Letters
Published on April 23, 2010
Just plain wrong on mosque proposal
To the Bulletin: The Bulletin editorial of April 16 states, incorrectly, that the Harkness Road residents’ “main complaint” is that “having a house of worship on the road will increase traffic to a dangerous level.” The actual complaint is that, as traffic on Harkness Road is already at a dangerous level, significant additional traffic will make it even more dangerous.
On a personal note, we have had several cats and a dog killed by cars on Harkness Road, and I was hit by a car at the edge of my lawn. I would not call these events “specious.” As for the suggestion that the residents petition Town Hall for a sidewalk – good luck! Despite citing “mathematical calculations that projected a big traffic increase,” the Bulletin concludes, “based on the size of the mosque membership and the description of the programs, Muslims coming for worship and educational programs are not going to generate a lot of additional traffic.” Since the Bulletin did not dispute the calculations, which were based on information provided by the mosque to the Planning Board, the paper’s conclusion comes out of thin air.
Concerning the letter to the editor from Mr. and Mrs. Morse, their figures are incorrect.
Joseph Horowitz Amherst
Celebrate diversity
To the Bulletin: The story and responses to the mosque that might be located on Harkness Road evoke memories of the Peace Pagoda arriving in Leverett almost 30 years ago.
At community meetings, residents voiced objections based on issues of traffic, septic systems, mysterious cult behavior and even overpopulation of our elementary school.
The mild and conciliatory monks and nuns of the Peace Pagoda were different, thus a bit
Amherst Amherst Bulletin | Letters http://www.amherstbulletin.com/story/id/170391/
