Wednesday, April 26, 2000
Misquoted, misinterpreted, misrepresented
To the Editor:
In response to a recent letter to the editor from William B. Barry Jr. regarding
his misconceptions about COMPARE I would like to comment on the fact that I was
misquoted, misinterpreted, and misrepresented intentionally (or otherwise) in
order to make an unfounded and misinformed accusation. Mr. Barry referred to me
as "Mr.Goodwin's daughter" who "loved living next to an airport."
First of all, I believe I stated that my family loved living next to the airbase
( which isn't an airport). I don't now, or ever have, lived next to an airport.
There was nothing more peaceful, or beautiful, than standing at the end of our
driveway at 10:00 p.m. every night and listening to the playing of Taps over the
airbase p.a. system. If Mr. Barry can't find anything better than a sentence I
spoke two to three years ago to try to use against my father in some way, then
maybe he shouldn't say anything at all. I would like to let Mr.Barry know that
my personal opinion from so long ago isn't fueling the opposition from a significant
number of concerned citizens against the mall.
Perhaps if Mr. Barry were to show more concern for what will happen to our town
than he does for his nameplate or town hall stationary, then he wouldn't be so
misguided in his attempts at mud slinging. If he actually knew anything at all
about COMPARE he would know that it is opposed to the megamall not the whole reuse
plan. Maybe Mr.Barry could also take a moment to find out what the acronym COMPARE
stands for: Citizens Opposing the Megamall and Proposed Access Road and Extension.
Perhaps if Mr. Barry had actually attended a COMPARE meeting (which are public
meetings where anyone can be heard), researched the organization, or spoken to
any of its members before spouting off accusations (and misinforming others) then
he would also know that Mr.Henry Dunker isn't COMPARE's leader. Likewise, he would
also discover that Mr. Luther Fulton holds no leadership position in COMPARE.
I would also like to point out that these individuals are entitled to their opinions,
as is everyone under the Constitution. Is COMPARE to tell its members that they
are only allowed to join the fight if they keep their opinions to themselves?
Maybe that's how things work in your little world but not in this organization.
On the contrary, Weymouth's citizens need to speak up before they get bulldozed
over!
I encourage Mr.Barry to bring forth any physical proof that COMPARE has ever supported
or acted against anything put forth in any of its literature including its steering
charter. COMPARE is a political action organization, which seeks to prevent the
megamall and the related access road from becoming realities. It also possesses
a vision of causing a rethinking of the part of the reuse plan which earmarks
and zones approximately. 230 acres at the heart of the property for retail and
entertainment and is the site of the Mills Corp. megamall. It is this use that
results in the proposed access road.
Mr.Barry brings up the point that an access road is needed even if there isn't
a mall. Could you explain to me then, why would a four-lane highway expansion
of Rte.3 be needed to support a ball field,golf course, or senior citizen housing.
Also, widening Rte.18 might improve traffic if the number of vehicles were to
remain the same, which it will not. Adding two lanes to support tens of thousands
more vehicles per day only multiplies it into a greater problem. Has anyone considered
what Rte.3 traffic will be like in the summer with the Cape Cod vacation traffic
on top of rush-hour traffic plus 62,000 cars per day for the megamall?
I would like to point out that Mr.Barry, who was instrumental in, and a key proponent
of burdening the citizens with this plan, now has publicly stated the he doesn't
think the megamall is such a good idea anymore. Being aware of the depth of the
public opposition to the mall he used this community concern to boost his votes
at the polls by claiming to having had a change of position.
Apparently, much like New England weather, Mr. Barry's positions can change like
the wind blows. I also noted that Mr.Barry failed to mention his group Comp-Air
(how clever!) which is against the infamous "airport". I learned in elementary
science that comp-air stands for compressed air... coincidence? Maybe not. It
has been my experience that if it feels like hot air, looks like hot air, sounds
like A LOT of hot air, then it must be comp-air!! So why not put wasted energy
into fighting the mall instead of opposing imaginery "hidden agendas"? How can
you oppose something that does not exist?
Allison Ronli Goodwin
aka. Mr. Goodwin's daughter
335 4163