailer-trash” paints a broad brush on many people who live difficult and noble lives under circumstances they often don’t choose. Rather, they make the most out of jobs and shelters they can find.
Interestingly, the Korean family from Minari lived in an actual trailer, and their life was depicted in Karren’s review as “striving,” which, like Fern’s, it certainly was.
Sharon Blair
Brewster
‘Studying’ Transparency
To the editor:
We highly value transparency in our relationships and business dealings, and we expect it in those we have elected to represent us in state and federal government. In the past months, the Independent has published a number of excellent articles and many letters on transparency in the State House.
Thousands of constituents across Massachusetts have recently participated in a people-powered campaign to make the State House more transparent through rules reforms. They met with their representatives and asked them to adopt three amendments to the House committee rules: (1) to publicly disclose all votes and testimony that take place in committees; (2) to allow at least 72 hours between a bill’s release and a final vote of the House; and (3) to lower the number of representatives needed to require a recorded roll-call vote on a bill from 16 to 8.
Rep. Sarah Peake of Provincetown declined to support any of these common-sense rule changes. She had many reasons, which are clearly documented in Christine Legere’s Jan. 28 article, “Peake Comes Out Swinging on Rules Reform.”
Late in January, under pressure, House Speaker Ron Mariano decided he would delay the legislature’s vote on rules until July. A committee to “study” these issues has been set up, and Rep. Peake is a member. Sending something to be “studied” often means letting the issue quietly die as the clock ticks and constituents lose interest.
Transparency is too important for us to allow this to happen. Write or call Rep. Peake’s office to let her know that you value transparency and want her to support rules that make all House votes and testimony public. The state Senate’s rules promote transparency. Why won’t the House adopt similar rules?
Laura Gazzano
Wellfleet
