LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

[August 16th, 2006] I QUESTION, THEREFORE I AM

In his letter regarding Ross Island [Mailbox, Aug. 2, 2006], Michael Gray asks, "Who is Mike Houck, and what gives him the right to question Dr. [Robert] Pamplin's integrity?" I'll take a pass on the existential question of who I am. As a citizen, I have a legitimate interest in the future of the most scenic and ecologically important element of our city's landscape. Furthermore, I participated for two years in formal negotiations regarding Ross Island's legal obligation to restore the islands after 80 years of sand and gravel extraction.

The result was a good deal for Dr. Pamplin, for the city and for the public. It reduced the required fill from as much as 40 million cubic yards to 4.5 million, a huge cost savings to Ross Island. Restoration will be completed in 10, not 25 or possibly 50 years. The revised plan benefits fish and wildlife. And Dr. Pamplin promised to donate Ross and most of Hardtack Island to the city, and to provide an unspecified endowment for their management.

Regarding Dr. Pamplin's integrity, I simply asked if he was a man of his word. As a participant in a good-faith, formal negotiation with Dr. Pamplin and his representatives, I also believe I have the right to ask if he will, as he promised many times, both publicly and privately, donate the islands to the city and ensure there are adequate funds to maintain the islands and manage public access in a manner that will maintain their ecological integrity.

Mike Houck, Director
Urban Greenspaces Institute

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR SCOOTER FOLKS

As a happy owner of a 2002 Bajaj Cheetak (four-stroke), I was very surprised and a bit saddened by Erika-Leigh Goodwin's scooter article ["Scooter Polluters," Aug. 9, 2006].

While it was interesting to see the results of the tests, I felt the title of the article was overly inflammatory and that she left a few things out—namely, that our scooters get 60 to 90 mpg (I get 70—eat that, SUVs!). While that doesn't directly translate to the environment, when you think of all the emissions caused by tanks, Hummers and jets tied up in the United States' quest for secure oil, it means a lot.

Secondly, most of us scooterists live a more local, environmentally friendly existence. We tend to live closer to where we work, and where we shop, than car owners, and many of use bicycles and Flexcars as often as we scoot. Therefore while an old Vespa may pollute more than an SUV, I'm betting its owner doesn't.

Abe Ingle
Northeast 21st Avenue