Don't Turn Our Backs On The Island's Most Vulnerable

To the editor: We are writing to urge the Select Board members to vote in favor of submitting to the 2026 ATM an updated proposal for construction and operation by the town of a new Our Island Home facility. Further, we are urging that the Select Board and town administration throw their collective weight behind the proposal and do as much as is feasible in terms of providing the voters with the information necessary to make an informed decision.

The cost of building and operating the new facility is an extremely valid concern, but, in our view, is heavily outweighed by humanitarian considerations. These include the stresses and strains on both the individuals and their families caused by the individual’s relocation off-island at a time when all of them are in the worst possible condition to deal with these issues. Further, as in a very recent instance involving a friend of ours, where there are no family members, that person would effectively be cut off from having their friends visit, so they could be left totally alone without friends and advocates nearby.

Many of the people who need OIH are those who have contributed for many years to what makes Nantucket so special to all of us. To turn our backs on them and shuffle them off to Buffalo for their final days and hours is simply inhumane.

Please do the right thing!

Respectfully,

Daniel and Judith Drake

P.S. The updated proposal mentioned above should reflect efforts to ensure that costs of the new facility are contained to the best of the town’s ability. Recognizing the constraints of applicable regulations and the challenges of municipal construction projects, this is a tall order to accomplish with limited time, but necessary to assure the integrity of the project.