Editor:

Apparently the anti-dog referendum forces are going full speed ahead with their bogus health scare. It just shows you the determination of closed minds.  Doctor Howell laid out in his excellent and conclusive letter why dogs are not a significant health concern at the beach, a finding backed by the Willard Beach Task Force as well as the state of Maine CDC. If you don’t believe him, use common sense. Tens of thousands of people have used southern Maine beaches for years and no one is getting sick.

 What wasn’t mentioned was that during the task force meetings several members of the task force, including two who later formed “Save Willard Beach,” sought to discredit Doctor Howell and his expert research and testimony by attacking his integrity and truthfulness. They said he, a nationally recognized gastroenterologist, was biased and his testimony was worthless. They said  he was biased because he not only owned a dog (s) but also a house on the beach. For the record, four charter members of “Save Willard Beach” also own homes on or very near Willard Beach and one actually owns a dog, unlucky dog!

If you have health issues, the beach is the least of your concerns. Every public place, school or other restroom, day care center, airplane cabin, grocery store, kiddie shopping cart,  mall, library or restaurant could be an occasion for infection or food poisoning. Care for a peanut butter cookie?

One should be very careful about consorting with the referendum crowd. In their zeal to achieve their goal of banning their neighbors and visitors from the beach, a South Portland public park, they are willing to cut corners and falsify the truth. Don’t ever doubt the referendum drive is a precursor for their spokes-person’s third run for the city council.  A referendum petition of 900 plus names is an excellent source for council election donors and supporters. It also allows him to avoid election reporting rules while building a war chest and a campaign organization.

Peter Erlin

South Portland