To the Editor:
The YMCA has repeatedly stated that it is open to hearing the opinions of Westport residents about its proposed move to Camp Mahackeno, in the remote, residential northwest corner of town.
Its interesting, therefore, that upon learning about a survey being conducted by an independent group of citizens (not related in any way to our group, Y Downtown), to determine WestportersҒ viewpoints about the Ys proposed move, Y Director Dick Foot hastily issued a condemnation of the survey to Y members and the papers. We can see from the slick PR campaign that the Y has underway that the Y board is going to great lengths to control public comment and shape media coverage of its planned move.
Mr. FootҒs panicked note also raises some questions: If the Y is open to public comment, why are the Y directors so jittery and so quick to fire back at any and all questioning of their plan? It seems that the growing, vocal opposition to the Ys intended relocation, which any informed Westporter can see as ill-conceived, is striking a nerve.
To counter the idea that members of the Westport community would refute the Y directorsҒ plan, Mr. Foot in his letter invokes the idea that the Y speaks for the greater community. In fact, the Y does not speak for the community, and saying it does belittles every residents opinion and discredits the YҒs position.
The Y directors say they have listened to and are willing to listen to the communitys concerns, but based on their attempt to ғhead off the survey, itԒs clear that they are choosing not to hear. And when they say that the community does not want public land used by the Y, it begs the question as to why so many people are asking to reopen the Barons South issue or to look at other centrally and accessibly located alternatives.
Camp Mahackeno is not an appropriate place for a 100,000 square foot fitness facility. In fact, a few years back, Mr. Foot said himself that the property was not an ideal location for a full-service YMCA. Repeating how wonderful the new Y facility would be does not justify its location at Mahackeno. Informed people can see through the spin and realize that a new Y on BaronҒs South or the Imperial or Baldwin parking lots also would achieve the same benefits, while at the same time bolstering downtown and preventing sprawl, traffic congestion and the overdevelopment of a residential section of Westport.
Y directors—the community is speaking; the townspeople of Westport are saying even more clearly now: Do not relocate from downtown. Listen to them. Work with them and do what is right for everyone. For more information, visit http://www.YDowntown.com.
Debbie McGinley
Y Downtown
http://www.YDowntown.com
Westport
