Petition to close bridges to Cape Cod draws both support and outrage
"The grocery stores are empty and the hospitals are full. Can the Cape support thousands [of] extra people?"
A petition to close the bridges to Cape Cod to all but year-round residents, medical personnel, and essential deliveries has gained traction since it was posted on Friday. It has drawn support on Change.org — as of Wednesday afternoon, it had over 9,800 signatures, out of a goal of 10,000 — but it has also drawn criticism. Since Boston.com published this story, more than 500 readers have shared their own opinions.
Many commenters in favor of closing the bridges frequently cite the Cape’s limited medical facilities — there are only two acute care hospitals in Cape Cod — as well as other services like grocery stores that could easily become overwhelmed by a surge of demand outside the normal peak season. Arguments opposed to bridge closures note a disadvantage for part-time residents who own — and pay taxes — on second homes on the Cape and would lose the right to access their properties and nearby services.
Below are some of the most thought provoking opinions from Boston.com readers.
“Does everyone get their property taxes (among others) refunded in this arrangement? The municipalities have always welcomed those funds with open, non-fiduciary arms…” –Chris Rolfe
“I live here and in all honesty the Cape is not ready for all the part timers to show up and have their summer get-away. The grocery stores are empty and the hospitals are full. Can the Cape support thousands (of) extra people? The answer is no” –Tom Morse
“It’s wildly impractical, and it’s rooted in territorial nonsense. Most of the same people pushing this silly idea are the same ones who constantly complain about summer traffic and tourists not knowing how to drive rotaries, yet benefit from the annual surge to their economy. I’m from the Cape, and people who own second homes there pay the same taxes and are entitled to the same services as we are. The fact that a man-made canal separates us from the rest of the state makes zero difference.” –straw
“It’s about the Cape’s health care system not being able to battle a large scale outbreak. My wife works at Falmouth Hospital. They are now shifting the maternity function to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis to free up the space for COVID-19 cases.” –E2C
“I sympathize with full-time residents on the Cape wanting non-full time homeowners to stay away. I think closing the bridge is going too far. I agree with the argument that there (aren’t) enough hospitals beds but if this virus hit the Cape first you would be coming to hospitals on the other side of that bridge. If you do run out of beds you will be coming over that bridge to a hospital on the other side and the people on this side are not going to sign a petition close the bridge on you. Think about it. I also heard the argument that your super markets have bare shelves. Come over the bridge and look at the markets here — they are bare also. At the height of the tourist during the summer do you ever see bare shelves then? Think about that. I myself have been sheltering in place at my full-time home and following all safety precautions the best I can. But we are all Americans and should be helping each other get through these times. Signing a petition to keep tax paying homeowners away sounds non American to me. 🇺🇸” –Stephen Caira
“I propose allowing anybody owning a property in the Cape and all locals in and out. Everybody else are to stay out this summer. I know it would be disastrous for a lot of businesses in the Cape, but truth is (the) healthcare system is already stretched every summer, and if tourists pour in (the) Cape will have a second peak which would not help anybody.” – Ahmad Abokhamis
“It’s about staying in one place so the virus stops spreading! That’s it, that’s all! It’s not about what you want, what property taxes you pay. It’s about the spreading of the virus stay in your home! It’s so simple! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ The only point being made (trying) is in the off-season we don’t have the same man power/capabilities.” –Lisa Anthony
“I find it amusing that most comments are saying this is the rich trying to screw the poor. Do you really think the part-timers are the poor ones trying to get back to the Cape? You know… from their OTHER houses located in different states? The Cape has many local, blue collar communities. They don’t want the “richers” (credit to ‘South Park’) coming in and ruining it for the ‘locals’ by bringing COVID-19.” –PhilippaEilhart
“As a summer resident of the Cape, I totally sympathize with the year-round residents’ concerns. And I am staying off-Cape during this crisis. But closing the bridges is, well, a bridge too far. It’s not a solution. If we’re really going to be that parochial, that territorial about things, how would Cape Codders react if Mass General decided to close its helipad, blocking access to critical patients whose needs exceed the capabilities of Cape Cod Hospital (which happens on a fairly routine basis)? We are all in this together. And, we should all stay wherever we are at this moment, until this crisis passes.” –Jerry Gould
“It’s too late. But all you on here who say ‘well then close them forever and see how they like it’ or I read one person say ‘they are just social distancing in a more rural area,’ both dumb statements. First, they don’t live here, and second, they are not following the quarantine of 14 days. They are out walking and shopping (our stores are lacking many items without the overload of out of state VISITORS). Just saying that it’s too late, but if you must come here, please respect the ones who have nowhere else to go.” –James Chouinard
Do you support closing the bridges to Cape Cod? Tell us in the poll or in the comments section below.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com