To the editor:
An affluent/upscale community like Darien should be embarrassed to fight over a Senior/Community center that has been vetted and approved by every board that needed to approve it. There is a point where we have to get over trying to be right to make others wrong and just do the right thing for our town.
I think opposition to the approved plan should sign up for classes at the current Senior Center and invite friends—as I have tried to do over the past year or so. Not one would return after the first visit because it was so depressing. One of my friends actually told me she could not return for another class because the low self esteem she felt entering the senior center. Last spring I had to stop going because of allergy and asthma attacks when I attended classes.
I know of at least four friends who are well into their 70’s who would attend classes and probably eat lunch there too if the place was not so "depressing,” so its very likely there will be increased attendance with a new center.
There are a lot of opinions based on selective facts like "Sell the property at 35 Leroy." What amount of money has our town spent defending itself at the corner of Leroy and West? That property that was owned by the library and was sold to "developers" and is now owned by the Stefanoni’s. We are paying the price in dollars and hundreds of volunteer hours as our boards and commissions listen to proposals. If we sell it, how do we get to choose what happens there? I refer you to Fred Conze’s comments regarding this option.
What is wrong with a town facility being used by multiple groups? My church is used by multiple groups for various activities when its not being used as a place of worship.
Where are the costs for the project on Edgerton that the No’s are promoting—are we factoring in the value of the land there? We can’t have land value factored into one plan and not the other. How many more years would it take to get that plan approved?
Let's do the right thing and move forward with the currently approved plan. The plan has been studied, debated and voted on and has been endorsed by Democrats and Republicans. Put politics aside and just do what you know is right for our senior citizens who are forced to be in a place that is disgraceful.
Saying no is discrimination of the worst sort against people who have no choices—or they would not be at the Edgerton facility.
Ruth Anne Ramsey
Former Member Advisory Commission on Aging and Affordable Housing
