To the Editor:
There has been so much negativity posted in the press this campaign season in Old Lyme, that it makes me wonder – actually makes me worry. And then I realized that it’s because the Republican candidates have no plans, just vague accusations. That’s why Mesham and Read won’t debate with Martha and Jim. Because they have no answers, only questions.
Think back to two years ago, when Republicans Griswold and Ward were in charge. Were they present in your neighborhood when there was an issue? Did they answer your questions or even acknowledge receipt of your letter or phone call? Did they offer any solutions to the town issues of sewers or Halls Road? Did they ensure adequate funding for town projects? Pave streets in the south end of town? Fix the Grassy Hill Bridge? Deal with flooding at Cross Lane and in the beach areas? No they did not. Just kicked the can down the road leaving the new Democratic-majority board with a pile of complex issues to solve.
In the past two years, Martha and Jim rolled up their sleeves and tackled these tough issues head on. They listened to the people of Old Lyme. They inherited these leftover problems that had been festering for years under previous boards, and which “conveniently” came to a head this year due to debt service and other contractual issues taken on by the previous administration. This was not easy. Halls Road was a complex issue made worse by lots of misinformation, but in the end, the process worked. The community’s voice was heard. Is there an overlay still in planning? No. Let’s move on. When a crowd of angry homeowners crowded a Selectmen’s meeting last year, voicing concerns about speeding, they listened and created the Road and Public Safety Committee to address the issue. Martha and Jim personally showed up multiple times with shovels in hand to alleviate flooding at the Hawks’ Nest Sluiceway (AKA “the crib”), and oversaw the building of a new engineered structure there. They have increased security at the beaches, completed the Senior Center project, constructed the soon to be open Emergency Operations Center at Boughton Road, and were awarded grants to protect our fragile marshes and coastline. But it’s hard to hear about these and other accomplishments through the fog and noise of negativity from naysayers with no ideas of their own.
On Saturday, October 18th, millions of Americans took part in “No Kings Day” to celebrate democracy – leadership by the people, for the people. Let’s not go backward to the government by the “old boys network.” Let’s move forward Old Lyme!
Sincerely,
Mary Daley,
Old Lyme.
I very much agree,Martha Shoemaker is the way forward.As “All politics is local”,here is a very local issue I have!As a lifelong resident of Whippoorwill Road(well,for five or so years I was married to my first wife and lived in Groton,New London and Ivoryton,but could I claim I had briefly taken leave of my senses?That it never occurred?),my request to the town is simple.Could Whippoorwill Road and Whippletree Lane be repaved?They are both full of potholes and can be an adventure to walk or run on.Especially at night.We once had a simple road design with a crown running down the center,but in the 1990s,someone in their infinite wisdom gave us a new,flattened road with curbing and storm drains.Overkill which has never worked properly and actually lead to increased driving speeds on the road,but that is another story for another time.With the money which former President Biden allocated to “build back better”,it is time to remake Whippoorwill and Whippletree as the better roads they were always meant to be.
I wonder if most of the negativity is coming from the Examiner, which I understand, is owned or controlled by republicans who are running for office. Because I go to meetings and I am informed about what’s really going on in town, I can see through the inaccuracies coming from the Examiner and it makes me sad these Maga tactics are allowed to proliferate an Old Lyme. Not only is it not fair, but I think it’s a violation of the political process. I recommend people don’t read the Examiner because I don’t think it’s real news. It’s just propaganda from the republicans. I agree with the writer of this article because you can see the accomplishments of this administration in the past two years. They deserve two more years!! I’m voting for Row A!