Save Fort Hancock for people, not for the dump

When will the torture stop? Congressman Frank Pallone's trumpet call to rally the state government and local nonprofits to restore and reuse the historic buildings of Fort Hancock is an ill-disguised, cynical effort to do an end run around the appellate court decision that affirmed the legality of the National Park Service (NPS) lease with Jim Wassel and Sandy Hook Partners.

Pallone's action comes too little, too late. Its timing strongly suggests it is more of the same scare tactics favored by Judith Stanley Coleman and her husband to delay and take advantage of a hostile environment in which Jim Wassel must raise money for the project. After the appellate court's decision was announced Sept. 26, the Colemans declared they needed time to consider their options. The recent meddling statement from Pallone is the result.

We all are the losers, unfortunately. The buildings continue to deteriorate. Fort Hancock, a National Historic Landmark, embodies the history of the United States. The irony is that Save Sandy Hook doesn't want to save Sandy Hook, but see all the buildings turn to rubble for the nearest landfill. It boggles the mind to hear that this is the position of the woman who is also head of the Monmouth Conservation Foundation. How many people realize that 65 percent of our landfill waste is from buildings! The truly green building is the historic one that is reused because it uses a minimum of new resources in its construction. The adaptive reuse of our existing historic buildings is a key component in drastically reducing our impact on the environment, and preserving our heritage.

What makes Pallone think the Park Service can "look" to state and local officials and nonprofits to provide "alternate means for funding"? The state is cutting back everywhere, and especially with its own parks. Don't we remember last summer, when our own Monmouth Battlefield was closed?! Three years ago, a daily newspaper published an article titled "State parks: What's needed, what's funded" — New Jersey's 39 state parks and forests, and 58 state-run historic sites needed at least $250 million in overdue preservation, public works, recreation, and public health improvements. The last three years haven't helped. Nonprofits are equally hurt by our current catastrophic economic environment. Nonprofits everywhere are suffering from cutbacks by the state and donors hurt by the crash of all the markets.

To his credit, Pallone has stated in the newspapers that because of the lack of public funds, private funds are the only way to save the buildings. He has also said that legal action would further delay the process while the buildings further decay. What is needed is the private/ public partnership to give new life to Fort Hancock before it is too late. Give Sandy Hook Partners a chance to prove their financial backing. Save Fort Hancock for the people's use, not for the dump!
Mary Lou Strong
Locust section of Middletown