‘An overreaction’

on town rentals

Editor, OBSERVER:

I was saddened and disturbed to read your story on the August Dunkirk Town Board meeting.

While I sympathize with concerns over short term rentals causing unwanted traffic, noise, and potential nuisances, it is hard for me to imagine that the right course of action is to ban short term rentals outright.

I have a small cottage near the water, and after several years with limited success renting to long term tenants, decided to gamble on short term rentals.

I was fairly surprised at how polite and respectful most of these renters have been. The vast majority of short term renters come into town to visit family or tend to other local affairs. Some renters also come to enjoy our shoreline and other attractions, including our wineries, summer concert series, and local events.

On the rare occasion that renters were loud, the local police have been quick to respond.

Tourism has increased dramatically in recent years.

While this brings some changes, and certainly means more people from out of town, it also means a substantial boost to our local economy and a more vibrant and interesting set of activities and events for all of us to enjoy.

I would hope we can find ways to allow short term rentals, while dealing with inevitable occasional nuisance in the same way we would deal with those nuisances when caused by longer term residents.

Banning all short-term rentals, however, seems to me like an overreaction.

DEB BLODGETT,

Dunkirk

Volunteers show

care in city

Editor, OBSERVER:

A few weeks ago as I traveled on Central Avenue and approached the Dunkirk Library, I noticed two women spreading mulch around different areas there. Since I have a memorial there for my daughter, Melanie Rae, I stopped to talk with them. They shared that they are a part of a group called “Revitalize Dunkirk.”

As part of a beautification effort, people volunteer to select a particular area to plant flowers, etc. and maintain that area.

These ladies had extra mulch and wondered if they could spread it around the Memorial. I was so grateful that they would do that and also that they knew my daughter, Melanie Rae, years ago.

In speaking with someone else prior to this happening, this woman said that she had selected eight areas to plant and care for in Dunkirk not knowing that a drought would ensue!

This meeting was certainly “a God incident” and touched my heart deeply. There are angels in our community working together!

CAROLE RICKER,

Fredonia