We are elderly folks in Vineyard Haven and attended the selectmen’s meeting Dec. 9 and just wanted to make a couple of comments. The stories from all those who wanted and certainly needed the help of the Tisbury residential tax exemption were right on point. The business people upset us at times, specifically one hotel owner on Main street, Vineyard Haven, during his angry reply to one of the folks who was in favor of it. He even brought up the race card in his rebuttal, saying you are against it just because some can’t speak English. I assume meaning some who work for them. One high-end Main street store owner said summer people, mostly the ones who are second home owners, complain to her about the prices and that they pay taxes but can’t vote here. And another store owner who is an optometrist just had all the facts wrong during his rant. One lady who was a loan officer in Vineyard Haven confirmed a couple of native young folks’ comments and concerns who wanted the residential exemption to stay the same or be increased, saying that no first-time home buyers want to live in Vineyard Haven nor do folks looking for second homes here. Those who did grow up in Vineyard Haven want to try to continue to do so.

We have found while we try to sell our home here in Vineyard Haven just so we can downsize and actually move to Oak Bluffs, seeing that all our children are grown and all live off-Island with their families, that this port town, especially upon arriving looks, like a total dump beginning at the Steamship Authority and onto Beach Road on the way to Oak Bluffs. It just deteriorates yearly. One big complaint from our returning children during their visits was the boat that was being built across from the gas station on Beach Road, there for three summers and looking absolutely terrible during its very slow construction. We believe it was only suppose to be there for less than one year.

We would like to see the residential tax exemption still be available for year-round residents, not lowered and if anything increased. This Island and especially the town of Vineyard Haven, voted in overwhelming numbers for this President who wanted to spread the wealth, but it clearly shows that the business owners say, well not my wealth. If they were so worried, why haven’t they moved their business to another town?

Lastly, it seems the Main street business owners were the biggest whiners and they had no concern for the many other very small Vineyard Haven business owners in the town. Seems there is also a division between the wealthy Main street business owners and the very small business owners. Next Tuesday, Dec. 19, will be the final public meeting on this issue and the selectmen will vote on their decision. We hope those citizens who are in favor of keeping the residential tax exemption will attend to express their opinions.

Robert Sentilus
Vineyard Haven