Winthrop Residents - Your Beach Needs YOUR Help! Thursday, August 21, 2008 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Winthrop Beach
Shore Drive and Myrtle Avenue If you've ever wondered how to get involved and wasn't sure how, now's the time.
After 10 years of testing and retesting, Federal Agencies have decided Winthrop residents
don't need their beach renourished. An appeal has been approved to allow the DCR to fix Winthrop Beach and that fate
will be decided on August 21 when Federal Agencies come to the beach to see its
condition and what it means to the residents. We are asking everyone who's around that day to help greet the officials
at the Highlands end of Shore Drive
and show support by the town or nothing will happen. The jetties won't get fixed, more flooding problems on Shore Drive, Shirley Street,
Lewis Lake. This project needs to get done now, before
the next big storm hits and it's too late!
Protect Winthrop Beach, the homes on the beach and the gateway to Revere and other communities. Remember - Highlands end of Shore Drive - Thursday, August 21st - 10:00 AM. Any questions, contact either
Cheryl Tobey 617-846-5965
Irv Goldstein 617-846-9015
In the 10 years since the Winthrop Beach Nourishment project has been trying to gain approval;
we have seen the following projects go through with what appears to be zero environmental angst: - an LNG Terminal off Gloucester. Which we guess means that a potentially hazardous entity, something that is situated in a prime fishing and recreation area permanently, is something the fish, shellfish, and microorganisms find much more palatable than a bit of sand taken for Winthrop that would be done in a couple of months.
- A project by Massport to dredge Boston Harbor and beyond that has been described as the largest dredging project undertaken in our waters in over 60 years.
- And what next? Why any project that involves distributing money of course will sail through.
What does it matter if Winthrop resident's homes, or any shore community for that matter, fall into the sea? As long as the corporations survive, as long as everyone expresses their profound concern and willingness to lend a hand - but of course only at some future point, and as long as that support will not potentially alienate anyone. The question everyone should ask is - why is the US Army Corps denying the permit for the relatively minor Winthrop dredging, but approving the permit for the massive Massport dredging? Although we can't prove it, could it be that the State Dept of Marine Fisheries, which, with a single-minded almost maniacal determination to stop the Winthrop dredging, appears to have whispered in the ear of the National Marine Fisheries, who in turn whispered in the ear of the US Army Corps that they will let the Massport project go through, as long as the Corps denies the Winthrop project? Could this kind of back door lobbying actually have gone on? Would any state or federal agency do anything like this? Is there some other way that Massport could be gaining favor with the permitting agencies? It's hard to believe, but how else can it be explained that the Massport Project proponents (who are paid with taxpayer money) are being allowed to make false statements, such as stating that the Massport dredging is not in the Cod Environmental area, when it most certainly is. How can Massport be approved to dredge an area that could potentially alter wave action, fish migration, lobster, etc with seemingly no cries from the Fisheries agencies? How can Massport be allowed to dump the dredged material in the sea? Oh, they are going to go far out to sea as it would appear it is too hazardous to dump locally and maybe they feel if it is farther out to sea it will take longer to make its way to shore and/or the ocean floor where it could damage sea or human life. And if the fishing industry thinks the Fisheries Agencies are looking out for them, think again. Why not ask them how they know the Massport project will not impact them and the Winthrop project will? But when you ask, demand the proof, not just the say-so of the Fisheries spokespeople who seem to gain their facts from fabrication. Winthrop residents - do you want a beach to protect you and to enjoy? Do you want to see Massport take more from Winthrop without any oversight at all? Tell your local, state and national officials exactly how you feel. If we let this Massport project sail through we will lose the only leverage we have had in the past 10 years. Either both the Winthrop and Massport projects should be permitted, or neither should. Facts are facts and what works for one works for both. We all know that if Massport wants something it will happen. Why shouldn't it be used to help us at the same time. We will never have the opportunity again folks, please don't let it be squandered. The most important thing we should all be doing is to make sure the beach is adequate protection against storms, and that it will, in fact, be around for future children and grandchildren. The town is call Winthrop by the Sea, not Winthrop in the Sea. For more information contact either:
Cheryl Tobey at 617-846-5965 or
Irv Goldstein at 617-846-9015 See you Thursday, August 21st, 10 AM
Highland end of Shore Drive
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