the following was submitted by Jeff Stone

Two recent proposals for the 34-acre Milton Town Farm property are veering from the target if they truly purport to honor Governor Stoughton’s 1701 directive that his bequest benefit the poor of Milton.

One proposal is for a “Community-Supported Agriculture” program in which 30 to 50 less fortunate students from Milton, Dorchester and Mattapan would learn how to grow and sell crops. The other extols the virtues of securing National Landmark status for Town Farm, which could help the poor with up to six residential units for Milton people in need, or with units rented at market-rate that would generate revenue to help the poor. A proponent for the latter plan has also cited the National Landmark designation and historic preservation as a possible catalyst for increasing property values and avoiding additional burden on Milton schools and public works infrastructure.

I’m not one of the numerous developers and real estate experts we have in our town but it doesn’t take an expert to know that 34 acres in Milton ought to be able to generate a heck of a lot more benefit for the poor than either of the above schemes. If the true potential of those 34 acres can be harnessed to benefit the poor along with a farming program and preservation, by all means, let’s do it. But the Attorney General’s Office has indicated explicitly that the plan chosen by the Board of Selectmen must honor the terms of Governor Stoughton’s will, the crystal-clear priority of which is neither education nor farming nor historic preservation, but to benefit the poor.

Jeff Stone