Letters to the Editor, Oct. 24

Looking For Year-round Connection

Editor:

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the wonderful job the Chronicle does in highlighting all that’s going on in the arts with your ArtCast page. It can get a little dreary, even depressing, in the off-season, and I’m thrilled that you are always there to mention and highlight the many things going on in the region. For that reason, I’d love it if it ran year-round. The Lower Cape community needs one dependable place to see all that’s happening throughout our region. Especially in the off-season, we really need our community connections.

We are so fortunate to live in a community that, for one, still has an active, independent, local newspaper presence, one that sees that the arts are a vital part of our community. And second, even after all the tourists go home there is still so much creativity, life and color here all year round. 

Thank you for highlighting every week something that sets the Cape, especially the Lower Cape, apart and caring that at its core, we have such a vital and active creative community. We hope that perhaps you will see the value of running this page year-round.

Orleans

Proud Of Chatham Community

Editor:

The recent article so beautifully written by Emma Blankenship about the hurricane devastation in North Carolina moved my heart!

I have grown up in Chatham, own a business in Chatham and chose to bring up my own children in the Chatham school system. I am proud to be a part of this community, and to know these wonderful young people feel the same commitment and emotion to help each other in a time of need.

Heather Hereford McGrath

Orleans


Clean Water A Priority

Editor:

Mary Richmond, in “On The Move” (Oct. 10), brought back memories of Hurricane Bob in 1991. On Aug. 19 the ferocious winds split our old mimosa tree forcing thousands of monarch butterflies to migrate.

The tree survived but the butterflies found a new home. Mary often attributes clean water sources as the primary reason for people and natures critters to move. In the same edition your excellent editorial “Environmental Protection” cited man-made dangers to groundwater and the aquifer by discharge of industrial wastewater and machine guns on military bases, both of which were blocked by state regulations.

Clean water is a priority and must be protected. But this goal is essentially a local mission. Hopefully it will be confirmed based on common sense and reason whoever is elected on Nov. 5.

Joseph E. Coffey

East Orleans

Charter, Not Ballot Question

Editor:

The League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod Area (LWVCCA) would like voters in Barnstable County to be aware that:

differences. The charter review process allows for more open and inclusive involvement of the community in a thoughtful study of the existing charter and consideration of any needed changes, assisted by legal and expert consultations.

Approved by the LWVCCA board on Oct. 14.

League of Women Voters of the Cape Cod Area 

Looking Forward To DJ Don

Editor:

Looking on the bright side, it won't be all bad news if Donald Trump wins the election. Imagine how entertaining he will be at his first State of the Union Address. 

Just swaying back and forth to music for an hour or so. Perhaps to the song "It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing" by Shania Twain.

Mike Rice

South Wellfleet

Question 6 Is Unnecessary

Editor:

As a former deputy speaker of the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, please join me in voting no on Question 6.

There have been several charter review commissions over the years including one co-chaired by former State Senators Henri Rauschenbach and Rob O'Leary that included stakeholders from the business community, select boards, civic groups, health and human services organizations, environmental advocacy groups among many others. 

The changes in Question 6 were brought forward by the assembly of delegates with one public hearing, when there is an inclusive charter review process scheduled for next year. 

Barnstable County has a "very small" budget of $33 million. Do we really need an unnecessary power struggle from two branches of government when we have so many important issues facing us?

Please join me as well as the many others in opposition to Question 6, including The Cape Cod Chronicle, League of .Women Voters of Cape Cod and the Barnstable County Commissioners.

Raymond Gottwald 

Harwich

Support Cyr’s Re-election

Editor:

As a year-round resident and active community member, it is clear to me that the Cape and Islands are at a pivotal turning point on issues ranging from affordable housing to coastal resilience to water quality. Responding to these needs requires informed and insightful leadership on Beacon Hill.

That’s why we must re-elect State Senator Julian Cyr. He is a proven leader and influential voice for us at the State House — and he gets things done. His priorities are focused on the needs and challenges of his constituents, not mimicking dangerous rhetoric about federal issues that are out of his purview. 

As a lifelong Cape Codder, Senator Cyr knows firsthand that it is getting more difficult every day to live and work on Cape Cod. He was a leading advocate for the Affordable Homes Act and made sure it included a seasonal communities designation to help our towns implement special policies to meet their unique needs. Housing is his top priority and he will continue to fight for a property transfer tax. 

Senator Cyr also delivered results when it was clear that Cape Cod taxpayers were going to be faced with astronomically expensive wastewater infrastructure and sewer projects. He co-authored the Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund which has already awarded $204 million to eight Cape Cod towns.

And, of course, Senator Cyr has always been a champion of reproductive freedom. 

Please join me in casting a vote for State Senator Julian Cyr on Nov. 5.

Mary V.L. Wright

Orleans

Those Who Don’t Learn From History

Editor:

In his first term, Donald Trump killed 112 health, safety and environmental protections and dramatically reduced taxes for corporations in order to remove guardrails and unleash industry. This, plus huge tariffs, were the extent of his "best economy in the history of the world.” A chimpanzee could’ve increased profits this way. But a chimpanzee would’ve known better than to destroy his home and to dangerously set back efforts to reduce the ravages of climate change (ie: the strength and frequency of hurricanes, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, animal extinctions...). 

”All told, the Trump administration’s deregulatory actions were estimated to significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade and lead to thousands of extra deaths.” – New York Times.

“Trump has now said he would reverse many of the Biden administration’s signature climate policies, such as tax credits for electric vehicles and emissions standards for cars and power plants. He is expected to once again withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement. Trump has courted oil executives’ financial support in exchange for favorable energy policies.” – Reuters. (Like Exxon executives who were recently forced to admit that they have known for 40 years that fossil fuels contribute to Climate Change.)

Think of your children and grandchildren when you vote Nov. 5!

Paulette Fehlig

Chatham