Park giveaway in the name of progress

Reference is made to your story "Court dismisses lawsuit by Save Sandy Hook" in the Aug. 3 edition of The Hub and the Atlanticville.

I was delighted to read that Judge Mary Little Cooper dismissed a nonprofit organization's attempt to stop commercial development of Sandy Hook. I mean, why do citizens of this country think they should have a right in how our public assets are utilized?

Don't they realize that (probably) wealthy developers from Rumson have much better ideas than, say, a coalition of groups made up of passionate, dedicated individuals volunteering their time, effort, money and sweat to preserve our national historic treasures?

Come on already.

Didn't the article adequately point out that the developer had "all the federal money behind it (to fight the lawsuits)" whereas "the government (is so inept that it) lacks funds to (even) rehabilitate the historic buildings?" Now that's what I call setting your (taxpayer-dollar funded) priorities! Way to go!

These grass roots environmental organizations do nothing but point out little idiosyncrasies in our current system. And those quirks are nothing, if not depressing. After reading this article, I felt lousy. Because prior to reading this piece, I didn't know that our money was being allocated in such a manner, and I realized that I'd rather be like so many other Americans with their heads in the sand where it is safe and non controversial (although, probably not very patriotic) than stand up and fight for a cause.

I think these nonprofit groups should take a break. Relax. Settle down. Chill out. Stop depressing everyone.

The developer must know what he is doing. I mean, his 60-year lease (that's only two generations) and plans which include restaurants, hotels, offices, conference centers (oh yes, and lastly ... whew) "environmental and educational facilities" sound enticing.

It is apparently irrelevant whether this relatively small parcel of land can handle the volume of trucks, cars, emissions, new roads, trash, noise, destruction of property, and environmental devastation that this development will ultimately attract.

Let's trade our existing wildlife on Sandy Hook for wild life in the form of (more) tourists than we can manage.

Lately, that seems to be the American way: Take it, strip it, cut it, devastate it, develop it - all in the name of 'progress.'

Lynn Petrovich

Oakhurst