Immigrants’ stories

I very much enjoyed the letter to the editor by Larry Fraticelli of Leominster. It’s an inspiring story. Theirs was a common story for some 300 years. The most powerful word is assimilate.

They were happy to be here and proud to be American citizens. They worked hard to become a part of their new country. We welcome people who become legal citizens. The madness that the Democrats unleashed on us is unacceptable.

Ralph Holmgren

Sagamore Beach

Millionaire’s Tax

Ah, the Millionaire’s Tax. I remember in the mid-’50s my parents would buy an Irish Sweepstakes ticket for $1 in the hopes of winning a million dollars. We didn’t have the Lottery in Massachusetts then. A million dollars in those days is like $10 million today. However, today, a million dollars doesn’t have the same weight as it did in 1955. With inflation, I bet a million dollars 10 years from now will not be worth much. However, the average American who does make a million dollars in 2035 will be required to pay a “Millionaire’s Tax.” I think you know where I’m going here.

Jack Zaccardi

East Boston

MBTA Communities

A “representative democracy” would be when representatives listen to the voices of their constituents, including when 54% of registered voters voted NO on excessive high density zoning “by right” in our town, under the MBTA Communities Law, on Feb 14, 2024.

When Town Meeting “representatives” vote against the will of the people, isn’t that an oligarchy? If the governing body of Milton is run by an oligarchy, everyone should understand that. This is particularly true for anyone considering buying a home in Milton, who should know that they will be subjects of a non-democratic town government.

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) is responsible for “assisting” communities to determine whether they are in compliance with the MBTA Communities Law. Throughout the Commonwealth the EOHLC has already reduced the ZONED UNIT CAPACITY (ZUC) under the law in many towns.

Of those municipalities who sought reclassification on a timely basis, half of them benefited substantially, with 50% or greater reductions from the original state mandates, including Arlington which is the home of Governor Maura Healey, and has many similar characteristics to Milton.

Despite the June 17 Special Town Meeting vote to approve a 25% zoning plan, the EOHLC has not properly addressed Milton’s valid concerns about capacity and classification. Milton’s legitimate call for RECLASSIFICATION from a “Rapid Transit” Community to “adjacent” remains unanswered, and is unfairly punitive to the residents of Milton, considering the small, vintage Mattapan trolley has limited passenger capacity, and is not fully ADA compliant. Additionally the trolley does not transport passengers downtown and is operationally inferior to rapid transit.

I hope the voters of Milton will remember this and tell their “Representative” Town Meeting Members how they feel.

Kerry White

Chair, Milton Republican Town Committee