LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor:
Jasper MacSlarrow appeared at the Voters’ Association candidate forum and gave as an example of his interest in us an action he took during the time he represented Congressman Rick Larsen. Erroneously referring to the period when, “our border was closed, due to mad cow disease,” he said he arranged for Brewster’s Restaurant to serve steaks.
He did not mention that for the 3-year period during which I pleaded with Larsen’s office for assistance in having our postal service upgraded, he did nothing to assist us. He dismissively told us the postal officials in Washington, D.C. said we had no problem. When I pointed out it was easy for them to say from the other side of the continent, he reported they had no capital funds available. When I spoke with him in the hall outside the candidate forum, he still seemed not to understand that the postal service does not own the local post office. What was asked of them was that they negotiate a lease for building improvements. After three years of pleading, it seems more appropriate that the building, constructed during the time of President Reagan, be replaced with one which would provide adequate parking and a service area that would benefit both staff and customers.
Mr. McSlarrow’s lack of interest in representing this community as a congressional staff member would hardly seem to qualify him to represent us in Olympia.
Ruby G. White
Point Roberts

The Editor:
The Republicans have clearly become unhinged in the aftermath of the Foley scandal and its ensuing leadership crisis. What’s left of the leadership is busy concocting grand conspiracy theories involving Democratic spies and George Soros; the President is lying so much I’m not sure he even knows what the truth is anymore; and some Republican campaigns are so desperate that they’re out hunting for communists! This is just pathetic – they’re running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Some of them chicken hawks, others chicken-littles – all of them trying desperately to convince voters they deserve yet another chance, when obviously all they’re capable of is failing, trying to cover up their failure, and then lying about covering it up.
Ted Mohr
Point Roberts

The Editor:
Wednesday, 11 October, 2:30 p.m. Fiber optic cable cut. No long distant phone service available. Can’t call any number unless it’s on the Point.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cell tower?
Jim Marshall
Point Roberts

The Editor:
At the end of Meg Olson’s October All Point Bulletin article there is a quote:
“I’m not saying we won’t have a public meeting but so far we’ve had only three people say they aren’t in favor of it, and a lot more say they are, so it doesn’t really seem like it would be a bid issue.”
I would be very surprised if this would be the case – just letting you know that I was not in that count so it is at least four people now.
I think that the major decision like this could easily be solved by holding a referendum of Point Roberts’ residents – rather than this being decided by a group of self-proclaimed “business leaders” with just one sided point of view.
This small place is a heaven on earth just because there are no commercial and technology monsters here. Is it really worth it to bring another brick for the wall of the things totally opposite to what this place is attractive – for the most of its permanent and recreational residents?
I have no illusions that whatever someone like me will ever write could have any effect on “progress.”
When this place will turn into a small brother of Long Island’s Westhampton I will just pack my stuff and move somewhere else.
Palo Krnan
Point Roberts

The Editor:
On Sunday, October 1, I was down at Lily Point in Point Roberts with my friends and family when I had a fall. The Point Robert’s volunteer fire department responded quickly after my dad phoned 911 on his cell phone. They carried me up the hill and drove me to Delta Hospital making sure I was safe all the way. I am thankful to them.
Declan Easton
Tsawwassen, B.C.
P.S. We are also thankful for their presence on the Point. Declan managed to walk away relatively unscathed. We were all lucky that day and we would like to thank the Point Robert’s volunteers for giving their precious time to those in need.
Amanda and Scott Easton,
(Declan’s parents)
Tsawwassen, B.C.

The Editor:
The proposed cellular tower at the school house/fire hall is a classic case of bait and switch.
There is a small area in the center of Point Roberts where cell phone reception is unreliable. We have been told that in order to address the problem Verizon proposes to build a 200-foot tower on the highest point on the Point. If I understand this correctly, it will allow me to talk without interruption on my cellular phone while standing at the dump! Wow! Why am I not impressed? Then we are told that the emergency services workers really need it for secure communication with Blaine and Bellingham. Better ways currently exist to deal with this problem. First of all, there is already land-line telephone service through Whidbey Telephone. In addition, enhanced VHR radio and satellite telephones would be far more reliable than cellular service. What happened to cellular service during 9/11? It was overwhelmed with calls and failed. More recently, cell phones also proved useless after the Hawaii earthquake – for the same reasons. In a disaster cellular phones do not work! Satellite phones and VHR radios do. Now to the real reason for the proposed cellular tower. Once this skyscraper of a tower is built over Point Roberts it will have a line-of-sight capability with all of greater Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, to Blaine, Bellingham, the Gulf and San Juan islands and to southern Vancouver Island. Then, space on the tower will be shopped out (subleased) to companies wanting to provide Wi-Fi and other communications services to this vast area. Providing cell phone service to the “dead area” in the center of Point Roberts is just window dressing for what would be a very lucrative business for Verizon.
I don’t know much about the possible health consequences of microwave and other forms of radiation that will emanate from this tower, but there is at least a lively debate of experts on both sides. That being true, it would seem prudent not to build this tower literally over the heads of our five to seven-year-old children attending school there.
Michael Sims
Point Roberts

The Editor:
The standard sales pitch for I-933 is aimed at provoking voter outrage against local government for over-regulation of property. Don’t believe it. The arguments for I-933 are not fact-based.
I-933 is funded by Howard Rich, an eastern libertarian who is hell bent on wrecking land use planning in America. Rich has mounted similar campaigns in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana and Nevada. Washington state is on his hit list.
The primary support for I-933 is from the State Farm Bureau, an organization that is top heavy with developers and light on real farmers. Most farmers oppose I-933. Even the Washington Realtors Property Rights Task Force has refused to take a position on this initiative. The realtors realize that passage of I-933 would bring the construction industry to a standstill while land use issues are battled out in the courts.
In Whatcom County, decades of hard work have preserved a fragile balance of development and resource land preservation. Like the way it looks? Take good pictures. If I-933 is passed, the scenery will change dramatically. And when the dominoes start to fall, you can kiss the sweeping vistas and agricultural heritage of Whatcom County goodbye.
John Lesow
Point Roberts

The Editor:
My introduction to the Westside Sewer Initiative came through a deceptive petition mailed in mid-September. There was no letterhead or identification of who was leading the initiative, and the only purpose for a sewer system cited within the petition were the new septic regulations from Washington State Department of Health. There was no physical description of the plan, such as the location of the sewage treatment facility, nor was there any attempt to provide estimated costs of the project and cost impact on each property owner. What was clear was that the petition had to be signed and returned to a P.O. Box no later than October 1. I did not sign the petition.
On October 1 Meg Olson’s article on the sewer initiative was published in the All Point Bulletin and revealed that Terry Ritchey was behind the project. The reason for the sewer initiative is higher density real estate development. Without the sewer system the ‘Point’ can only sustain 1,000 dwellings, but with a sewer system ‘cluster units’ are possible and that will permit as many as 4,200 units. Cost of the sewer system is between $2 to 3 million. Mr. Ritchey presented the petitions to the Point Roberts Water District Board on October 12 and stated that a full 70 percent of the property owners responded where only 51percent were required.
By signing the petition, you are telling the PR Water District Board that you want sewers now so as not to delay the developer’s plans for higher density housing; and you accept that the average property owner will pay between $15,000 to $20,000 per sewer connection over the next 20 years; and that you are receptive to a monthly service fee of $40 to $50 a month ($80 to $100 each billing period).
So, “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands.” Otherwise, call the Point Roberts Water District immediately and have your petition withdrawn.
Ed Acosta
Point Roberts

The Editor:
The Point Roberts Alliance for Sound Health has available to borrow copies of the following DVDs:
“Public Exposure” – This is the entire program, which was partially shown at the meeting on October 16, shows community battles against the telecom industry erecting towers in their neighborhoods. Concerns about cell phones effects on children’s brains and worldwide efforts to regulate and legislate cell towers.
“Cell Phone Wars” – This program deals with the health research and class action lawsuits in progress. This might be of special interest to those who feel there is no conclusive health research suitable for lawsuits.
“US Congressional Staff Presentation, Washington DC, July 2001” – this program is suitable for those who have an educated understanding of science and how research studies are designed and analyzed in reference to electro magnetic pollution and DNA damage.
To borrow DVDs, please call Hyacin 360/945-0418.
I personally asked the parks board to conduct a public meeting in Point Roberts to specifically discuss this issue. The board voted down the public meeting. I feel that members of the community would be interested to know that the cell phone tower will be 200 feet tall with a rotating light on top.
It would not be cost effective for Verizon to erect a tower this tall unless they intended leasing space to other companies to install their antenna thereby increasing the radio frequency radiation (RDR). There would be nothing the parks board could do about that once they sign the contract with Verizon. They would not realize any additional profit from this leasing either. Any homes in line of sight of the tower will see their property values diminish. This tower will dominate the Point Roberts skyline. There are other solutions to EMS requirements that have not been explored. We are all interested in making sure the fire department, police and rescue services have the best possible options.
This is not only about getting better reception. The community needs to be involved. There are many questions for the parks board to answer. I encourage the public to attend the next board meeting (the first Thursday of the month) to find out more and let your position be known.
Suzanne Rosser
Point Roberts

Letters Policy
The All Point Bulletin welcomes letters to the editor; however, the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor. Letters must include name, address and daytime telephone number for verification. Letters must not exceed 450 words and may be edited or rejected for reasons of legality and good taste.
A fresh viewpoint on matters of general interest to local readers will increase the likelihood of publication. Writers should avoid personal invective. Unsigned letters will not be accepted for publication. Requests for withholding names will be considered on an individual basis.
Thank You letters should be limited to ten names.
Only one letter per month from an individual correspondent will be published.

Please send your letter to: P.O. Box 1451, Point Roberts, WA 98281
or fax (360) 945-1613.
E-mail:editor@allpointbulletin.com

BACK TO TOP