Bedford Minuteman
November 21, 2002

Letter: Calls for debate with Massport

Last week, Massport Public Relations Director Jose Juves set an all-time record for obfuscation in his letter to the editor, in which he attempts to cover up Massport's history of lies and suggest that residents should not be "frightened" by plans for Hanscom Field.

He says "any claim that Massport has not been honest in its dealings with the local communities is absurd." It's time to get Mr. Juves out in the open where the citizens can see for themselves whether Massport is telling the truth.

Therefore, I challenge Mr. Juves to a Lincoln-Douglas style public debate, to be located in these communities, on this very issue. In this debate, I will show that Massport has indeed been dishonest in its dealings with the communities. I will further demonstrate the dishonesty of Mr. Juves' frequent letters to the editor.

Mr. Juves takes offence to the characterization of his job as one of "keeping the communities docile and submissive" and says there is no need for insults. This from a man who has characterized our citizens and even our selectmen as anti-business, NIMBY, and even "anti-American."

Hanscom is such an important issue to the future of our communities that it is essential that citizens be able to cut through the jargon and draw informed conclusions.

Is Massport honestly "forging consensus" on Hanscom, as Mr. Juves claims? Or is it, as a former Massport director recently said, "an agency that has lost its sense of mission, confused its priorities, and forgotten the public it is supposed to serve"? Let the people decide. Mr. Juves, quit hiding behind your disingenuous letters to the editor. I challenge you to debate this in public.

Neil Rasmussen, president
Save Our Heritage

Copyright by TownOnline.com and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems ==========
**NOTICE: In accordance with 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.** ==========