Letter to Editor | McVeigh is the only person to lead this community

||| FROM SALLIE DURETTE |||

A rich life, a rich society, is not defined in terms of monetary means: but, in how we live together, in harmony, with rich and poor, and all colors and people of all beliefs.  I have been encouraged, these last ten years, that the island is becoming more diverse.  What has been discouraging, though, is that this wonderful and colorful diversity cannot continue growing in a community where it is not affordable to young families, singles, and those with limited economic means.  

Kari McVeigh is a friend to hard working islanders, of all economic means, not just the wealthy.  She wants to see the islands grow in diversity, and welcoming to young families.

Meanwhile, Stephanie O’Day is a friend, mostly to the wealthiest.  Shortly after moving to the island, I was excited to learn that there were tiny homes being built for “affordable housing”, right up the street from where we live on Argyle.  I discovered, though, that these tiny homes, built and still retained by Stephanie O’Day, are anything BUT affordable.  These tiny homes, that are too small to be a cozy dwelling, for any but the most stringent minimalist, are rented at EXORBITANT amounts of money.  

Stephanie O’Day, claims, on her website, to be about “Protecting the island way of life”.   I was told that Stephanie spoke openly about turning our county into a West Coast Cape Cod, or Martha’s Vineyard.  Martha’s Vineyard, where the average home price is $2,142,047, and the average income is $172,315, is not a community that our council members should want to emulate.  

I believe Kari McVeigh is the ONLY person that can lead our community to a fantastic place for people from all walks, all faiths, and all colors, to live in harmony.  Our other option would have the island be only for the VERY wealthiest, and even teachers and police officers would have to ferry over everyday, as they do on Martha’s Vineyard.

Signed with pride.