To the editor:
Anyone who has ever attended an NRA meeting (Newburyport Development Authority) will note that at the beginning of the meeting one of thee NRA members sanctimoniously reads from their “Mission Statement” that was crafted many, many years ago when the city was in distress.
Part of the “Mission Statement” refers to removing urban blight from the City of Newburyport. Really! “Urban blight”! Has anyone seen any urban blight in Newburyport recently? I certainly haven’t.
In fact, Newburyport has become one of the most prosperous places to live in all Massachusetts. People have started calling it “Nantucket North.”
What the NRA is really referring to, of course, is the parking lot on the central waterfront that is still unpaved. This is their “urban blight.”
Well, I have a solution for them to end this “urban blight.” Get some trucks to come in and spread topsoil over parts of this unpaved parking lot. Then spread some grass seed over the top, plant some shrubs and trees and presto, you have a park with some parking, which puts an end to this “urban blight” once and for all. And then the NRA has nothing more to do.
But wait ... if it is so simple, then why aren’t they doing it? Let’s look a little closer and see what really is going on here. Suddenly you see they are trying to build 33 condominiums on our open waterfront. The waterfront that belongs to all of us.
Now we get down to the nitty-gritty. The truth is they are using this “urban blight” phrase as a beard, as a cover, so they can build 33 condominiums on our open waterfront. This is what’s really going on!
So we should all rise up and say to them: No way, Mr. Shanley! No way, NRA! Leave our open waterfront alone!
Nicholas Metcalf
Newburyport
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton Show Off Their Amazing Bikini Bodies
NBA FINALS: Spurs Win Game 5, Lead Series
Exclusive Clip: Jodi Arias: 'Dirty Little Secret'
Amphibious bus filled with tourists sinks
