Editor:

We urge Mayor Lathrop to follow City Council's lead in standing up to Governor Rowland in protecting the residents of Norwich from having to endure gridlock traffic, air pollution and the cost of solving dangerous water issues from Three Rivers' consolidation at Mahan Drive.

The state report says that the problems can not be fixed. The traffic problems are more than just an inconvenience. Some residents will no longer be able to turn left into or out off their streets. Who should have to put up with that?

We are talking about a community-college expansion that will be obsolete in 20 years, according to the state report. What sense does it make to destroy a community for such a short-term solution? I would rather we lose the college than lose our fine neighborhoods, endanger the safety of our Norwich students and have homes taken by eminent domain.

Please think of the longterm, Mayor Lathrop! In 20 years, the college will need to relocate and will leave behind a decimated community. We are not a bunch of whining NIMBYs. These are life-altering, documented problems that will affect all residents of Norwich that the state itself says cannot be fixed. Think!

AMANDA EWOLDT

Norwich