Clear-Cutting in Wellfleet
To the editor:
The unpermitted clear-cutting at 1065 State Highway in Wellfleet is a shocking story of entitlement run amok [“Town Orders DiGiovannis to Cease and Desist,” Jan. 28, page 6].
This disregard for rules and permits should not be allowed to go unpunished. I trust that a large fine will be assessed to this company, the Great White Realty Group. Or is there another legal penalty available to find some justice for the town?
Judy Wood
Wellfleet and New York City
Pot Shop Parking
To the editor:
According to last week’s front-page article “Pot Produces $480K in New Tax Revenue,” a marijuana store in Provincetown opened on Sept. 4 and had about $1.5 million in sales last year. To put that into perspective, from what I’ve read, the average gross revenue of a McDonald’s restaurant is nearly $2.7 million.
Here in Wellfleet, two marijuana stores are awaiting final state approval to open, and a third is under construction. The store waiting for approval to open at the former South Wellfleet General Store is of particular interest to me, as a resident of South Wellfleet.
There are only 43 lined parking spaces available at that location, which also provide parking for the South Wellfleet Post Office and four businesses. Some customers of the nearby French bakery also park there, along with cyclists who can’t find parking at the nearby bike trail lot.
Even with decreased tourist traffic last summer, many times that parking lot was full, with vehicles circling for a space, by 10 a.m. during the height of the season. So, I’m wondering where the customers of the marijuana store are going to park during the summer.
One thing’s for sure: unlike marijuana customers, no one visits McDonald’s to window shop, so to speak.
Mike Rice
South Wellfleet
Peake and ‘Slow Readers’
To the editor:
State Rep. Sarah Peake has, to me, exemplified many of the most desirable characteristics of her calling. A willingness to go above and beyond in having a firm grasp of issues important to our community would be near the top of the list, along with a clear understanding of the importance of constituent service, in which she and her excellent staff shine.
These attributes made it all the more surprising and disappointing to read her disparaging comment in the Independent (“Peake Comes Out Swinging on Rule Reform,” Jan. 28, page 1) on increasing the time allotted for bill review. Her statement, “I don’t think we should slow things down for the slowest readers,” was not only insensitive but failed to take into account that this isn’t a concession to “slow readers.” It is a recognition that in today’s world, in which many of us must hold down two or more jobs, remaining engaged in self-government doesn’t always allow for dropping everything to go online and try to figure out what the legislature is up to. We must set aside time to do so.
Too many of us regard self-government as a spectator sport. One would think making the effort to be up to speed on the issues before the legislature would be encouraged.
The lack of transparency and “old-boy network” aspects of our legislature are troubling. We use the term “deliberative body” to describe the legislature in a republic. That word, “deliberative,” implies a measured, cautious approach to lawmaking, allowing for public scrutiny. I am sorry to see that Rep. Peake apparently feels that is an undue burden, and is evidently OK with opaque business as usual in the Massachusetts General Court.
John A. Wolf
South Wellfleet
Take Two Bows
To the editor:
Re “Dougie Freeman Takes a Bow” by Josephine de La Bruyère [Feb. 4, page 4]:
What a pair! The writer was spot on with her comments on Dougie, who will “yes, answer the question,” “who speaks with no hint of plot or punctuation,” and “can tell his story better than anyone.” Her intercessions were the perfect foil to his story. What gems, both of them!
I want him to give me a haircut, and her to write my obit.
Sheila Garry
Eastham
