Editor:

In agreement with Kathy Miller’s Oct. 16 response to Bruce Everett’s Oct. 9 letter, it may be appropriate to dissect and correct the myriad flawed data points from someone who arguably demonstrates a lack of scientific awareness. Taking the Oct. 9 letter’s four points:

1) The writer states that global warming “has a positive impact on society.” Really? Where? The flooded-out delta rice plains of Bangladeshi subsistence farmers? The dwindling ice floats supporting the great polar bears? The warm-water bleaching of coral ecosystems? The destruction of U.S. coastal properties due to rising water levels? Habitual forest fires in Europe and the U.S.?

2) The writer states we have “only a few decades of weather data.” Wrong. We have soil samples, tree cross-sections, fossil records worldwide and much more physical anecdotal evidence which reflect weather patterns spanning literally millions of years.

3) What the writer grossly distorts is not the rising sea levels since the last ice age, but the rate of rising in the past 40 years. It is that exponentially increased rate that is cause for serious concern (just as with rising terrestrial temperatures globally).

4) CO2 is not, as he unintelligently asserts, “plant food.” Plant food is water, oxygen, nitrogen and sunlight for the photosynthetic process to unfold. Furthermore, the fact that the Chinese pollute our atmosphere more than the U.S. (currently, not historically) is not cause for comparative congratulations. And his friend D.J. Trump keeping us out of the Paris Agreement is hardly a nightmare to celebrate.

I for one was not aware that “climate scientists” (whether individually or as part of a “consensus”) were draining my wallet in the Lower Cape. I better keep an eye on my bank account from those darn scoundrel scientists.

Mark Phillips
Grand Junction, Colo.

Editor:

The recent passing of Audrey Gray, just a few years after her husband William “Bill” Gray, merits recognition from the community of Chatham. Bill and Audrey requested no obituary or funeral, so we wish to honor their memory through this letter in The Chronicle. Both cherished this newspaper as deeply as they cherished their beloved town.

While we may not know every contribution they made to Chatham, we proudly served alongside them on the Chatham Merchants Association board for many years. They dedicated countless hours to events like the Christmas by the Sea stroll, Spring Fling, and much more.

Their commitment was acknowledged with a tree planted in Kate Gould Park, complete with a plaque for all to see. They took immense pride in that tree, often driving to the parking lot by the Impudent Oyster just to sit and admire it.

During their ownership of the Bradford Inn on Cross Street, they opened their doors to many who had no one and nowhere to go. Later, when they owned Marley’s restaurant, they graciously hosted the CMA’s morning board meetings twice a month, complete with refreshments! We could share countless stories, but we’ll conclude by stating that no two individuals contributed more to Chatham and its merchants than Audrey and Bill.

Rest in peace, Audrey and Bill. You are greatly missed.

Amy Tagliaferri
Susan Dimm
Former CMA Board Members

Editor:

The letter published in the Nov. 13 edition of The Chronicle (“Clarify Reason For Protest”) asks for No Kings protesters to address their reasons for protesting. In response, I emphatically say that no, my taxes have not increased. I have not been arrested by the FBI or ICE. My retirement benefits are doing well. My access to food, gasoline, and healthcare is stable. And this is exactly why I speak out. 

As a millennial hippie, I protest because the good fortune myself and others enjoy are not guaranteed in Trump's America. It would be insensitive and irresponsible to make noise only if I feel personally impacted by Trump's authoritarian aspirations; to believe otherwise is to be out of touch as an American. When people's rights, freedom, agency and security are threatened, it is incumbent on all of us to stand up. That's why America works, imperfect as she is. 

So no, the burgeoning autocracy has not affected me as much as others. It has certainly made me more American by engaging with the "save the world stuff" that the author seems to not appreciate.

Scott Weissman
Brewster

Editor:

I am writing in response to the letter “Clarify Reason For Protest” in the Nov. 13 edition. I, too, am a child of the 1960s, but I do not see myself as an aging hippie. I have attended several No Kings rallies over the past five or six months. No, Trump is not claiming to be king, but he would sure like to be! In my lifetime we have had poor presidents, but none as corrupt, deceitful, untrustworthy and uncaring as our current twice-impeached, 34-felony-convicted president. He has surrounded himself with MAGA sycophants so there are no longer any guardrails in place to prevent his corruption. He is lining his own pockets with taxpayer money, while guaranteeing his billionaire buddies permanent tax cuts. He treats the DOJ and Supreme Court as his own personal attorneys. I think the only truth he has spoken is that he promised to be a president of retribution. He incited an insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021 (after losing a free and fair election) and after lengthy investigations, court cases and convictions, many by Trump-appointed judges, he pardoned all of them, stating it was too cumbersome to review each case individually.

The writer claims that we have no faith in a nation that has been around for 250 years. We are no longer the same nation. Our democracy is gone and we are living under an authoritarian government. The writer clearly can't see beyond their immediate environment. No, my Social Security is intact (for now), my 401(k) is doing well, but I can see beyond myself to know that the majority of people in this country are indeed suffering. Jobs are not as plentiful, wages are not keeping up with inflation, many don't have jobs that have a 401(k) or pension plan or even health care benefits. Many of these unfortunate souls will be denied health care in the very near future as premiums are doubling and even tripling thanks to the "big beautiful bill."

Part of living in a democracy is helping those less fortunate. A portion of our taxes go to fund programs for those struggling. Taxes should not be funding billionaires!

Since becoming president he has spent 24.2 percent of his time in office golfing. He has made 18 trips to Mar-a-Lago at a cost of $1 million per trip. He has also made 10 trips to his New Jersey golf resorts, again at the taxpayers’ expense.

Bottom line, those attending the No Kings rallies are able to see beyond their own back yards to the extreme damage Trump is causing our country.

Kate Eglee
Orleans

Editor:

Regarding the letter “Clarify Reason For Protest” in the Nov. 13 edition: Well written, full of common sense. Can’t wait to see the response from the so-called protesters.

Could anyone in their right mind consider Trump to be acting like a king? How ridiculous. With all the left wing made-up charges against him, charges in courts, the threat of him going to prison, left wing judges threatening to put him in jail, would this take place if he were acting King? Get real, people.

James Coyle
Harwich

Editor:

While I did not attend a No Kings rally due to a commitment, I found the letter "Clarify Reason For Protest" in the Nov. 13 edition to be a head-in-the-sand, self-centered and ignoring history narrative. Just because I personally haven't currently — I emphasize currently — been impacted by Trump's authoritarian policies/actions, Congress’ capitulation to his will, his indiscriminate and unconstitutional immigration policy, the rulings by the radical Supreme Court and grifting by using his office for financial gain doesn't mean I can't protest the unacceptable actions of this litigious, unethical, self-serving, misogynistic, racist, born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-his-mouth president. 

The request for letters "explaining what Trump and/or his government officers have personally done to harm you" is exactly how many Germans felt in 1938. We all know how that turned out. Just because they aren't impacting/coming for you now doesn't mean you won't be next! Silence is unacceptable!

We resist and protest not to "save the world" but to save our democracy.

Keith Clark
Orleans

Editor:

In response to "Clarify Reason for Protest" (Nov. 13) I commend this writer from Orleans for sending in this letter. Finally someone with a sense of reason is speaking up! Thank you.

Many of us agree with you wholeheartedly but we are not heard as loud as those who suffer from TDS. 

I have not been affected negatively by the Trump Administration. My health insurance doubled due to The Affordable Care Act, though.

JB Ellis
South Chatham, MA

Editor:

At the behest of the state, Harwich taxpayers spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars developing the housing production plan and local comprehensive plan. At the local planning committee meeting on Monday, Nov. 3 the town planner stated that the planning board highlighted the fact that Pine Oaks Village IV (POV4) is not a typical residential development. She went on to say that it doesn’t espouse Smart Growth principles for where high-density housing is usually located in that it’s not located near a town center or public transit services. She recognized that the overall development does not reflect a lot of the recommendations from the local comprehensive plan relative to natural systems or village character. I would add to these comments the fact that the POV4 proposal also doesn’t meet the recommendation for multi-unit housing to be spread throughout the town. If approved, POV4 would be one of three multi-family developments within three miles of each other. In addition, there are unsolvable traffic and safety issues which have been well documented. Add to the mix the environmental concerns related to 17 million gallons of wastewater per year and the proximity of the proposed development to the Herring River and Sand Pond. The only recommendation that POV4 would meet is to assist with the town’s annual housing production goal. This should all be taken into consideration by the zoning board of appeals as it deliberates this housing project. In response to the question “Is Pine Oaks Village IV consistent with local plans,” the answer is no, it isn’t.

Sherri Stockdale
Harwich

Editor:

My reply to the "Clarify Reason for Protest" letter is simple: “Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak up.” Pastor Martin Niemoller, from “First They Came…”

Annie Farrell
Orleans

Editor:

A job well done by Alan Pollock in his reporting on the Coast Guard's rejected plan of aid to navigation downsizing (“Coast Guard Shelves Buoy Plan, For Now,” Oct. 30). His question of Chatham Light's and other light stations' potential obsolescence is a question often fielded by tour guides from the nonboating public during open houses. In the day and age of precision location determination, lighthouses and buoys still serve marine interests in safe navigation, thus the central argument repeated by many to rebuff the modernization plan. My own perspective is that lighthouses, like fairway, roadstead and channel buoys are much like highway exit signs and street signs: still relevant, not yet made obsolete by GPS, serving to get you to your destination.

Of the Cape's 10 operating lighthouses, seven are part of the over 45,000 federal aids to navigation maintained by the Coast Guard nationally. The other three are private aids reviewed and licensed by the Coast Guard in a network of over 50,000 nationwide, working in tandem with their federal counterparts to promote safe navigation.

Lastly, a public-private partnership has been developed recently to use historic light stations on the Eastern seaboard to host electronic AIS systems which further assist in navigation, and more importantly have been designed to protect the North Atlantic Right Whale. The Coast Guard has been approached about using Chatham Light as one such host. Nauset and Highland are also desirable locations. It's with projects and missions such as this that we hope the general public will see contemporary importance and benefit in these historic light stations.

Jared Fulcher
Chatham
The writer is a member of the board of directors of the Nauset Light Preservation Society and the American Lighthouse Foundation, Owl's Head, Maine.

Editor:

This letter is in response to the 84-year-old person who wanted an answer to a question ("Clarify Reason for Protest," Nov. 13). A problem with your question is your need to control how we answer it. Sir, that is censorship and interfering with our freedom of speech. I’m 69 years old and there isn’t a person on this planet that can tell me what to say or how to say it. I hope this answers your question.

Betsy Abreu
Chatham