To the editor:

An email from Port of South Whidbey Commissioner Chris Jerome claims that “many constituents and the emergency services have told us the proposed tower will benefit the community.”

I have submitted to the port a petition with over 500 names of individuals who have expressed their opposition to the port’s decision to lease a section of the Dorothy Cleveland Trail parklands to allow AT&T to construct a cell tower. These names were collected via an online petition website (www.sos-sw.monma.com), from Friends of the Dorothy Cleveland Trail, neighbors and other users of the trail. Every effort was made to correctly identify which town each person resides.

I formally request that Commissioner Jerome provide a list of specific names of the “many constituents” who support his position. In particular, I request that he provide a printed copy of all of the emails he has received for or against the port’s decision to lease the property, as well as support for or against our offer to purchase the entire DCT park.

This public information should shed considerable light on the relative levels of public opinion regarding his actions.

I am certain that his statement will prove to be unsupported by the facts. Absent significant evidence to the contrary,

I respectfully request that Commissioner Jerome cease making statements that are questionable and misleading.

I request that he provide this information prior to the port meeting on Dec. 4, where the commissioners will be discussing our proposal to purchase the DCT parklands.

Clyde Monma

Clinton