re: pending ZBA hotel project hearing scheduled for August 26

On August 1 the Howell Chamber of Commerce received this message in the Chamber e-mail box:

I lived in Howell since 1969. The hotel is a horrible idea that will create more major problems on route 9 as well as bring undesirables to our area. We do not need another hotel in Howell.

We always try to shop Howell local businesses and do so/Any member who attends this meeting and support this hotel we will boycott as they are not doing what is best for Howell.

I will spare the individual by not disclosing the name he provided but he apparently lives in the adjacent neighborhood. Let's analyze this letter:

Who are the Undesirables he fears?

Why does everyone have to agree with him and his analysis of the project? There are 52,000 people in Howell.... do they all feel this way?

In his warning, he threatens that if anyone associated with the Howell COC even shows up in support of a hotel, much less speaks in favor of one, that "we" will organize a boycott of Chamber businesses. The "we" indicates that he has some support and that he would seek to stifle other tax payers and business owners with threats to their livelihoods.

Differing opinions are a cornerstone of democracy. Threats are not. Is this what it has come down to?