To the Editor:
Outside of instructing cadets at West Point and two combat tours, where I almost lost my life fighting for my country and its neighborhoods, I have lived in my neighborhood since 1932. Generations of my family have lived there before me. This is the neighborhood that would be destroyed by the self-serving interest of a business called Local 02045, which wants to extend music and entertainment to three floors and hours of operation from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. These proposals are a disgrace to our neighborhood and community.
We have had a neighborhood in our community that was diminished and destroyed by self-serving interests. The federal and state governments ruled that neighborhood substandard.
I was a central figure as chairman of the Hull Redevelopment Authority in obtaining millions of dollars from the federal and state governments to bring about a clearance of that neighborhood.
We acquired 76 buildings, and 75 were demolished. The one building that was rehabilitated became the Hull Medical Center. It performs a major role for the quality of life in our community. Numerous businesses and 125 people were relocated. It was my official duty to oversee these activities.
Under the federal workable program, it was my responsibility to request that Hull make the building commissioner and department a full-time operation. One of the functions of the building commissioner was to protect our neighborhoods.
After the Blizzard of 1978, I was the government official in charge of the insurance team that represented the federal and state governments. We assisted almost 1,000 families in Hull with their insurance claims.
The business called Local 02045 has shot for the moon with the idea they will gain the sun.
Their business hours for music and entertainment must be limited to a few hours and confined to one floor. All noise must be restricted to the building with strict penalties if they fail.
Charles E. Gould
