Newbury Option = New Hope to Save The Pink House For the REgion

The town of Newbury's Select Board Chair, Alicia Grecco, has been meeting with federal and state elected officials to work toward finding a way to return The Pink House and its acre of upland to Newbury's vital tax rolls. The owners, US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) pay very little taxes on all the buildings and land they own in Newbury. This should be something they agree to.

It is a good solution, and one that Support The Pink House (STPH) endorses.  Senator Markey, Congressman Moulton or Senator Warren could absolutely facilitate this. How?

Though all these years we have only been told about land swap, yet our research showed that the Congressional Research Service lists other ways that acquired federal lands can be released from ownership: 

1. As part of an authorized land trade
2. Pursuant to a cooperative agreement with a state or local government
3. The Secretary (of the Interior) determines the lands are no longer needed for the National Wildlife Reserve systems purposes in the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved the disposal.

Aside from these limited authorities, NWRS areas administered by the FWS can be removed from the NWRS only by an act of Congress. (like a bill). 

The Governor, and Senator Tarr and Reps Kassner and Shand can help with #2 and should call on the federal delegation to join them. We are just wondering why didn't all work on it a year ago. On August 22, 2023, Support The Pink House sent a letter to Congressman Moulton and Senators Markey and Warren, ccing with the request to meet and  discuss them. We did so because FWS was failing to produce the land they promised it was "their job" to do. 

We should have known something was up when the Federal Delegation's response was ZERO.

Today, the efforts by Chair Greco and the municipal and state elected officials who support it, is an 11th 3/4 hour solution that has every reason to work. Several people have reached out to Governor Healy and Lt. Governor Driscoll to assist, and we hope they do respond.  Support the Pink House will be writing to their contact at Governor's office as well.  Chair Grecco is focused and determined to do all she can.

If anyone reading this has a connection to the Lt. Governor or Governor Healy, please write us immediately at [email protected].