In a Boston Globe Letter to the Editor (September 15, 2024), Crane Ledge Woods Coalition members José C. Masso III and James Michel responded to a recent Globe editorial on the fundamental goals of their advocacy on behalf of Crane Ledge Woods. Their Letter is cited here in full:
It is unfortunate that the editorial board has chosen to pit housing advocacy against environmental justice advocacy in its Sept. 8 editorial, “Boston can’t afford to give in to NIMBYism as housing crisis deepens.” Both are important and can be achieved at the same time. The Crane Ledge Woods Coalition began in 2021 as a diverse collaboration of neighborhood residents, homeowners, and community leaders in Hyde Park, Roslindale, and Mattapan. We have grown to include a wide range of allies across the city, including groups that generally favor development, such as City Life/Vida Urbana and a number of key figures in Boston’s building trades. We have consistently promoted a positive vision whereby the City of Boston purchases the property for the purpose of full conservation and the owner, Jubilee Christian Church, is fairly compensated.
In a time of climate crisis that calls for urgent action to combat global warming and its impacts, we strongly believe that we all have to work together to create 21st-century solutions to 21st-century challenges, not only for us but for subsequent generations that will call Boston home. Why would we take down 14 acres of tree canopy and replace a natural carbon-sequestering cooling center and wildlife refuge with a car-centric, gentrified heat island?
Those opposing this project are not practicing NIMBYism. We are in favor of constructing new, affordable housing and are participating with the city in the mayor’s Squares + Streets initiative.
We greatly appreciate that the administration has listened to members of our community and hit the brakes on the ill-conceived Crane Ledge Woods project.
Image: The Boston Globe, Jonathan Wiggs
