ACK for Whales Responds
To the editor:
The Independent’s Feb. 8 article “Entanglement Leads to Death of Young Right Whale” [front page] falsely stated that our group, ACK for Whales, is part of the American Coalition for Ocean Protection (ACOP).
We are not members of ACOP and haven’t been in years. The Independent relied on a Brown University report that erroneously referred to ACK for Whales as an ACOP member multiple times. Had you asked us, we would have advised you of Brown’s error and saved you from repeating it.
We do not deny climate change, as your article suggested. We are, in fact, an environmental group that is trying to protect an endangered species.
Your article ignores the real danger faced by the right whales, a threat we believe is heightened by the construction of wind turbines off Nantucket.
The federally listed North Atlantic right whale is considered the most imperiled marine mammal on the planet, and it is implausible that adding more vessel traffic, more lines in the ocean, and construction activity cannot increase the lethal threats to these animals.
These issues are at the heart of a lawsuit, pending before the U.S. First Circuit, that we have brought to force the government to take a rigorous review and use the best data available — as the law requires — to make an accurate and informed assessment of the threat to the right whales.
The question at hand is whether we benefit more by risking killing off right whales in the name of building turbines. We don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze, particularly if the squeeze results in a material reduction or extinction of right whales.
Fifty years ago, people talked about saving the whales. Today, we should be asking why anyone thinks it’s a good idea to wipe out right whales.
Vallorie Oliver
Nantucket
The writer is president of ACK for Whales.
Art in the Underdog Town
To the editor:
In his op-ed “Eastham Is Really Good” [Feb. 15, page A3], Brendan Noonan writes, “Eastham is the underdog town where you’re more likely to find artwork on Jersey barriers and abandoned buildings than in art galleries.”
The town of Eastham does have several great art venues. The Eastham Painters Guild has been showing art at the 1869 Schoolhouse Museum for more than 40 years. Our fabulous library has new art exhibits monthly. The Salt Pond Visitor Center displays art year-round, and don’t forget the Rugosa Gallery on Route 6.
Yes, Eastham is really good, with lots of artists and places to see art!
Rebecca Gmucs
Eastham
‘What About Eastham?’
To the editor:
Thank you, Brendan Noonan, for your wonderfully written essay about the really good town of Eastham. I nodded my head in agreement, laughed, and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude as I read it.
When I was looking for a house on the Outer Cape in 2018, my real estate agent said, “What about Eastham?” I am thankful every day that Tim Brown introduced me to the town and asked me that question.
Lisa Larsen
Eastham and Hingham
Eastham’s Taxes
To the editor:
I couldn’t agree more with Brendan Noonan about “all the good stuff happening in Eastham,” as he put it. But there’s one thing the town of Eastham doesn’t offer that is available to residents of Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet. That is a residential tax exemption for year-round residents.
As multimillion-dollar projects continue to be proposed, adopting that exemption might prevent some Eastham residents from being taxed out of their homes in the future.
Why hasn’t Eastham enacted it?
Mike Rice
Wellfleet
