The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

letters to the editor

Letter to the editor: inclusion means listening for the sake of learning

To the editor:

Many in our community have shared with me their feelings and reactions coming out of Lincoln’s recent annual Town Meeting—reactions which have included sadness, anger, frustration, and confusion, to name a few. We in Lincoln hold as a community value the inclusion of all, and yet many neighbors in town experienced that value tested against publicly expressed perspectives that felt elitist, classist, and/or racist. In turn, that experience sits side by side with a desire to not “other-ize” those we may disagree with, those who might otherize us, even those who we might experience as offensive.

In the midst of so much division that already exists in our country, how do we navigate divisiveness in a loving and even healing way? How do we actually live into the values that our community holds, creating the inclusive environment we all seek?  There are no “perfect” answers to these questions, but I’d like to offer a few guiding principles.

First, we meet reality where it is. Lincoln is a great town, a “desirable” community. It has a rich history, beautiful natural environment, and guiding values that are worth taking the time to both understand and live into. And Lincoln exists within the United States of America—a nation that has been having very serious and socially divisive conversations on issues such as the increasing class divide in American society and structural barriers that help perpetuate endemic poverty and racial oppression.

We in Lincoln are a part of those national conversations; like every city, town, and village in America, we are a microcosm of the whole, with good people along the whole ideological spectrum, with good people who are struggling to figure out how to talk to one another, listen to one another, and leave that experience with a mutual sense of being valued and “seen.”  The struggles and needs that exist in our nation right now exist here in Lincoln.

As we navigate those conversations, we must be clear that “winning” is not the point. As an American people, we have learned to be satisfied if we feel that we have “won” on an issue, and dissatisfied—even angry and indignant—if we feel that we are on a “losing”’ side. Winning has become more important than relationship, more important than learning from one another, or collaboratively seeking a greater good. Bipartisanship is practically dead in Washington, D.C., and has been for some time now.

That national reality is mirrored at the local level throughout our country. We cheer on our favorite political orthodoxy, applauding ideological purity and entrenchment, while efforts at building cross-ideological bridges are deemed a waste of time. We are left in bubbles talking most regularly with others who think like us, stepping outside of those bubbles to be surprised that close by are neighbors who might hold a diametrically opposed view or life experience.

Our community and our nation need more from us than this, and I believe there is good cause to feel hopeful because we already hold as a town value, and in my congregation as a community value, one of the most important ingredients to a better future: the value we place on genuine inclusion and the understanding that Lincoln is a town where all are welcome and included. This is mirrored in the value that my congregation, the First Parish, is a religious community in which all are spiritually welcome and included. Living into that reality is quite hard, but also a beautiful and worthy aspiration.

It is more than just patiently listening to someone we disagree with or find disagreeable; it involves listening for the sake of learning. What does this other human being, my neighbor, this person who is inherently valuable, value? Why do they care about the things that they care about? How can I personally ensure that they know that I have “seen” and heard who they are and what they value? Ideally, building the world we yearn for needs all of us listening, doing, and acting in these life-affirming ways. But in the absence of that, we can trust that even one of us behaving in these ways can have ripples of impact that we cannot predict.  When we honor the light of others, our own light shines brighter, radiating out into the world in ways that will have a positive effect.

William Ellery Channing is credited with having said, “Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.” May we each find ways to allow legitimate difference to help us grow more deeply in our relationships with one another. It is in this way that we hold the possibility of bringing alive peace, love, and hope for ourselves and our wider world.

Sincerely,

Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti
Senior Minister, First Parish in Lincoln

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: Taylor urges “yes” vote on Oriole Landing

To the editor:

I write to urge Lincoln citizens to attend Town Meeting and vote for the zoning changes required for the Oriole Landing housing development.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a member of the Planning Board, which has recommended passage of the proposed zoning amendments, but this is a personal plea from me simply as a private citizen who has been deeply involved in housing matters in Lincoln. In 2000 I joined the Housing Commission and since then have had a hand in most if not all of the affordable housing units added to Lincoln’s inventory. I chaired the Affordable Housing Trust and helped draft the town’s first Housing Development Plan and our Inclusionary Zoning bylaw. When Lincoln’s affordable housing stock briefly fell below 10 percent, I assisted in a challenge at the state level that thankfully deflected a 40B application for a 30-unit development on a one-acre lot on Route 117.

My experience gives me some perspective on the merits of the Oriole Landing proposal, and on the merits, I hope it will be approved. There are many reasons why, but there are a few key points.

First, the project offers housing in a range sorely missing in Lincoln. This isn’t just the units that qualify as affordable, but also the market-rate units that open opportunities for seniors to downsize and young people to live in Lincoln.

Second, 40B development is a real threat. Without additions to our affordable housing, Lincoln will fall below the 10 percent requirement in 2020, and with our high real estate values, developing units that qualify for the Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) is very difficult. Critics of the Civico proposal have argued that we should pursue other options, but other available options have been pursued vigorously without success. The housing groups in Lincoln have not been sitting idly by while the clock ticks.

Finally, collaborative developers like Civico are rare. Other developers that checked out the six-acre parcel where Oriole Landing would be located were contemplating 150 or more units. In response to citizen concerns, Civico reduced the number of proposed units from 72 to 60, increased the share of affordable units from 15 to 25 percent (thus qualifying all 60 units for the SHI), committed to preserving the historic farmhouse located on the property, and agreed to measures to mitigate community impacts. If the parcel goes back on the market, there is nothing to prevent its falling into the hands of someone far less accommodating.

Having mentioned community impacts, it must be noted that projects that serve the greater public good often have differential effects, and that is the case here. Consequently, care must be taken to understand such impacts and to mitigate them to the degree possible. The Selectmen (who control roadways and traffic regulation) and Planning Board (which must consider abutter impacts in site plan review) are charged with and committed to doing so.

And to those who suggest that by “checking the 40B box” pursuit of housing diversity in Lincoln will wane, let me assure you that is not the case. The South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee (a subcommittee of the Planning Board) has been and will continue to investigate and pursue increased housing diversity as an element in revitalizing the Lincoln Station area. More to come on that in future Town Meetings!

Sincerely,

Gary Taylor
2 Beaver Pond Rd.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: Why the Oriole Landing project is important for Lincoln

To the editor:

The Lincoln Housing Commission and Affordable Housing Trust are co-sponsoring the Oriole Landing Project at Town Meeting on Saturday, March 24.

The project, located at 1 Mary’s Way and presented in Warrant Article 30, is the result of a truly collaborative effort over the past six months involving multiple town boards and committees, Civico Development, and extensive public input. Because of these efforts, we believe Oriole Landing will benefit the residents of Lincoln in the following ways:

  • It will significantly increase the town’s inventory of affordable rental housing. As 15 (25 percent) of Oriole Landing’s units will be set aside as affordable, the state Department of Housing and Community Development will count all of the project’s 60 units towards Lincoln’s subsidized housing inventory (SHI). This will fulfill Lincoln’s Chapter 40B requirements for the next several decades while also meeting Lincoln’s high standards for responsible development and protecting our town’s rural character.
  • It will provide a diversity of housing opportunities our town currently lacks: moderately priced one- and two-bedroom apartments to appeal to young professionals and “empty nesters” looking to downsize and stay in Lincoln.
  • The 15 “affordable” units will be for households earning up to 80 percent of the area median income. Of these units, 10 will be reserved as “local preference” for Lincoln residents, employees of the town or local businesses, and families with children in the Lincoln Public Schools.
  • Oriole Landing will enable the town to fulfill one of the long-term goals identified in the Housing Commission’s 2014 Housing Plan: expanding our housing stock to serve a broader spectrum of Lincoln residents.

Lincoln’s SHI is anticipated to fall below 10 percent in 2020, making the town vulnerable to 40B high-density housing developmens similar to projects under consideration and/or construction in Weston, Wayland, and Sudbury today. In fact, at least four prior developers made inquiries with the town about the six-acre Mary’s Way property since it was listed for sale, discussing developments ranging in size from 125–250 units.

To arrive at where we are today, many town boards and committees, through multiple public forums, hearings, and informational sessions, have worked diligently to identify and address the many concerns and issues raised about this project, including: 

  • Traffic — The town conducted an independent peer review of the traffic study performed by Civico and as a result, a condition of the project will include a “no right turn” restriction during peak commuting hours to help mitigate the potential traffic impact to the neighborhood. Additionally, neighborhood feedback has made it clear that there are already existing roadway and pedestrian safety issues which the Board of Selectman have committed to prioritize in addressing. Civico has also pledged $25,000 to the town’s Complete Streets program to be targeted for this neighborhood.
  • School enrollment — Civico estimated nine to 16 new school age children while the town’s own independent peer review of the fiscal impact and project finances estimated seven7. Our school administrators state that enrollment constantly fluctuates for a wide variety of reasons. They are confident that Oriole Landing’s contribution to the student population will be well within what the school system already experiences annually, and which it has both the expertise and resources to respond to.
  • Financial contribution — The Affordable Housing Trust will support this project with a $1 million loan to secure a permanent deed restriction that ensures that all 60 units at Oriole Landing will remain on Lincoln’s subsidized housing inventory in perpetuity. Lincoln’s peer review consultant has reviewed the project finances and determined that this sum is important to the project’s overall financially viability.
  • Historical Commission — Civico and the Historical Commission have agreed that the historic home on the property (Dexter C. Harris House, c. 1870) will be relocated and restored for use as a garden house.
  • No variation from submittal — If approved, the project cannot be substantially changed in the future without requiring another Town Meeting vote (which needs a two-thirds approval), ensuring the property must be developed in accordance with the will of the town.

The Housing Commission’s 2014 Housing Plan’s goals included providing housing for young couples, empty nesters seeking to downsize, those who work in town, and those connected to Lincoln in other ways. Oriole Landing will enable the town to create moderately priced local housing opportunities in a cost-efficient manner, rather than pursuing the inefficient and expensive task of incrementally increasing Lincoln’s subsidized housing stock to keep pace with new home construction.

If approved, the Housing Commission and Affordable Housing Trust will be able to turn their focus toward other important housing initiatives, such as working with the South Lincoln Planning and Implementation Committee to explore housing opportunities in the Lincoln Station area.

You have an important role in determining the shape and direction of Lincoln’s future. Please join us this Saturday at Town Meeting, participate in the discussion, and vote. Lincoln’s Board of Selectmen, Housing Commission, Affordable Housing Trust, and Planning Board have all endorsed this project. We ask that you support it too, by voting “yes” in favor of Warrant Article 30. See the websites below for more information.

Sincerely,

James Craig and George Georges
Co-chairs, Lincoln Affordable Housing Trust

Allen Vander Meulen
Chair, Lincoln Housing Commission

Pamela Gallup
Lincoln housing consultant

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: more support for Hullinger

To the editor:

I am writing in support of Siobhan Hullinger’s write-in candidacy for the L-S School Committee. Having known Siobhan for some time, I am confident that the thoughtfulness she brings to the conversation will be an asset to the district. I know Siobhan to be thoughtful and listen to people. She takes an approach that is thoughtful, deliberate, and considered. She is intelligent and informed, and will seek out advice and input from the whole community, regardless of town of residency, to ensure that we have a wonderful, thriving, academically challenging, and inclusive school community which does not leave anyone behind.

I encourage you to write in her name on the ballot for Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.

Sincerely,

Craig Gruber
187 Goodmans Hill Rd., Sudbury

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: Civico expresses appreciation to community

To the editor:

In advance of Town Meeting being held this weekend, we would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to the Lincoln community. Since October 2017, Civico Development has been out in the community discussing the merits of our proposed Oriole Landing project. Throughout this time, we have learned about what the community refers to as “the Lincoln way” through hard questions, meaningful debates and fruitful discussions. Whether at a public meeting in the Donaldson Room, a community open house at the town library, or a conversation at the transfer station, the passion and pride of the townspeople were clearly evident.

Through a collaborative approach working with the HOW Group, Planning Board, Housing Commission, Housing Trust, Historic Commission and all of the various town departments, the process has been a positive experience for our team. We appreciate the organized and “attention to detail” manner in which the town officials led meetings and conducted the public process.

We have heard the concerns regarding density and height, historic preservation, school impacts, fiscal benefits, traffic concerns, and neighborhood impacts, and have responded. We hope our responses have clarified and resolved your questions in a meaningful way.

Throughout the process, we have gained the support and endorsement of the Planning Board, Housing Commission, Historic Commission, and the Board of Selectmen. This Saturday we hope to gain the support of the community through approval of a bylaw amendment to establish a North Lincoln Planning Development Overlay District and a Preliminary Development and Land Use Plan. If you have any remaining questions before Town Meeting, we will also be holding a community open house this Thursday from 4:30–8:30 p.m. at Bemis Hall. Please come by and enjoy some snacks and refreshments.

We hope to see you on Saturday at Town Meeting, and if approved, we look forward to working with the community through the site plan permit process.

Sincerely,

Andrew Consigli
Civico Development

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: LSSC’s Mostue urges write-in votes for Joachim

(Editor’s note: Mostue also wrote a previous letter in support of L-S School Committee candidate Carole Kasper. There are two openings on the committee.)

To the editor:

I am submitting this letter in support of write-in candidate Ellen Joachim for the position of School Committee Member for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Ellen will bring to the committee a unique and valuable background:

  • She has served six years on the Sudbury K-8 School Committee, which will strengthen and inform her transition to the high school. 
  • She has served as both chair and vice chair of the Sudbury K-8 Committee, an indication of her leadership and commitment.
  • An L-S graduate herself and the mother of two L-S graduates (with a third a junior), Ellen knows first-hand the value of  a challenging and supportive education in a safe environment.
  • As a lawyer, Ellen will offer her legal training in forming school policy.

I am entering my eleventh year of service on the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee. Having Ellen join us would be a welcome addition. As one who has observed her on the Sudbury K-8 Committee, I have been impressed with her ability to listen to all perspectives before making decisions. I trust Ellen will uphold the responsibilities and limits of the position of school committee membership.

Please join with me and vote for Ellen Joachim on Monday, March 26.

Sincerely,

Patricia Mostue
3 Lexington Rd., Lincoln
Member, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School Committee

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: candidate may favor Lincoln paying more for L-S

 To the editor:

I wrote a recent letter to the editor supporting the candidacy of Carol Kasper and Ellen Joachim. This brought me an interesting phone call from a Sudbury resident, who will remain nameless. He referred me to this 2010 column by Mike Hullinger, husband and endorser of Siobhan Hullinger, who is running as a write-in candidate for the Lincoln Sudbury regional school committee.

Since he has written to support Ms. Hullinger’s candidacy, it seemed fair game to provide the link to his column. I recommend reading it before going to the polls. It takes the long-held position by a number of Sudbury residents that Lincoln is not providing its fair share of financial support for the high school. This, as I understand it, is one of the main justifications for the proposed superintendent consolidation of the high school and Sudbury K-8 systems.  In fairness, I cannot confirm that Ms. Hullinger shares her husband’s position, although my source insists that this is the case.

Sincerely,

Eric Harris
138 Bedford Rd., Lincoln

Letter to the editor: LSSC’s Marshall supports Kasper and Joachim

(Editor’s note: Marshall is currently on the LSSC but is not running for reelection.)

To the editor:

I write to fully endorse Carole Kasper’s and Ellen Joachim’s candidacies for the L-S School Committee. Lincoln voters should robustly support them at the polls on Monday, March 26. There are two open seats, as Gerald Quirk of Sudbury and I are both stepping down. Carole’s is the only candidate name printed on the ballot. Ellen is a write-in candidate from Sudbury. 

Carole and Ellen are both strong leaders. They have been collaborative, engaged, and thoughtful contributors to many community and educational initiatives at L-S and in Lincoln and Sudbury. There is hard, good work to be done, engaging committees in both towns, attending to the L-S School Committee’s regular business, crafting a fiscally responsible budget, and listening to constituents in Lincoln, Sudbury, and Boston. Carole and Ellen will put in the hours and foster relationships and will represent the integrity of our regional high school and our communities well.

Carole was active on the L-S School Start Time Subcommittee; she analyzed and collated the data that went into the final report. She fully understands and supports L-S’s efforts to find a way to allow a later start time for our students. Carole’s recent work chairing the Lincoln Campus Master Plan Committee was critical to the town’s next steps in our school and community center discussions. 

Ellen will be a strong advocate for our high school; she understands the nuanced Lincoln/Sudbury partnership. Ellen’s legal expertise and her six years on the Sudbury School Committee provide lenses that will support the L-S School Committee’s work and positive relationships with our K-8 districts.

Ensuring our students feel safe socially, emotionally, and physically at L-S is a priority for both Carole and Ellen. Carole’s depth of experience in her consulting work will contribute to open, thoughtful conversations about school safety. Both of them will seek to balance L-S’s strengths in allowing students to be resilient and well-prepared for life after high school with the realities and pressures of our world today.

Carole and Ellen will work diligently with our Finance and Capital Committees, engage constituents and town officials openly and respectfully, and support LSRHS faculty and staff in their continued efforts to educate and prepare our students for the 21st century. They will be guided by the core values of L-S and approach their service mindful of what is best for all students.

Having two Lincoln seats at L-S is not guaranteed; supporting Carole with a very high turnout in Lincoln is critical to assuring our high school is served well by both towns. Carole’s name is printed on the ballot. Along with Ellen, there are two other write-in candidates from Sudbury. Carole and Ellen have complementary skills to partner productively and positively for LSRHS.

Absentee ballots for registered Lincoln residents who will be out of town are available from the Town Clerk through Friday, March 23.  Applications for absentee ballots can be obtained via the Town Clerk’s website.

Sincerely,

Nancy Marshall
23 Beaver Pond Rd.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: former Sudbury School Committee member endorses Joachim

To the editor:

I enthusiastically support Ellen Joachim as a write-in candidate for the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.

As members of the Sudbury School Committee, Ellen and I worked together for three years. I have never met somebody with such an amazing balance of intelligence, passion, work ethic, and patience as Ellen. Unless you worked directly with Ellen, you would never know all the great work she was doing because she never wanted to be recognized for it. Ellen just wanted what was best for others and, most importantly, Sudbury’s students. She never thought about what others would think or how the public would react; Ellen always did what she knew in her heart was the right decision for kids.

As some may know, Ellen has a law degree from Harvard and was an attorney before she left the profession to raise a family. Having known this, I would always joke with her that she really should have become a teacher because of her deep passion for education. After getting to really know Ellen over the years, there is no doubt in my mind that she felt the same way, which is why she committed her life to serving six years on the Sudbury School Committee and numerous years as a volunteer at Nixon Elementary, and why she is now seeking election to the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.

As a parent whose oldest daughter is less than four years away from high school, I care deeply about those whom we elect to represent our high school. That being said, there is not one person in Sudbury I would rather see on the school committee than Ellen. Not only is she more than qualified but also has the previous experience to start getting things done on day one. In an ever-changing world, not just in respect to education but also safety, this immediate experience is invaluable. As Ellen outlined during the recent candidates’ night, we cannot afford to mull over student safety; we need to act now. I can tell you from three years of experience that this is how Ellen governs. To be frank, Ellen never kicks the can down the road; she deals with things head on and gets them done.

Please join me on Monday, March 26 by writing in Ellen Joachim for Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee.

Sincerely,

Scott Nassa
36 Clark Lane, Sudbury

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: former SSC members support Joachim

To the editor:

We are writing to wholeheartedly endorse Ellen Joachim for L-S School Committee. We had the honor of serving on the Sudbury School Committee with Ellen and hold her in the highest regard as a strong and compassionate leader. Ellen brings six years of experience on the SPS School Committee, including that of chair; many years as a volunteer in the schools (including Nixon PTO co-chair); her legal training and career in law; and personal experience as a graduate of L-S herself and as an L-S parent for the past seven and a half years.

We always appreciated her wisdom and balanced view of each situation. Ellen never compromised her values. She was gracious, supportive, and always a pleasure to work alongside. Ellen carefully navigated difficult situations, possessed firmness that was not abrasive, and spoke out when necessary but more often listened thoughtfully. Her presence on the School Committee and her commitment to the students of Sudbury were among her greatest assets. We are confident that Ellen will bring these traits to the L-S School Committee.

Ellen puts the well-being of students first! This was true when SPS increased building safety in the elementary and middle schools and as she guided discussions about necessary financial support for the schools. She made students her first concern as she worked tirelessly through contract negotiations. We cannot overstate the value that Ellen brought to every discussion, collaborating respectfully with those of differing viewpoints, and using good judgment in decision-making. These qualities ensured that she was effective in her commitment to all students.

We are confident that Ellen will prioritize school safety and increased collaboration between L-S, SPS, and LPS, and she will thoughtfully consider school start time issues. She will work side by side with her committee members to offer new ideas that support a high-quality education that helps our students develop emotionally, socially, and academically, and prepares them to take their next steps in life.

You can learn more about Ellen on her campaign Facebook page, “Ellen Joachim for L-S School Committee,” and from her participation in the League of Women Voters Candidates Night through this Sudbury TV link. Please join us in writing in Ellen Joachim for L-S School Committee on Monday, March 26.

Sincerely,

Rich Robison
Homestead Street, Sudbury
Member of Sudbury School Committee, 1996-2014

Lisa Gutch
Silver Hill Road, Sudbury
Member of Sudbury School Committee, 2010-2013

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Letters will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.