Proposed lease puts Sandy Hook in jeopardy

Take a walk or ride out onto Sandy Hook now before it is too late to marvel at the beauty and tranquillity that is so close at hand. Your travels will take you through soul-renewing landscapes that are yours and those of every other resident in the United States, because it belongs to us — for now.

Where else can you enjoy the beauty of the land and ocean with no high-density housing or office structures barring your enjoyment? There are so few open, oceanfront spaces left in New Jersey that it is no wonder that developers want to get their foot in the door by any means possible. The current proposed lease does just that, and has virtually no safeguards that can truly protect us.

I think the proposed leasing of buildings — the numbers and details are not established firmly yet — and the duration of the lease — 60 years — will lead to full commercialization of Sandy Hook.

I don’t think I’ll be alive when the lease is up, but my (and your) grandchildren and their children deserve to have this gem saved for them and the rest of our residents.

The only reason, in my opinion, for the developers (rehabilitation specialists) to invest in Sandy Hook is not for humanitarian interests — it is to make a big profit — at our expense. We lose — you know that, and I know that.

We must wake up our senators and representatives to what New Jersey stands to lose.

This is national parkland, set aside for us, not developers. Let’s keep it that way.

Patricia Stilwell

Fair Haven