6.8 billion & counting…


To the Editor:


The issue of land preservation vs. individual rights is a recurrent theme on Shelter Island as it is in the rest of the country. Debate and discussion are great but sometimes I feel as if we’re caught in a time warp — frontier days are over and we are at a critical point in our lives and in the state of the environment when it can’t just be each man for himself; the needs of the community, for good or ill, must be considered carefully and in a social context.


Shelter Island has a long tradition of valuing open space, Mashomack being a prime example, and I believe the questions being asked by our Supervisor and Town Board regarding the Zagoreos property are appropriate. 


Population statistics give us a clue as to why we can no longer function the way we did in the 1950s when many of us were born:


World population: 


1900 1.6 billion


1950 2.5 billion


2009 6.8 billion


And this increase is reflected equally in the U.S. population.


We all must make sacrifices and that includes limiting house sizes on Shelter Island and questioning the use of our sensitive near-shore areas among other things. 


Some examples of restrictions on what the individual can do on their property include a prohibition on underground fuel tanks, no leaf burning and the law against discharging our guns 500 feet from any dwelling or playground. Laws which I am thankful for, notwithstanding the leaf burning, but I’ll get used to it because I know it’s right — the air is common property we all share.


You could say it’s sad that we’ve had so many “rights” taken away from us, but let’s get real and look at the big picture. I support the work of our current administration.


JACKIE BLACK


Shelter Island