No organization for exodus

While Sunday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony was a wonderful event for those of us who attended, Jake Palmateer’s article "75,000 welcome Ripken, Gywnn," did not even slightly reflect the post-event chaos.

The culpability for the chaos _ Cooperstown’s administration, law enforcement or the Hall of Fame personnel _ was unclear. What was clear was there was no one in charge when it came time to remove all 75,000 fans. Those of us who paid $25 per car to park in a satellite lot miles from the site were totally on our own.

There were no signs directing visitors where to meet shuttle buses back to the parking lots. The only buses at the site were assigned to carry people downtown, and when frustrated visitors tried to commandeer those buses, the drivers claimed not to even know how to get to the satellite lots.

No one _ not event volunteers and staff, not EMS representatives, not the local and state police officers on site _ had any idea where the thousands of us seeking a ride back to our satellite lot should wait to board buses. We waited for hours with no information about whether we would ever get returned to our cars.

That this would be the largest turnout in the event’s history should have been no surprise to anyone who paid a modicum of attention to pre-event coverage. I traveled from Iowa for the event _ obviously the class of 2007 was worthy of a pilgrimage for many.

Three and a half hours after I left the ceremony, I finally pulled out of the satellite lot. In the interim, I witnessed one of the biggest logistics and communications breakdowns I have ever seen. It certainly did not, as Palmateer reported, all go smoothly.

Eugenia E. Gratto

Iowa City, Iowa

We need to care about others

I am haunted after seeing the movie "Sicko." I’ve known that America was in trouble, our government corrupt, but I didn’t realize just how bad it was.

But now that I have this new knowledge, what do I do? I’ve always believed that the problem with us Americans is that we don’t care about each other. "I got mine, too bad for you!" To me, that is the problem.

If we could truly love our neighbor as we do ourselves, we could never have let this happen! I worry that everyone who sees this film will be as upset as I am, but after a few weeks it will be forgotten.

The time has come for we, the people, to band together and stand up for each other! I’m ready to do that, but what do I do? How do I proceed? I’m hoping that someone will come forth to be a leader in all this, and I promise to follow. Thank you, Michael Moore, for opening my eyes.

Now what?

Roberta Mann

Burlington Flats

Community pulled together

The best of baseball teams could not even begin to rival the superb team work demonstrated by the greater Cooperstown community in preparation for and executing the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend! Every facet of our community pulled together to produce what many would say couldn’t be accomplished with such superb efficiency, determination and love for community.

Congratulations to everyone for pulling off such a tremendous fete ... this only reconfirms that with the cooperation and team spirit of so many, there’s is no challenge too big to accomplish for the great folks that care about Cooperstown.

Rich McCaffery

Cooperstown

Meetings didn’t change plan

This letter is regarding the town of Otsego Comprehensive Plan, draft of April 2007:

I attended the June 20 meeting at the Town Hall in Fly Creek. There were approximately eight to 12 people in the audience. The plan was discussed, as it was in the previous meeting, and it still appeared very general in nature.

I asked town Supervisor Thomas Breiten if the new land zoning would be optional, and he said it would be.

There was another meeting on July 9. The town clerk informed me that the plan was unchanged from that of June 20. The meeting was mainly to finally present the plan to the town board for action.

I had requested better copies of the six maps attached to the comprehensive plan and the planning board did make up color copies of the maps. These were available at the town clerk’s office in Fly Creek. The maps of slopes and wetlands are included.

Jim Murray

Hartwick

Officials failed at induction

I read with sad amusement your story "75,000 welcome Ripken, Gwynn," by Jake Palmateer in Monday’s paper.

Whoever told him everything went fine simply was not there or has a vested interest in papering over the utter failure of village officials to manage the situation.

It took me 3½ hours from the time the ceremony ended to arrive back at my car in one of the color lots. Buses were being rocked. Officials were being publicly and loudly berated. Police had to shift from facilitating the departure of 75,000 fans to protecting officials and bus drivers from the thousands of angry fans who had no way to leave thanks to inadequate planning and complete lack of command and control.

Shuttle buses were sent to the wrong places. Far too many were dedicated to transporting people downtown when downtown was a.) well within walking distance; and b.) not the destination where most people wanted to go.

Everything did not go fine. Your community performed abysmally on Sunday, and your coverage should reflect that. People should be held accountable. It was a disgrace.

Brian McNicoll

Arlington, Va.