[Rhodes22-list] need some help

[Michael Meltzer]

These is in the last month+- :-), like I said the town takes everything as a full court press, your point is being made right now,
The best I can tell it a strawman for simply banning dog.


http://www.westport-news.com/Stories/0,1413,100%257E4435%257E767754,00.html
http://www.westport-news.com/Stories/0,1413,100%257E4435%257E780710,00.html
http://www.westport-news.com/Stories/0,1413,100%257E4435%257E780712,00.html
http://www.westport-news.com/Stories/0,1413,100%257E4435%257E792710,00.html (this one is great:-)
http://www.westport-news.com/Stories/0,1413,100%257E4435%257E792712,00.html

BTW here is an advanced copy of here next week letter, below is my reaction.

From: Roland and Barbara Paul [mailto:barbara.roland.paul@worldnet.att.net]

Dear RTM member:

Citizens for Compo beach have much to be grateful for.  After many public hearings, Westport finally has a new and sensible
compromise regulation passed by the Parks and Recreation Commission and unanimously upheld by the Board of Selectmen.  It requires
dogs to be leashed north of the bath house on Compo beach October through March.  (Dogs will still be allowed to run free south of
the bath house during that time as well as on all other Westport beaches.)

This regulation was adopted after many people expressed dismay at unleashed, uncontrolled dogs interfering with their enjoyment of
the beach during the off season.  Also owners have been using the beach as a toilet for their dogs, creating an unhealthy
environment for children playing in the sand and for people walking barefoot.

Hearings leading up to the decisions were held with the highest regard for the democratic process.  Hours were spent listening to
everyone at the meetings who wanted to express an opinion.  Discussions were held. Letters were sent in and read.  Both town
committees weighed carefully the merits of the arguments and did not become hostage to special interest groups.

Now, a vocal minority of dog owners is trying to have the RTM overturn the new regulation so they would continue to be allowed to
run their dogs unleashed on ALL of Compo Beach during the off season.  These dog owners have access to at least five areas in town
to let their dogs run unleashed, including all three other Westport beaches as well as south of the bath house on Compo.

For good reason, there is not one beach community in Connecticut other than Westport which allows dog owners to let their dogs run
unleashed anywhere on its public beaches.  All along the Connecticut shoreline, only two other communities even allow dogs to put a
foot in the sand, and the dogs must be leashed at all times and under control.  Dogs are restricted from public beaches all up and
down the coast.  They are not allowed to run unleashed in malls, in towns, in any public areas.  No amount of dubious reasoning can
change the fact that it is unacceptable for dogs to run unleashed in public places.

Compo beach is for ALL Westporters to enjoy, young and old.  We all should support our town's effort to take back Compo beach for
the enjoyment of everyone year-round.  Westport must not bow further to a strident minority with a highly self serving interest at
the expense of other citizens here.

"Citizens for Compo Beach" have tried to be conciliatory.  Most object wholeheartedly to allowing dogs on the beach at all, but are
willing for now to ask the RTM to uphold the new regulation, which gives at least some relief from from highly charged dog owners'
insistence on taking over the whole beach for their selfish pursuits.

Readers are urged to email, phone or write their RTM representatives without delay with the following message: "We support the new
dog regulation at Compo beach."  DO IT NOW and give your name and address.  Try to attend the full RTM meeting at town hall on
October 1 at 8PM to show your support.  Interim meetings are scheduled before then and are also open to the public.   One is on
September 23rd at 8PM in town hall.

Thank you for your careful consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,
Barbara Paul
8 Ellery Lane
Westport, CT 06880

>From mjm to the person who sent this:
A couple of things come to mind reading her statement;

1)many people for it, I heard is was more like 10:1 speaking against(someone have a better idea), or is she simply trying to mislead
people

2)a democratic process, is the will of the people, not patronizing them sitting though it.

3)first off she is only talking about the leash part, she has misstated the rest or omitted the reset of it,

4)is she nuts, who walk bar footed in the winter, Does she even go their?, or is she simply trying to mislead people

5)common sense tells people geese, seagull and the sound itself are the real problem, is she simply trying to mislead people

6)"south of the bath house" this has me bothered, for a couple of reason:

    a)the sandbar prevent the dogs from swimming

    b)we can not get from the parking(the no mans land of the boardwalk, volleyball courts)

    c)we are being press against the house their, is her agenda to get us complexly banned next round

7)Unintended consequents:the "compromise" for Winslow created a font section that is rally used and east section of the fence that
never used, it pushed us into to tight of an area that now is rock screen and muddy or we can take your changes with ticks in the
woods, it obvious for any RTM member to verify themselves on a simple visit, what damage is going to be caused by forcing us into to
tight an area, does an EPA study needed or will dog simple be banned?

8)Sherwood seem to be the only state beach that allows dogs? anyone know the history, or could it be that the people of Westport
have always walked their do on the beach?

9)check http://www.tidalflats.com/Dog_Beaches.html, I have not been able to check all of ct, she played fast and loose with the
other facts, but a case can be made that this is not usual and since when has Westport been afraid of "being a special place"

10) is Citizens for Compo Beach" a NIMBY Group? who are they or is their mission to simply drive people off the beach as an elitist
group. I can not help think but they know the dog people are the most common on the beach and want to drive them somewhere else.



She seem to be forming the argument that dog owner are unreasonable nut cases and she is the voice of reason and compromise. I would
love to turn the tables on her. With have the first part that she is play fast and loose with the facts, No better way to counter an
augment. Does anyone know her history and can it be shown that she has history of hating dogs or going after another group? Also
when she moved into Westport dogs have been on the beach, kind of like move next to an airport then demanding it to be closed. She
is the one asking for a change not the dog owners. The burden of proof should be on her that a change is needed. When I moved to
Westport on of the reason was because the town was so dog friendly. When I ask the realtor about dog she said, "the town spent 10
million dollars on a park for them and the beach is open to them", the town of Westport is breaking the social contract with the dog
owners.



Sorry about the poor typing and grammar. My only defense is it is 3 am after a full work day(I be up in 3 hours). I filed my
RTM/Westport news letter already(I attached it below), maybe this will give somebody some fertile ideas to work with.



MJM


----- Original Message -----
From: R22RumRunner@aol.com
To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 3:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] need some help


Michael,
I can't believe there is this much fuss over a couple of piles of dog crap on the beach. Where do they think the birds do their
do-do? Next thing you know, they'll be banning the fish from the ocean for crapping in the water. Now you know why I don't drink
water. :)

Rummy