WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE SNEAKY BUSINESS IN WESTPORT

I was among the 300 or so people in the rain, on the front lawn of the
Westport Town Hall last Thursday. Selectman Richard Tongue had an
opportunity to speak to the people then and said very little before
handing the microphone to another board member. What I would like to
know is, how dare Mr. Tongue question the Christianity of the people
that were in that crowd as he did in his letter published on May 3 on
the Opinion Page.

What exactly is he getting at? Because we do not want a needle
exchange cli nic in our town or near our homes makes us less Christian
than he? I don't think so! I for one have lived over 25 years with an
addict in my family, my brother. Addiction has come home to me Mr.
Tongue. I have seen what it can do to an individual and a family. I
have watched my brother suffer with addiction over the years and so
have my parents, sisters, sons, daughter, grandparents and many others
who love him.

We have watched him struggle with trying to stay clean, going from
program to program and then going back to it again and again. Do not
speak to me or others about what we will do or how we will feel when
addiction comes home to us. It has come home to me and my family.

I still do not want a needle exchange center in Westport or anywhere
near my home. It will attract extremely troubled individuals and the
problems that come with them. They will break into people's homes and
they will steal. I am sure of it. The needle exchange center is a very
delicate subject and for the selectmen to feel it was not worthy of
bringing it to the people first, they were very, very wrong.

Some of the Board members mentioned their medical knowledge and the
reasons for voting for the center. Having that knowledge should have
awakened them to the sensitivity of the subject and possibility of a
"firestorm."

I am a little curious though, had the only space available for the
needle exchange center been across from Lees Supermarket or any of
your homes, would you still feel as strongly about having the center
in Westport? I doubt it.

As far as attending Town meeting goes, I have lived in Westport for a
total of 30 years and have attended many town meetings with my
husband. It's sad that some of the people who do attend all the
meetings can not accept those of us who attend when we can or when the
cause requires our presence.

The agenda that I read in the paper certainly did not give any
indication as to what was to be discussed or voted on at that night's
meeting. The needle exchange center was not mentioned.

It should be quite clear to all the board from the events of last week
and the crowd that formed, that we will not allow sneaky business to
be done in the town of Westport whether we attend town meeting or not,
Mr. Tongue.

KIMBERLEY A. FERNANDES

Westport