News from Skylands CLEAN, Inc.

These two critics lack credibility

Monday, January 28, 2008

To the Editor:

I could take the whining of letter writers David Shope and Deborah Post on the Highlands Act more seriously if I hadn't seen them in action at Highlands Council meetings over the past three years. Their message to the council always centers on the value of their "land portfolio" and their outrage at being denied their right to "cash out" at a big profit.

While they may be farmers, they are land speculators first and foremost. They'd rather grow a healthy crop of condos than a bushel of apples any day. Both are also leading a major legal and media campaign through the so-called Highlands "Conservation" Association to undermine and ultimately repeal the Highlands Act. One prime strategy is filling the newspapers with this kind of nonsense and fabrication. Fortunately the courts looked past these histrionics and upheld the act as constitutional in their ruling last week, a case where Shope was among a number of plaintiffs. It's not that I don't feel for them, at least in a small way.

In any game, whether real estate or musical chairs, someone will be left standing when the music stops. So, I can't blame them for looking back with regret at the glory days of paving farmland in the last 30 years and for dreaming that frenetic pace could go on forever. Holding out for the big bucks isn't always the best move. I guess that's why they call it "speculation."

ROBIN O'HEARN
Ringwood

The writer is executive director of Skylands CLEAN Inc.

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