cape wind: money, power, politics, and p.r. — (someone should to write a book!)

January 2, 2008 at 6:54 pm | In Minerals Management Service, Nantucket Sound, Save Our Sound, Wind Farm, barnstable, cape wind, council president janet joakim, ecology, energy conservation, janet joakim, muncipal government, renewable engery, town of barnstable, wendy williams, windmill, yarmouth, yarmouthport |

I am amazed at the interesting links to my post about my trip to Washington D.C. with a group of local officials to meet with Mineral Management regarding Cape Wind’s proposed development of Horseshoe Shoals.

I have spent some time backtracking, or following the links people have created into my DC report.   This has been an education in the kind of P.R. game Jim Gordon and friends have been playing.  It is, admitedly, an effective campaign and worth the millions he spends to promote this project by making it’s opponents seem like they are all wealthy oceanfront homeowners or people with family connections to wealthy homeowners who live along the shores of Nantucket Sound all worried only abouth their million dollar views.

First there is a link from the wealthy Wendy Williams who has made a fortune accusing the opponents of this project of using power, politics, and money to obstruct the project to protect these views.  She has never spoken to any of the town officials whose concerns are practical and deserve recognition. 

Wendy is hired to speak about this issue yet she doesn’t live in the impacted towns, nor has she actually explored our real concerns. I noticed on her blog that she and “Bob” (it isn’t clear on the blogsite, is Bob the co-author?) are scheduled to give an address about Cape Wind at Harvard University. What qualifies her to be compensated for this type of speaking engagement? And, where does the money she makes actually go? What happens to the proceeds from the speaking engagements she gives as a expert about a project that effects local communities whom she has completely ignored?

 The towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth, Mashpee, and the Island municipalities are worried about our roles as first responders; we are worried about oil spills and disaster insurance; we are concerned about bonds and the viablilty of this project’s financing.  Are these topics dicussed when Williams and friends give lucrative speeches about her book that paint opponents as evil, greedy, NIMBY’s whose only desire is to keep our horizons clear?

 Another link to this DC report is from a group that publishes a blog called the “Bostonist.”  Again, another group that has done little to examine the true and real, nuts and bolts concerns that this project presents.  They use William’s book as a resource……

The truth is that as we approach the dead of winter those of us who truly live here, not along the shores of the Sound but in the bedroom communities and working-class neighborhoods of the mid-Cape, the year-round communities that are concerned about issues that far surpass the “million dollar views,” are tired of being left out of these discussions when we are the people who will be left to deal with the residual effects of this enormous industrial project proposed for our community. 

 HELLO!!!

We are here, and we want a place at the table!  We have LEGITIMATE concerns that have not been addressed! We have asked IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT questions that have not been answered!  We shared these issues with the MMS in Washington DC, and we got the impression that many of these issues and questions are unanswered in their reports as well.

In the coming weeks I  will address some of these concerns.  I will also share efforts to learn more about who is supporting this project, why, and what their politcal connections are.  Why is our own governor, who sported a windmill on his campaign site as a show of support for Cape Wind and reportedly accepted donations from Jim Gordon and friends, never taken the time to listen to local municipal officials or met with us to discuss our legitmate concerns about this project?   

And, why has Senator Kerry met with Jim Gordon, accepted campaign support and donations from him, yet never taken the time to meet with local municipal and community officials who would be impacted by this project? 

There are so many holes in the “facts” spewed by Jim Gordon’s public relations machine.

I will address some of these issues with this blog…..

But, someone should really write a book.

8 Comments »

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  1. Interesting questions regarding that book by Williams.
    Have you asked her where the money goes?
    Perhaps you should contact Harvard.

    Comment by Anonymous — January 2, 2008 #

  2. How do I contact Ms. Williams?
    Where does she live?

    Comment by JSJ — January 2, 2008 #

  3. Thank you for visiting our blog and posting a comment regarding the fight over Cape Wind. As you know, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Senator Edward Kennedy have fought tirelessly against Cape Wind and will continue to do so.

    Please visit our blog again and keep us posted on your efforts. Best of luck!

    Comment by rfkin2008 — January 3, 2008 #

  4. Cape Wind is a power play amoungst a few that completely and intentionally ignores the needs and concerns of the local populous. It is a aweful scandal that speaks to an even deeper problem (if it hasn’t already gone deep enough). I hate the government corruption that fosters this type of ripe off.

    Cape Wind is the next Big Dig, but much worse because it will do nothing to even beging to enhance the lives of those who live on the Cape.

    It’s basic. As a “little guy” I always ask a very basic question when I hear of these “projects” : “WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?”

    Answer:

    Comment by Rev. Moe — January 3, 2008 #

  5. Thank you so much for standing up for our communities. The truth is being told and hopefully this piece will be seen everywhere. Brava, Janet!

    Comment by Dona Tracy — January 4, 2008 #

  6. The approach that both Jim Gordon and his hangers on like Wendy Williams takes to Cape Wind has done this project more damage than good.

    The fact that Williams has written a book that paints us all as Rich NIMBY snobs makes any legitimate argument against this project seem trivial. Yet she profits from this perception.

    Thanks for pointing out the errs of her positions, people need to call her on that.

    Why not ask for people to email and write her and ask that she donate the procedes from her book and talking engagmentments?
    Her email address is on her book website:

    wesuwi@comcast.net

    Comment by Windy Well-off — January 5, 2008 #

  7. They should stick a windmill in my back yard. I could keep that baby spinning with my booze breath while I’m flipping out at the neighbors.

    Comment by Tearin' Toe-man — January 5, 2008 #

  8. Is there any blog that doe not have tearin toe-man’s garbage on it?

    Comment by mlg — January 6, 2008 #

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