Editor:

Recently The Cape Cod Chronicle published both an article by the Harwich Bikeways Committee and a letter from a concerned reader regarding bike safety. According to the July 7 edition of the Boston Globe, the Massachusetts House has passed legislation that enables comprehensive regulation of all “micro-mobility devices” including e-bikes, scooters, and electric dirt bikes. This legislation is based on a state commission which carefully studied the benefits, risks and impacts of these vehicles, releasing its report last year, and available to readers via mass.gov. 

Adoption of this legislation by the Senate and approval by Governor Healy will take Massachusetts a long way towards accepting these vehicles into our transportation system without the undue hazards they can create for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and themselves. 

Paul Reedy
Harwich

Editor:

I write in strong support of the editorial on June 25 regarding the need for Chatham to make installing sidewalks a priority (“We Need More Sidewalks,” June 25). I write as well in head-shaking dismay about the select board’s shortsighted rejection of the project to modernize the intersection at Route 28 and Crowell Rd.

The arguments against sidewalks, particularly on Stage Harbor Road and Bridge Street, are that the owners of the modest number of homes impacted — including rental landlords and summer residents — threaten lawsuits and complain about having to move shrubs and fences. Harwich and Brewster fought the good fight to install sidewalks in key locations; it is time Chatham did as well. I’ll take the safety of the many pedestrians, dog walkers, stroller-pushers, joggers, and bicyclists, and the increased ease of traffic flow for drivers, including those who are going to/from houses on these roads, over the shrubs, fences and lawsuits of a precious few.

In rejecting the Route 28-Crowell Rd. intersection modernization project, the majority of the select board objected to having the ambiance of the gateway to downtown ruined by modern equipment, safer crossings for pedestrians and bikers, and turn lanes to reduce confusion for visiting drivers trying to negotiate the various turning options and reducing a bottleneck of traffic. 

Of course, nothing says “Welcome to Chatham” like watching people pushing strollers, those walking with canes and bicyclists nearly getting plowed into. With traffic increasing every summer, I believe it foolish to rely on our luck to hold in escaping serious accidents. I agree with Select Board Chair Jeffrey Dykens that MassDOT is certainly not going to make road improvements in Chatham a priority after the time, money and effort they spent coming up with a plan to increase safety at the busy intersection — a project that was initiated at the behest of the town and into which Chatham has already invested over $200,000 — was summarily dismissed.

In Chatham, the needs of the many should outweigh the needs and aesthetic sense of the few.

Maria Doelger Anderson
Chatham

Editor:

The late Tom Johnson, an experienced and skilled educational administrator, in 2013 strongly urged the hiring of Dr. Scott Carpenter to lead the Monomoy Regional School District. In addition to Dr. Carpenter’s professional qualities, Tom pointed to the vital but intangible virtues of personal character, saying, “You’ll never hire a superintendent with more integrity.” Here one perceives the greater point: the work of a superintendent is largely concerned with relationships, so only a good person can be a good superintendent. Scott Carpenter is just that kind of a person.

We should cite another instance of character and leadership, one that is typically unrecognized by the public. Superintendents have wide latitude in hiring and may prefer those less capable than themselves. The less qualified will rarely pose a challenge, ask a tough question, or voice a contrary opinion. Of course, the sum of these decisions is detrimental to a school district.

Dr. Carpenter, to the contrary, has consistently hired the best person available for a position. Some have gone on to great success in other towns; one notable administrator has become the new superintendent. The policy of quality in hiring has and will continue to be an obvious benefit to Monomoy. These last five words sum up Dr. Carpenter’s career.

Joe Auciello
South Chatham

Editor:

When we moved to our Chatham home on George Ryder Road south over 25 years ago, we were told “you are in the landing path of the Chatham airport.” This was never a problem until recent years when the Pilates and other turbo jets started landing. These large airplanes are noisy and skim the roof of our home. There is talk of plans to trim trees near the airport in order for the large airplanes to land safely. They cannot trim the roof of our home. These airplanes should be landing at the Hyannis airport. It is frightening for me to think, “what it will take” to stop these large airplanes from landing at the Chatham airport. 

Edyth Tuxbury
Chatham

Editor:

I always feel conflicted over our celebrations of independence. Our nation's history is a complicated one. The formation of a national story that highlights our goodness and great achievements, while doggedly repressing the troubling parts of our past and present, maintains a power structure that keeps us from realizing our full potential as a nation of equals. So often we speak as though the experiences of our ancestors and contemporaries were and are the same, when clearly that is untrue. What does independence mean for the first peoples of this continent, whose land was stolen, cultures destroyed, children abducted? What does independence mean for Black Americans, whose ancestors were brought here in slave ships, and who continue to be treated as second class citizens? What does independence mean for women, who continue to fight for equal rights 250 years after our nation's birth? All of these people, all of us, are Americans, yet we live very different realities. 

Our current administration, their allies, and MAGA contingent have made it quite clear that they have no interest in diversity, equity and inclusion. That they are perfectly comfortable and aggressively protective of white supremacy and patriarchy. And they've brought many along with them, with divisive diatribe and fearmongering. This saddens me greatly. To reach our highest potential in this great American experiment, we'll need the courage to take a searching and fearless moral inventory and make appropriate amends and corrections. If we can do that, we will truly be great, in a way that we have never been.

Jeff Schwartz
West Harwich

Editor:

Cape Cod cannot afford to continue burning fossil fuel and pretend the climate crisis is an illusion, a hoax or is someone else’s problem. Rising seas, flooding, hotter summers and stronger storms are reshaping life on the Cape. Fossil fuel use is making every one of those severe threats worse. 

The solution is clear: Phase out fossil fuel and move to an all-electric future powered by clean energy. It means heat pumps instead of oil and gas heat, electric vehicles instead of combustion engines, and efficiency instead of waste. This will reduce emissions, improve our public health and reduce long-term energy costs.

Cape Cod has always had to adapt to its natural environment. Adaption is not enough. We need bold local action, state support and clear policy choices that move us to an all-electric, low-carbon Cape Cod. The sooner we act, the better chance we have of protecting and preserving the Cape’s unique character.

The science is clear, the risks are real. Cape Cod should lead by example and commit to a total and complete phase out of fossil fuel.

Mark I. Berson
Orleans

Editor:

Once again, the charming historic identity of Chatham is being challenged. The Old Village is officially protected by the National Historic Register District, which covers the historic structures within its boundaries and consequently its streetscape. Note, this not only includes the historic contributing structure itself, but also its location. Consequently, the 45 School St. historic house is one of those properties covered by this national act.

Unfortunately, its owner wants to move it, to relocate it, which is considered a demolition. For clarification, when you move an historic structure off its original foundation, this is identified as a demolition. Doing so violates this nationally important protection. The School Street streetscape will be forever changed, especially since a new house would be built in its current location.

Right now, I am sitting on a train traveling through the United Kingdom where the streetscapes are hundreds of years old, lovely and well maintained. When more space is needed, additions are attached to the back of the house or another structure is built separately, not altering the historic front view.

Why isn’t this a consideration for the owner of 45 School St.? If the Chatham Historical Commission denies this relocation, which is considered a demolition request, the owner will most probably be given an 18-month demolition delay. We all know what that means. No more legal options are available to the public.

It all really comes down to this community’s respect for history. Chatham also needs to understand the commercial value of historic streetscapes. Slowly we have watched them be altered. Slowly we are watching Chatham change from being an historic village to a tourist destination satisfying the desires of those with deep pockets. Why can’t we simply understand that our very young country needs to save its earlier structures for not only historic value, but also for the environmental good of the planet?

Protect Our Past asks you to stand up for the National Historic Register District of the Old Village’s purpose to save its historic identity, to value it, to say no to the demolition of 45 School St.

Editor:

Recently four out of five Chatham Select Board members voted to quash further discussion and implementation of a MassDOT plan to improve and bring to current safety standards the unsafe and unattractive intersection of Chatham's Crowell Road and Route 28. Some have called it "the gateway to Chatham." If that is true, it is an embarrassment.

As we who live here know, this intersection is nothing less than an unsafe mess. MassDOT proposed a great plan to improve safety for all who use this intersection: pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles of locals and visitors alike. There is nothing worthy of preservation here. There is only a crying need for updated safety. Times do change and the only thing in need of our preservation is safety. Further, it is noteworthy that the intersection project was to receive $5.13 million in federal and state funding. The select board vote to end this project was beyond irresponsible and flagrantly disregarded the input of the traffic safety committee and thus did great disservice to Chatham residents and visitors. Select board members have noted that Chatham can make this intersection safe on its own. This is pure folly. MassDOT has the current knowledge requisite to the intersection's improvements.

Moreover, the select board suggests we pay for any improvements ourselves. They will need to be very similar to what MassDOT has already proposed to get the intersection up to the state's current safety codes.

What arguments are there to override safety, financial considerations and common sense risk management for our town?

The definition of folly generally refers to a serious lack of good sense, prudence or foresight often resulting in foolish behavior or a costly mistake.

Julie Eldredge-Dykens
West Chatham

Editor:

WFCC was a far from perfect example of classical music broadcasting, but at least it was there for lovers of classical music. I especially miss the "Mozart Block" and the evening "All Time Classic." Faith is one thing, but it speaks poorly of capitalism when Cape Cod 's only classical radio station is displaced by a bubble gum "Christian" format.

Dana Franchitto
South Wellfleet