MOULTON CONTINUES TO EVADE HELPING PINK HOUSE

As the clock runs down in the US Fish and Wildlife's (FWS) plans to remove the iconic Pink House, we want you to know that efforts to engage Congressman Moulton have not let up. He did quite a bit of campaign activity in this area, while refusing to meet with municipal and state, elected officials about options to save the house, but the Pink House project was ever-present in his schedule.

Thursday night, June 13th, with only two hours notice, his staff ran a virtual town Hall meeting. At least 3 Pink House supporters submitted questions via his online form. One caller also hoped to ask on air. She was notified that she was next up, but Moulton announced he had taken his last call. Regardless, Pink House questions were on their records.   

Saturday afternoon, June 15 th, a Support the Pink House (STPH) board member. Spoke with Seth at a backyard fundraiser in W. Newbury.  Because Seth does not have staffers to block him, he was able to talk to Seth for about 7 minutes. The topic was the wasteful costs involved in FWS current plans, and that the PH acre, which FWS says is too valuable to surplus (one solution), will be come unbuildable within 2 years after removing the house, and drop in value by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Congressman Moulton should care about that, as should Senators Markey and Warren, seeing as Congress funds FWS, along with constituent tax dollars. Yet Seth deferred our board member to his people to follow up, who have seemed committed to dismantling any effort to be productive or effect change in this matter.  

We know those staffers do not attend these fundraising meet and greets. A year ago, STPH's President spoke to Seth at one where he agreed to get on a call about other ways besides land swap that Congress could utilize to release the PH/acre from federal ownership. We reached out to his District Director, and Markey and Warren's reps, but as is the norm, the call with Moulton never happened. He knows STPH board are professional people who are representing a cause on behalf of HIS constituents, same as he should be.

On Monday, June 17, Moulton came to the Newburport Waterfront ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Reardon. Several well known business owners came dressed in pink wearing Pink House stickers. After saying a few words, the Congressman took off like lightening with his District Director. Everyone was a little shocked. A reporter ran after him, only to see his car had vanished. Upon his return, the reporter was heard saying he'd never seen than happen before.  

Through all this time, the area municiple and state elected officials asked Seth to meet with them to talk about saving The Pink House, knowing that there would be a huge public reaction if The Pink House came down. We suggested that the meeting not include STPH or FWS, so they could talk together with some hope of being frank. 

It's a shame that people have to go to such lengths to get Congressman Moulton to personally address this high optics issue now just 4 months from the election. The op ed and form letters in response were hollow, and people were not happy with them. Whether or not he's unopposed this cycle, you'd think he'd embrace doing something so positive and tangible for his constituents -- not in Washington, D.C., but right here where he calls home. 

If the Pink House is removed, the public will be holding both FWS and the elected officials who could change this outcome responsible. 

Maybe it's time for new, and more effective representation for this district.