For a ‘Workers Village’
To the editor:
Re Edward Ebert’s letter of March 10 [“Wellfleet’s ‘Financial Rotary’ ”]: Finally, a voice in the wilderness that makes sense. I wish to add my voice, making it two voices in the wilderness.
Wellfleet plans to use town-owned land at 95 Lawrence Road as the site of 46 affordable rental units. This means ripping out six acres of woodland, replacing it with asphalt parking for at least 46 cars, pollution, and congestion, right across from the elementary school.
I have a better idea. Let’s rip out only two acres of woodland and sell it at market rate. The proceeds should bring in enough to cover the town’s budget shortfall. Then, instead of degrading our environment further, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown should combine their expertise in housing and find an area for a workers village. Come up with a place that will not tread on the toes of abutters and will not insult the environment.
The 95 Lawrence Road plan is for 90 beds, only some of which will be at Wellfleet’s disposal. The rest go to the developer. Six acres of woodland is a steep price for a few beds, which are a drop in the bucket of our need for affordable housing. My workers village would have at least 200 beds, be administered jointly by all four towns, and be available to workers of those four towns.
Could it be done? Perhaps, if we think outside the box.
Edina Kopits
Wellfleet
Holtec’s Dumping Plan
To the editor:
After reading Christine Legere’s reports on the effects of dumping nuclear waste from the Pilgrim nuclear plant into Cape Cod Bay, I was moved to attend a march on Saturday in Plymouth, where I learned more about what we are facing if Holtec is not stopped. I was shocked to hear that Holtec intends to move forward with this plan to dump one million gallons of radioactive water despite opposition from the state, the towns, and citizens.
The Mass. Lobstermen’s Association says there would be countless unintended consequences of this action and that they are unimaginable in scope. The effects on whales who come to Cape Cod Bay to feed, the local fishing and shellfishing industries, and tourists and the local economy would be devastating. We need to stop this now. Go to Cape Downwinders for more information on what you can do.
Catherine Russo
Wellfleet
Climate Action Needed
To the editor:
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has affected my sleep. I’m anxious for all the planet and its people.
One of the casualties of Putin’s invasion could be sound energy and environmental policy here in the U.S. Suddenly, there is huge pressure for the U.S. to step up gas and oil production so it can be a supplier to northern Europe.
Mike Sommers, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, has already sent a letter to President Biden requesting speedy approval of liquefied natural gas industry applications. Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t want concerns for climate change and lower emissions to get in the way of ramped-up gas production. I expect the government will accommodate at least some of these demands.
The rest of us are going to have to step up our own greening efforts and get solar panels installed, electric cars purchased, home heat electrified.
We also need to demand more climate action from our town officials and elected leaders.
Local governments should be considering amendments to building codes to require that solar panels and lower energy footprint measures be provided for as a condition of real estate transfers, much like our current septic upgrade requirements.
Such measures may feel draconian, but the time to stop runaway global warming is short. Stopping global warming is a much cheaper option than adapting to it.
Maybe we can still keep a livable planet.
Keith Thurlow
Truro
Taxes and Civilization
To the editor:
Thank you for your letter from the editor reminding us that taxes are civic contributions, not mere transactions for service (“What Are Schools For?” March 3). Unlike the user fees we pay to enter the Pilgrim Monument or for daily parking at some beaches, taxes are how a community brings resources together to achieve the things that we can’t do well on our own.
As Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. observed, “Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.” That includes ensuring education for the next generation.
Phineas Baxandall
Cambridge and Truro
Lower Prices Welcome
To the editor:
A big thanks to the Provincetown Independent for the article about the Wellfleet housing buy down program (“Buy Down Pairs Generous Seller With Grateful Buyer” Feb. 17, page A6).
We applaud the buy down sellers’ commitment to year-round affordable housing in Wellfleet and willingness to make it happen. We welcome reduced prices on homes and buildable land along with donations that allow us to purchase land for development and homes to offer as buy downs as well as furthering the development of accessory dwelling units.
We hope the examples set by buy down sellers will encourage many others to consider a similar course.
Sharon Rule-Agger
Wellfleet
The writer is a member of the Wellfleet Housing Authority and Affordable Housing Trust.
