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Canton Held Hostage
By Bob Davidson, Canton
It seems that weapons of fear are being spread in massive doses in our town of Canton. A well-organized group that is fanatical in its mission, values and beliefs is flooding our airways, landscape and newspapers with their propaganda.
In an effort to impose their special interests and values upon an entire town, they manipulate the truth, intentionally exaggerate potential problems, refuse to accept reasonable compromises, attempt to intimidate local merchants, destroy literature which expresses opposing views, and attack and insult those with whom they disagree. While doing this, they claim to CARE for our town.
Those who oppose commercial development have attempted to assume the role of a Zoning Commissioner. By intimidation and the distortion of facts, they attempt to influence the town's legitimate Zoning Commission. Don't let this minority hold the real Zoning Commission hostage.
Those who oppose commercial development have insulted the intelligence of many by saying if you are not smart enough to write a letter, we will do it for you—all you need do is sign it and mail it to the Hartford Courant. Then, when the Courant's editor calls you to ask if you wrote the letter, CARE expects you to answer that you did, which smacks of dishonesty to me. Don't let them hold you hostage to these tactics.
The CARE group even attacks local businesses. Consider the innocent business owner who is asked by a CARE representative if one of the group’s "ugly" signs can be placed in front of their store. Is the business owner going to refuse and risk antagonizing the requesting customer and their friends, or are they reluctantly going to permit the placing of the sign? Wake up, free people. Don't be terrorized by such tactics.
Fortunately, in a democracy, even a well organized and financed group of fanatics cannot hold a town hostage if honest, well informed citizens refuse to be held hostage to deception.
The motives of many of those who oppose the building of a Target store at the intersection of Route 44 and Lawton Road are suspect. We know they have money, by the expensive campaign they've waged. Many own some of the more expensive homes in Canton. Their statements expose elitist leanings that don't play well in our small town. One opponent of this project wrote in a letter to the editor of the Farmington Valley Post [David Lazauski, November 8] that such development creates "meaningless short-term minimum wage jobs" and increases the crime rate. Another letter writer, [Janet Cover, Farmington Valley Post, November 8], has stated that the Collinsville Axe Factory proposal would create an atmosphere that would allow corporations to "attract and hold employees of high caliber." Perhaps we should establish a caliber standard for all those living and working in Canton.
The implication seems to be that those not making the big bucks of some CARE members don't have a right to work in Canton. It further implies that these same people will commit crimes. What kind of elitist hogwash have we here? Bigotry and racism?
Perhaps these wealthy CARE folks have never thought about teenagers from less wealthy homes who work part-time, or about senior citizens living on fixed incomes who are glad to take jobs that don't pay high salaries. For those not on the elitist radar screen, a store in town offering low wages would be a blessing, certainly not meaningless.
The CARE argument claims that a Target store would harm local businesses. What businesses do they mean? If Worley Hardware continues its winning ways, they won't lose the sale of a thumbtack. Will Target be selling cars, nursery items, gas, automotive repair services, lumber, antiques, funeral services, financial and banking services, or off-road vehicles? Does CARE think Target will be competing with our doctors and dentists? Folks, don't be held hostage by false fears.
CARE claims property values will be hurt. They have absolutely no facts upon which to justify how a Target store in our town, at this time, will do that. Better to believe a well known man who owns a great deal of property in Canton, our own successful realtor and land developer, Henry Bahre. He supports the Konover Development. Could it be that many CARE supporters are concerned more about their own property than our town?
Those who would prevent the development are holding present and future school children's education hostage. Without additional tax revenue, we simply cannot provide our school system with the material and human resources it needs. It may be fine and easy for the wealthy to send their students to private schools while they watch Canton's education system decline for lack of funding. They won't watch as their children are bused to a regional school in Winsted or Torrington. The only other way to support our school system is a massive real estate tax increase. For the average citizen that is a very poor substitute to sound commercial development.
I apologize if the tone of this letter seems harsh, but I am annoyed and frustrated to see our citizens bombarded by the half-truths coming from a well-organized and well-financed minority whose motives are suspect. When their members and/or sympathizers personally insult me and suggest that if I don't share their views I leave town, I find it very revealing about their tolerance and the length to which they will go to hold us hostage.
In any organization there are those who, if not held accountable, can cause that organization to take uncompromising positions on specific issues. Those same people may also, in the name of the organization, use tactics to achieve goals that do not represent the values of all the members of that organization. There are many nice, sensible people who make up CARE, and other good people who share their views, if not their methods. Don't be held hostage. Express to your leaders that the methods and style being used make you uncomfortable.
Canton citizens, business owners, school children and educators: if you want tax relief, better schools, job creation and convenient in-town shopping, tell the Zoning Commission. Don't let Canton be held hostage to special interests.
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