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

letters to the editor

Letter to the editor: Tully seeks votes in 9th District

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Editor’s note: Tully is running an an independent against incumbent Rep Thomas Stanley (D).

To the editor:

My name is Stacey Gallagher Tully, candidate for state representative in the 9th Middlesex District, and I humbly ask for your vote on November 8th. I am running on a platform of ideas that will bring fresh thinking, positive energy and proven leadership to Beacon Hill on behalf of all constituents in Lincoln and Waltham.

My leadership style has always been and will continue to be one of collaboration. I want to be a strong advocate for you, the people of the 9th District, and I would be honored to earn your vote so that I can work together with you to help make our community an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

I have a proven track record of being a strong voice and advocate for the people of Lincoln and Waltham. As a teacher, I am involved with instructing people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures. My philosophy as a teacher is to listen to the students so that my classroom experience brings out the best in them. As your state representative, I will listen to you, the constituents of the 9th District, in the same manner to ensure your voice is heard in the process. We will work collaboratively to come up with innovative public policies that will make our community stronger and more vibrant for all residents.

Over the past few months, I have had the honor of campaigning for your vote. As I have discussed with many of you in your homes and around the community, I am running on a platform that will support our public education system; improve our crumbling infrastructure; protect our veterans and active-duty personnel; support our seniors; and work in a bipartisan fashion to support our community’s fight against addiction. With your vote, we can work together to solve these important issues.

On a personal note, I am a strong family woman, wife and mother, and a firm believer in being a leader and promoter of good will. I have been and will always be accessible, approachable and visible in the community. As your state representative, I will bring these qualities and more to ensure that I am accessible to you at all times.

Your vote is a valuable tool in our American democracy and something I will honor each day as your representative. Please vote Stacey Gallagher Tully for State Representative on November 8th.

Sincerely,

Stacey Gallagher Tully
85 Lincoln St., Waltham

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: Newspapers all over U.S. agree on Hillary

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To the editor:

Hillary Clinton is the only responsible choice to elect as our next President.

As a Lincoln resident, when I look at my two beautiful young granddaughters, I think it’s not just gender opportunity. As the Cincinnati Enquirer says, “…it’s the need to elect a leader who will bring out the best in all Americans, not the worst.”

We’re not surprised that the Washington Post would endorse Secretary Clinton for President. They remind us that she is well qualified and well prepared. They further underscore that the negative feelings and bitter partisanship exist mostly because of the dishonest and groundless attacks to which she has been subjected for decades.  They close their endorsement saying that anyone voting for her now will look back in four years with pride in that decision.

Likewise, the New York Times says in their endorsement that the best case for Secretary Clinton is not that she isn’t Donald Trump, it’s that she has the capacity to rise to the challenges this country faces. Americans deserve a grown-up president. A lifetime’s commitment to solving problems in the real world qualifies Hillary Clinton for this job.

Never before has any candidate been endorsed by so many newspapers and editorial boards across the country. So far, over 80 major newspapers have endorsed Secretary Clinton, while Trump has just one (printed, by the way), with no narrative rationale.

Other than the Washington Post or the New York Times, what do editorial staffs in other parts of the country have to say? Here are just a few of many examples.

  • The Denver Post: “Democrat Hillary Clinton, the first woman ever to win a major party nomination is without question the most qualified candidate in the race for president and an easy call to make when considering the challenges confronting the nation.”
  • The Arizona Republic: “This year is different. The 2016 Republican candidate is not qualified. That’s why, for the first time in our history, The Arizona Republic will support a Democrat [Hillary Clinton] for president.”
  • The Dallas Morning News: “There is only one serious candidate on the presidential ballot in November. We recommend Hillary Clinton.”
  • The Orlando Sentinel: “Democrat Hillary Clinton is well qualified to be president.  Republican Donald Trump is not.”
  • The Birmingham (Alabama) News: “We’ve watched Clinton weather every challenge and every groundless and politically driven attack that’s faced her over the last 30 years. Unlike Donald Trump’s meltdowns, Clinton has consistently remained presidential, strong and poised in her response and demeanor.”
  • Finally, The Olympian in Olympia, Wash., says, “There is no better choice than Hillary Rodham Clinton for president of the United States in 2016. This election needs to be over. Our country needs Hillary Clinton. It’s time.”

Sincerely,

Gary Davis
Co-Chair, Lincoln Democratic Town 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: encourage less use of leaf blowers

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(Editor’s note: Wilkerson is a member of the Lincoln Leaf Blower Study Committee, which has an official town web page and a Facebook page.)

To the editor:

Have you recently moved to Lincoln? Did peace and quiet figure prominently in your decision to live here? If so, I can imagine your surprise to find, at least during this season, that Lincoln is peaceful enough, but sadly, not all that quiet.

A beautiful October day: I have been outside working in my garden for the last three hours, and I suspect there are construction zones in downtown Boston that are quieter. There is a virtual chorus of leaf blowers echoes across the landscape—from near and far. And here’s the interesting detail: at this date, only a very few leaves have fallen off the trees—in fact, most of them have yet to change color. This is just the beginning.

Please consider quieter landscape practices. I understand that a lot of people love their leaf blowers, but my sense is that I am not alone in wishing these machines could be used more sparingly. If you share that view, I encourage you to make your own voice heard—above the din.

Sincerely,

Robin Wilkerson
31 Old Winter St.

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: vote for Jill Stein

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To the editor:

Voters deserve and need to hear from a candidate for President who is honest about issues that concern all Americans and who provides concrete changes and solutions. They need to hear from a candidate who does not take any contributions from Wall Street bankers, corporations or billionaires. Voters are starving to hear from a candidate that believes a positive future is possible and that she is with the majority of American voters today who no longer identify with the Republican or Democratic parties. Voters also need to know that Jill Stein has been and is being stifled at every turn by the dying but very wealthy Republican and Democratic parties.

The Commission on Presidential debates provides stark evidence of just  how desperate and fraudulent the democratic and republican parties have become. The debates, controlled only by the Republican  and Democratic National Committees, do not include all the Presidential candidates on the ballot and do not welcome open discussion of a broad diversity of ideas.

Voters need to know that Jill Stein is highly qualified to be president and will be on the ballot in November in enough states to win the presidency, if the electoral system works fairly and if it is open to all qualified voters. I will be voting for Jill Stein of the Green Party because I truly believe that the lives of all living things on earth depend on her winning. When people, especially young people, hear what she is saying, they eagerly support her ideas. Please check her out at www.jill2016.com.

Sincerely,

Jean Palmer
Tower 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: open debates to all

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To the editor:

The presidential debates are the most important events in our election process, and voters need to hear from all four candidates who will be on the ballot across the country in November. The right to vote means little unless we have the right to know who we can vote for and what they stand for.

It is public knowledge that the debates are now controlled by a corporation actually controlled by the Republican and Democratic parties. This corporation has not served the U.S. voting public well, and a majority of U.S. voters today no longer identify with either of the two major parties. This is what the League of Women Voters said in 1988: “The League of Women Voters is withdrawing its sponsorship of the presidential debate scheduled for mid-October because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter.”

The presidential debates should provide voters with multiple opportunities to see all the candidates representing the diversity of American political thought discussing important issues in an unscripted manner so that the people can make informed decisions about the direction of our country. Instead, the debates have become an unfairly and tightly controlled charade. There is no significant participation by the public, moderators are chosen by the candidates, and questions are carefully vetted. And any unscripted back-and-forth between candidates is minimal. This “fraud” deprives voters of the honest and open discussion they need and deserve.

Open debates will strengthen our nation, no matter who is the next president. Please stand with the majority of Americans who want open debates and demand all four candidates be in the debates.

Sincerely,

Jean Palmer
Tower Road

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: vote Georgiou for Governor’s Council

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To the editor:

Lincoln attorney and Lincoln Housing Commission member Peter Georgiou is a candidate for election to the Governor’s Council (3rd District) in the primary election on Thursday, September 8. As currently charged, the governor must seek the advice and consent of the Governor’s Council with respect primarily to nominations of judges.

Georgiou’s successful 26-year legal practice specializes in protection of workers’ rights requiring frequent appearances before judges in court. He has also provided pro bono services for workers and for women in Probate Court. At this time in his career, he wants to give back to the people of the Commonwealth in an area he knows so well.

Peter seeks to replace the incumbent of 17 years, which is a long time for any elective office holder. Through his lengthy experience with judges and the court system, he wants to apply his professional knowledge to improve what has occasionally been a controversial process over the past years.

Since 2001, Peter has had the experience of evaluating the performance of sitting judges at the request of the Supreme Judicial Court. Therefore, in review of candidates for judicial appointments, he understands the experience, discipline and demeanor required of sitting judges.

The incumbent has stated that consideration of personal values is beyond the scope of the Governor’s Council in review of appointees. By contrast, Peter believes the council must consider appointees’ stated philosophy on values and related law in areas such as criminal justice and sentencing reform, treatment of drug offenses primarily as a health care issue rather than a criminal issue, protection of LGBT rights, strict enforcement of the new Massachusetts gun safety laws and prevention of the epidemic of gun violence, belief in the proven science and growing field of climate change law, and protection of a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices and health care decisions.

Join me in voting for Peter Georgiou, the most professional and qualified candidate for Governor’s Council, at the primary election on Thursday, September 8.

Sincerely,

Gary Davis
Indian Camp Lane

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: new GMO labeling law doesn’t go far enough

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(Editor’s note: Recent articles in Consumerist, The Atlantic and Science have more information on this issue.)

To the editor:

Recently Congress rushed through and President Obama signed bill S.764 into law. This new law has been called by some the “Deny Americans the Right to Know” (DARK) Act because it makes it nearly impossible for you and me to know whether GMOs [genetically modified organisms] are in the food we buy.

The DARK Act does not require most processed foods to have a label, defines genetic engineering so narrowly that most GMOs on the market don’t qualify, and gives the USDA two more years to come up with even more loopholes to labeling. The DARK Act does not provide clear nationwide GMO labeling standards similar to those in Vermont’s carefully written, very popular law (now moot). The DARK Act also does not assure the American public that they are not test subjects for GMO products. The DARK Act does not require companies to prove their GMO products are safe before they expose consumers and our natural ecosystems to their products.

Jill Stein’s website clearly states: “Label GMOs, and put a moratorium on GMOs and pesticides until they are proven safe. Protect the rights of future generations.” I do not know where Hillary Clinton stands on labeling GMOs.

Sincerely,

Jean Palmer
Tower Road

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: respect political signs on town-owned land

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To the editor:

Political election and campaign time is approaching again, with the attendant practice of candidate signage. Judging by experiences in the past few elections, there seems to be a lack of understanding or appreciation regarding an interpretation of the Sign By-Law issued by the town of Lincoln in August 2012.

In the words of town officials, this compromise was developed to recognize the historical practice of town residents in the apparent interest of restraint, fair play and courtesy, and to be consistent with statewide legal precedent protecting free speech. The town published a notice at that time defining these interpretations, but apparently many residents did not see that notice since there is widespread misunderstanding. Following are the key points:

  • Unattended political signs can be placed by right on town-owned land at the designated intersections in Section 16.2 (d) of the Zoning Bylaw. These five locations are at the intersections of Sandy Pond Road and Lincoln Road; Ballfield Road and Lincoln Road; Lincoln Road and South Great Road; Bedford Road and Morningside Lane; and Codman Road and Concord Road.
  • Political signs can be held by right (without a permit) on town-owned land as long as they don’t impact safety or constitute a hazard for either motorists or pedestrians.
  • One political sign can be placed by right on private land, not to exceed 8 square feet and for no more than 180 days prior to the election.
  • Enforcement of these provisions is the responsibility of the Building Commissioner.

It should also be noted that such political signs are the private property of the relevant candidate’s campaign and as such, vandalism and/or unauthorized removal is illegal.

I hope this will clarify misunderstandings and become more widely appreciated by town residents and campaign supporters alike.

Sincerely,

Gary Davis (co-chair, Lincoln Democratic Town Committee)
Indian Camp Lane

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: on McLean, act with compassion and support, not fear and anger

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To the editor:

I am not a medical professional (although I spent years as an IT expert, working closely with the physicians and staff at some of the largest and most prestigious medical institutions in the world). Nor am I an abutter of the McLean property on Bypass Road, though I am a Lincoln resident and active in the town’s political processes and governance.

My personal perspective on the issue of the proposed McLean adolescent facility is informed by my growing up within a block or two of a large residential psychiatric hospital in Vermont—the Brattleboro Retreat, which is a near-twin of McLean’s main campus in Belmont. In addition to this, I’ve had a great deal of relevant experiences by virtue of a past marriage to someone suffering from what multiple mental health professionals later suggested was probably undiagnosed BPD [borderline personality disorder], and also by virtue of my present (second) career as a minister.

The Brattleboro Retreat had patients of all sorts, from the violently insane (the last time I walked through the campus, there was still an unused building with heavy bars on its windows) to young outpatients similar to those who will be at the proposed McLean facility, some of whom were my childhood friends. In my ten years as a boy in the area—attending nearby schools, running, playing and riding my bike in the neighborhoods adjacent to that institution, building “forts” and climbing trees in the large woodland adjoining that hospital, in my occasional encounters with patients as they took walks in the park or downtown streets, or having a part in the annual Christmas pageant our church performed at an auditorium within that hospital—I never felt threatened or afraid. That hospital was (and still is) a place of healing, compassion, caring and hope.

In my career as a minister, I’ve met many folks in need of, or benefitting from, the care available through places like McLean and The Brattleboro Retreat. I’ve counseled those dealing with the pain of loved ones who died of suicide, and officiated over their funerals; and I’ve known and ministered to numerous people with BPD, severe depression, PTSD, anxiety and numerous other mental health challenges. What I’ve learned from such experiences is that everyone with a mental illness of any sort is still a human being. They are all valuable, worthwhile people—just like you and me. And, in the case of this facility, they will be well supervised and cared for by competent professionals.

Specifically, and speaking from my own long (and sometimes painful) experience, those with BPD pose no threat to the peace and well-being of their neighbors. On that score, I would have no qualms about living in or owning a home adjoining the McLean property. The young people who will be there and those working with them need our friendship and support, not our judgment and condemnation. They are not violently insane—believe me! They are young folks learning how to cope in healthy ways with a world that they often find to be hostile and confusing. There is nothing to be afraid of. They will not break into neighboring homes or attack people in their back yards. I am certain that the facility and its activities will be nearly invisible to both its neighbors and those who pass by, as nearly all such facilities are.

Apparently because the process of vetting McLean’s application is not going as some wish it would, accusations have been made that impugn the character of some in leadership positions here in town. Knowing some of those people as I do, I am certain such accusations are baseless, and are certainly of no help in achieving an outcome that is acceptable to all.

We have all heard about the concerns regarding too much traffic being generated for the shared drive that leads to this facility, and concerns about the impact on neighbors and the facility’s conformance to zoning and sanitation laws (among other things). Having no expertise in such areas, I cannot speak to them directly, but I do know that the “powers that be” in Lincoln take those concerns and the law very seriously, and are determined to do their job in as fair and balanced a manner as possible. Those who represent the interests of this town and its residents in this matter cannot, should not and will not make decisions that undermine or violate those laws, and my review of the minutes from the Planning Board meeting of June 28 dedicated to this very issue confirms this.

Lincoln is a town that has long been known for being compassionate and very deliberate in “being there” for those in need of a chance for a better life. We are a town that has long done an excellent job of anticipating and accommodating change. We are a town that cares about people, the land and the environment.

All I’m saying is this: as we respond to McLean’s proposed facility, let’s act with the measured and thoughtful care and deliberation that we in Lincoln are known for. Let’s talk, discuss and find mutually beneficial common ground—not just with McLean Hospital’s representatives, but with each other. We need to take care so that all voices and concerns are heard, and that McLean is a good and responsible neighbor—as many here in town, and McLean’s representatives, seem to be trying to do. And in pursuing that goal, let us approach the questions that remain to be answered out of a spirit of openness to learning, and out of compassion and support, not out of fear and anger.

Sincerely,

Allen Vander Meulen
30 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: sale of rabbits not due to welfare concerns

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Editor’s note: This letter refers to an exchange among many residents on the LincolnTalk email list about rabbits being raised for food at Codman Community Farms.

To the editor:

In response to the passionate dialogue about the sale of the Codman Farm rabbits, we want to set the record straight. The decision to sell our rabbits had nothing to do with the welfare of our rabbits or any concerns over how they were treated. It is unrelated to whether we grow vegetables or not. It was made with the best long-term interests of the farm in mind and was not taken lightly. We are proud of our ongoing effort to humanely raise animals for food in line with the highest-quality animal welfare and land stewardship practices. We raise and offer high-quality food products to meet the desires of the local community and the willingness of the marketplace.

As has been noted, running a small farm today is not easy, but it is an effort worth making. We welcome you to come visit the farm, shop in the store, and speak with the farm staff and the board of directors to learn more about what we do every day.

Sincerely,

Pete Lowy (Farm Manager, Codman Community Farms)
The Codman Community Farms Board of Directors

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.