Burke, Gabriel for Great Barrington Selectboard

To the editor:

Why have the Great Barrington town manager and Selectboard been discussing development options for the fairground when the owners have made clear the property is not for sale? Why is this even up for discussion? 

Why are current Selectboard members publicly endorsing a candidate, Garfield Reed, who shares their interest in Fairground development options—and has further stated that we have enough recreational parks, and the Fairground should be turned into an industrial park? 

I want representatives who are for MORE recreational space, who also may believe that, unlike Reed, the former Christian Science Church at the corner of 7 and 23 is an edifice worth preserving, and should not have been razed and turned into a big box store as he proposed.

I am NOT for a proliferation of big box stores in GB, especially downtown.

Yes, we need more economic development, but supported and undertaken by those who understand that the historic ambiance and small-town character of our community comprise our most valuable assets.

I’m voting for Kate Burke and Eric Gabriel for the Selectboard.

Carol Diehl

Housatonic