[Year-Round Housing Committee] YRHC Meeting letter request

[Mlongreene2 at aol.com]

Hi Cade,  At this evenings meeting we discussed the possibility of an  
article or letter to the LongIslander to help bring our citizens a little more  up 
to speed on the reasons YRH is a serious issue.  The more of this PR we  can do 
before the survey goes out, the better.   Your e-mail to all of us  this week 
was excellent and I would ask you on behalf of the YRHC if you would  
consider sending a version of it to Chris McDuffie for the coming Long  Islander.   
If so, modify and edit it any way you wish, but its  content and spirit hit the 
point.     The deadline for the  Long Islander is tomorrow, Feb. 1, but I 
think we can get an extension of a day  or two if needed.     Let me know if this 
is agreeable and  if so, I will assist in any way you need.
We will get you minutes and other materials from tonight's meeting in the  
next day or so.
Thanks,  Mark
 
Cade's letter of Jan. 26:
 
I have gone over the surveys and I think they do a good job  of
collecting information on the current housing on the island, and
that's  what a survey is for.  I also share Amy's concerns and I think
Mark  makes a good point that we need to raise awareness of housing on
the  island.  For those who have it there is no concern nor exposure to
the  issues, so there is no reason for favorable answers on a survey.
But I also  don't think you want to push the issue in the survey
itself, that it should  be (and feel) neutral and for information only.

I definitely think there  should be another meeting (though I might not
be able to attend next  Wednesday night) to discuss things further.
It's easier to discuss matters  face to face, rather than in the linear
fashion of emails.  And, I think  one thing that should be discussed is
whether YRHC should hinge on the town  accepting the results of the
comprehensive plan.  It might (and that is  a might, not a fact) cut
off State funding, but there are other means.   To be frank, there is a
reason I (and most of the other 200 year-round  residents) put up with
the cold winters, CBL schedule, expensive gas and cost  of living, lack
of social entertainment, and that's because we are passionate  about
our island.  I want to raise my children in the LI School.  I  want
them to grow up next to Will and Amy's twins.  I want to volunteer  as
much of my time as possible to help this community thrive.  And  I'll
be damned if I'm going to give up on Long Island because some  can't
see that there need to be young working families on the island to  keep
it sustained during the cold months.

The first 13 years of the  Town of Long Island marked a period of the
island gaining its feet and its  independence.  A lot of time and money
was spent forming its government  and infrastructure.  The debt to
Portland is paid off, and a decent  infrastructure is in place.  I
think it's time that Long Island stops  spending on itself, and starts
investing on itself.  By that I mean more  support for its school, its
rec department, year round housing, assisted  living, finding a way to
bring more jobs to the island and young people to  fill those jobs.

Where will Long Island be in 10 years? 15? 20?  I  know that the
average age of the Fire Department is 40, the average age of  the EMTs
is 50.  Is there a town employee under the age of 40?  I  can only
think of my wife.  Those are some scary thoughts to  me.

Anyway, if the outlook is bad after the surveys we shouldn't give  up.
We should press forward in other ways.  Habitat for Humanity works  by
volunteers helping building affordable homes, and those who  receive
have to participate in building future homes.  The state-funded  YRHC
is planning on starting of with one efficient home to be rented  out.
With enough help and hard work the same could be accomplished free  of
state-funding.  And, as with the current plan, see where it goes  from
there.

That's all I have for now.  And, Alden, can you add  my wife's email to
this list.  She won't be able to attend any meetings,  but I'm sure she
is interested and might have some input as well.  lillystar3 at aol.com

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