Letters to the Editor

Thank You

Dear Editor,

A very sincere Thank You for the fast action of Detective Robert Jaworski, Detective  Daniel Stone, Detective Wayne Carter, the Winthrop police department and the  Suffolk County DA’s office for their investigative work and their constant perseverance on this case.  I would like to thank my family for for their love and support.

I learned that I was among millions of older Americans being targeted each year by skillful con artists.  It was a very traumatic experience that I share as a warning to others to to be vigilant and maintain your guard against sophisticated schemes.

You’ll never believe it could happen to you until it does. If you feel uncomfortable about the phone call, just hang up the phone and call your family members or friends!

Peggy Herbert

Opposed to 3A

Dear Editor

My name is Judith DiGregorio.  I live at 3 Seal Harbor Road Unit 436.  I am opposed to 3A zoning for Winthrop.  I am opposed to Seal Harbor One, Seal Harbor Three and the Fort Heath Apartments being a designated zone.  I am in favor of holding a town wide referendum on 3A zoning.  I believe we as residents have a right to vote on 3A.  

Judith DiGregorio

Take another look at 3A ZONING

Dear Editor,

I’ve been in California and Pennsylvania visiting with family and regretted not being able to write a letter to the editor appealing to the Winthrop “No on 3A” group to consider their neighbors on Morton and  Banks Streets, Peco Avenue, and Tileston and Girdlestone Roads—town neighborhoods seriously impacted by flooding.

On my plane ride home, I read in the 08-08-24 “Sun Transcript” that Winthrop was denied the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Grants to help fund flooding and stormwater mitigation.  Nearby Chelsea, Everett, Revere, and East Boston did receive such grants. 

After reading that article, I felt the need to ask the “No on 3A” group to re-examine just why they are in this fight against 3A, especially after Housing Secretary Augustus visited Winthrop on 06-27-24 and deemed that Winthrop very probably complied “on paper” with the 3A requests.

In addition, Town Council voted in 2012 and 2020 to rezone both the Center Business District and the Waterfront areas of Winthrop to enhance housing development.  Certainly, past developments like Governors Park and Seal Harbor along with current and prospective housing construction in town reflects compliance with the state 3A law.  In many ways, Winthrop has been ahead of other communities in investing in housing development.

From Governor Healey’s perspective, however, I know that she’s been privy to “The Boston Globe,” “Winthrop Sun Transcript,” and “Commonwealth” magazine articles that have reported on some Winthrop residents’ efforts to stop 3A from happening here.  Having a Town Council President and State Representative in opposition to an effort to increase much needed housing efforts to prevent talented people from leaving MA didn’t help matters when it came to MVP grant allocation.  In addition, knowing the diligence of Town Manager Anthony Marino in documenting facts as he writes grants, no one can fault him for our failure to receive much need flood funds.

Frankly, it angers me that some neighbors did not look out for their flood impacted neighbors like the Peco Avenue resident who told me at Councilor Aiello’s Precinct 5 meeting, “Donna, that last big storm left us with 7 feet of water in our cellar.”  As a very mold sensitive person, I could not fathom living in that flooded area of town.

Winthrop “No on 3A” residents, please look at the big picture of why housing is needed in the metropolitan areas where most people work.  Note the need to do our fair share, which we very well have already done, and seriously consider the harm caused to the folks living on the flood-impacted areas of town.  Compliance with 3A is directly connected to MVP grants to deal with flooding.  Please rethink your just “No” position.  Without grant money, the town alone cannot afford to protect our flood-bound neighbors.

???????Donna Segreti Reilly

Mass G. L. Title VII Ch 40ASec 3A of ZoningAct (MBTA Communities Act)

Dear Town Council and Planning Board members and Town Manager,

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the town’s vote on the Section 3A issue. I under-stand that this is a complex and challenging matter. and I appreciate the time and effort you are all dedicating to making an informed decision. I would like to acknowledge and thank you for your commitment to this process.

While I may not be fully versed in every detail of Section 3A, I have carefully reviewed the letters submitted by Winthrop resident Ms. Carol Facella. dated June 30, 2024, and July 22, 2024.I commend Carol for her thorough research and the well-articulated points she has presented. I would like to highlight what I believe are the most significant concerns she has raised:

1.     State Control Over Local Zoning: The potential shift of control from local to state au-thorities is unprecedented. Section 3A could allow state regulations to override our local zoning decisions, impacting existing properties and future developments in ways that may not align with Winthrop’s vision for our community. This could set a troubling precedent for further state intervention in our local governance.

2.     Legal Uncertainties: There are ongoing legal challenges to this mandate, including a court case in the City of Milton scheduled for October. Given these uncertainties, it may be prudent for Winthrop to wait for the outcomes of these legal proceedings before making a final decision.

3. Impact on Property Values and Quality of Life: The designated zones under Section 3A might have unintended consequences, including potential negative effects on property values and the overall quality of life in those areas. This is a significant con-cern that deserves careful consideration.

4. Timeline for Decision: If we have until December to respond to the state, it may be beneficial for Winthrop to observe how other municipalities are addressing this issue before making our own decision. This could provide valuable insights and potentially influence a more in-formed choice.

5. Balancing State Funding and Local Autonomy: While future state funding is a crucial consideration, it is essential to weigh this against the potential loss of our local autonomy and the impact on our community’s quality of life. It is vital to evaluate how much our ability to govern ourselves and make decisions about our town’s future is worth in this context.

Given the complexity and importance of this issue, I believe it is essential for all residents of Winthrop to have the opportunity to voice their opinions and participate in the decision­ making process. This matter affects the entire community, and broad public engagement will ensure that our collective voice is heard.

Thank you for your attention to this significant issue. I trust that you will carefully consider these con-cerns as you deliberate on this matter.

Jim Polino