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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 7, 2023 Page 17 To the People of Malden ster and Colón Hayes Malden Trans / Malden Taxi 781-322-5050 BUSINESS ACCOUNTS WELCOME Lester, Peggy & David Morovitz Malden Public Library hosts networking program for people 50 years and older. I 24 Hour AIRPORT SERVICE PACKAGE DELIVERY Simonelli Ward 7 Councillor Chris Ward 1 Councillor Peg Crowe ~ Letter to the Editor ~ Northeast Officials are Tone Deaf to Request Relocate Project to Save the Forest AND Build the Voke ’m writing in response to a recent article published in local papers containing Northeast Metro Tech offi cials’ rebuttal to opponents claims regarding the school building project. 1. Claim (by Northeast offi50+ Job Seekers Networking Group info cials): “In January 2022, voters in the 12 communities served by Northeast Metro Tech voted overwhelmingly, with 82.6% in favor, to authorize construction…” Reality: The following words did not appear on any ballot, nor were they a part of any public presentation about what it would entail to build the new vocational school up on the forested hilltop site (site C3). These words should have been on our ballots: “Mass tree-clearing and blasting operation.” 2. Claim: “The construction site in Wakefi eld was deemed…to be the only feasible site for the new building…” Reality: All three drafted deSign up dates signs (options C1, C2, and C3) were designed to accommodate 1600 students in a 383,000 square foot building space. The two options not chosen – C1 and C2 – are on land that will NOT require clear cutting of 13.5 acres of virgin forest. C2 is a completely feasible option using existing open space where there are currently football and baseball fi elds. It would entail the lowest new construction costs, shortest building construction schedule, and least environmental impact. The current hilltop site chosen, site C3, was chosen NOT for the lowest new construction costs, shortest building construction schedule, or least environmental impact. Rather, it was chosen to not disrupt the current athletic fi elds during construction, and to allow for a future hockey rink. (Note there are already two hockey rinks within a 10-minute drive, including the Kasabuski Memorial Rink, recently renovated and managed by the Department of Conservation & Recreation.) The hilltop site will require more than $40 MILLION just for site prep. “The location of the new school allows construction to occur with the least amount of disruption to the existing school of any option. The district gains additional athletic fields with this option and maintains the potential of reserving the current football fi eld/track for future development as a hockey rink.” Source: Preferred Schematic Report - 3.3.1 Final Evaluation of Alternatives – Dec 21, 2020. The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) noted in their February 11, 2021 meeting minutes (p. 7) that site C2 (baseball/football fi eld location) was acceptable but had been removed from consideration by the Project team and not by the MSBA. 3. Claim: “…a small group of residents opposed to the project has taken to typical ‘not in my backyard’ tactics…” Reality: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” –Margaret Mead This “small” group is actually not so small; nearly 6000 people signed the change.org petition to save OUR back yard – the NEMT forest. 4. Claim: “…this group has posted egregious falsehoods and misrepresentations about the project and has resorted to a little known tactic called Reverse Greenwashing.” Reality: All information is backed by credible sources, including meeting notes and information from the Northeast Metro Tech Building Committee’s own website https://northREQUEST| SEE PAGE 19 a Councillor-at-Large Karen er p H a Passov y E p

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