Letters 09-19-2026

Sept. 16, 2016

81 Concerns

The "81 on East Bay" proposed development on Peninsula Township is primitive and outdated in not having central water and sewage systems that a modern and updated zoning code would call for. The streets in the development, being in a snowbelt area, will probably be dedicated to the county. The school system will feel an impact as will police and fire services. The road system will have to be enlarged at government expense. Taxes will increase for all homeowners not just for the newcomers. The profits of this development will be privatized and the cost socialized and the costs over time will be considerable.

Richard Hug, Benzonia

Common Core Truths

I just read an article from the Associated Press regarding both presidential candidates and their stances on education. The author was under the impression that Common Core was developed by the states and adopted; not so. Governors did not get together to create national standards and nor should they. The folks who wrote these national "standards" were test company employees, none of whom ever taught K-12.

So if you’re wondering why kindergartners no longer have or have limited recess, and why they are being forced into academics they may not be ready for, this is why. It’s also why this year’s freshmen have no idea how to divide or multiply, and why the whole experiment is failing. The research is there, people. If you think Common Core is about education, do some research. It’s a workforce model, and that is truth. Watch a Dr. Duke Pesta video sometime; it will make clear what we are dealing with.

Kelley Vilenski, Interlochen

Disruption Ahead

I would like to respond to the comments from W.D. Bushey in the September 12 issue regarding his hypothetical bee sting scenario. While I do not disagree with the premise, I would like to let you know there is hope for an alternative Epinephrine very soon. Pending approval by the FDA there may very soon be an inhalable form at a much lower cost. The company developing this product has an inhalable insulin already on the market so the delivery system has already been approved.

The good thing about the capitalist system is that just when you think you have a lock on the market, a smaller more nimble and creative company can come along and disrupt current technology. Now which would you rather do, be stuck by a needle or simply breathe in?

Tom Speers, Fife Lake

Solutions For Old Mission

In a recent article, Peninsula Township Supervisor Manigold responded to complaints that proposed developments are priced out of reach for working families with the retort that the township can’t do much about that. But the township’s zoning has a big role in shaping the type of new housing on OMP, while current zoning, which favors single-family homes on large lots, is partly to blame for consistently highpriced new homes. The township could allow more multi-family and mixed-use development, which would increase the potential for affordable housing.

Development property is expensive on Old Mission. That’s partly because the township bought some farmers’ development rights through its PDR program. But it’s also because the township’s zoning doesn’t allow multi-family or mixed-use development almost anywhere. The highest density allowed is only about 3 units/acre and almost solely on some parcels on the southern end of the township. For almost all the rest, zoning requires an entire acre per unit. There is almost no commercial zoning in Peninsula Township, and what there is doesn’t allow commercial uses to be mixed with residential ones. These zoning restrictions practically ensure that primarily large-lot, detached, single family homes will go in, and that -- with high land costs -- these new homes will be expensive. Forget about new rental apartment buildings being developed, let alone affordable housing under a PILOT program.

There was a proposal about 20 years ago to amend the township’s zoning to allow "Mapleton Village," a dense, mixed-use development where about 1,000 people could live and work, and then-Supervisor Manigold was involved. Obviously it never happened. Affordable housing is a regional issue, but one that’s hitting OMP hard. Contrary to Supervisor Manigold’s suggestion, the township is not powerless to address it.

Mike Grant, Traverse City

Real World Voting

This letter is in response to A.J. Fasel from Traverse City, who wrote that since there are many things that require identification, such as fishing, opening a bank account, etc., being able to vote should require identification as well. The problem with this viewpoint is that being able to vote is a right. It’s a right guaranteed by our Constitution. It’s more important that buying alcohol or cigarettes, more important than over-the-counter-medications or any of the other things he mentioned. Anything that infringes on our right to vote is unconstitutional full stop.

He ends his letter with, "Join the real world!" Well, I am in the "real world." We all are. There’s no separate world where we only have rights if we’re carrying a card that says so.

M Brown, Cedar

In our story on WVBI radio station (The Voice of Beaver Island), we erroneously printed the wrong frequency/call sign; the station may be found on both traditional and internet radio at 100.1 WVBI-LP.