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The MetroWest Daily News
Monday, February 19, 2007
Note: the MetroWest Daily News changed the title of this letter to "Nonprofits don't help Framingham," which not only misrepresents my views, but has nothing whatsoever to do with my letter.
The errors in Wes Ritchie's recent column, "Search for consensus on social services" (Feb. 8) are too many to examine in depth, but I would like to briefly address three.
Ritchie, like other proponents of the social service industry's use of Framingham as a "hub," frequently decry the "hateful and divisive language" in the debate, but fail to acknowledge that they are as guilty as anyone in this regard. Like the MetroWest Daily News, Ritchie uses the divisive and inaccurate term "party of no" — all while claiming Framingham should "come together as a community." In fact, I would suggest that for the most part, Framingham has come together as a community to say enough is enough.
The reason for this is what Ritchie terms "the perceived proliferation of social service agencies" in Framingham. What part of more than 600 percent growth and several times the per capita population of social services is "perceived?"
In fact, there has been a massive proliferation of social service agencies in Framingham, and this has been to the detriment of the town. Yet Ritchie, amazingly, states that "Framingham's priority should be to create a PILOT program that will attract tax-exempt organizations." Yes, attract more of 'em!
What Framingham needs is a larger and more stable tax base, not even more tax-exempt properties. Ritchie correctly notes that "tax-exempt properties often contribute greatly to the Framingham community," but they are hardly unique in this respect. Replacing the methadone clinic, for instance, with a restaurant or a book store would do far more for the economy of the town than any nonprofit.
Finally, Ritchie writes that he "is a member of the Framingham PILOT Study Committee." In fact, he "was" a member. The committee no longer exists.
PETER C.S. ADAMS,
Framingham
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