Congress has to pass the 2024 Farm Bill which includes a provision to provide oversight and the restriction of foreign companies and governments from purchasing U.S. farmland. In particular it must address purchases by companies and other entities from China and other adversarial countries.
Although these companies might only own a very small percentage of U.S. farmland, recent purchases by Chinese companies have increased in recent years, including the purchase of Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork producer.
Several Chinese companies have tried to purchase farmland near U.S. military bases. In 2021 a Chinese company tried to purchase land about 12 miles from the Grand Forks, ND Air Force Base. The base houses top secret intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and communication facilities. The deal was killed by intervention from the Air Force.
We have to stop allowing companies in countries like China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela from purchasing our farmland and corporations.
Donald Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH
Columnist Peter Lucas is spot-on in suggesting that President Joseph Biden might learn something about presidential humility by recalling that President John F. Kennedy took full responsibility for the “Bay of Pigs” military disaster when he gave the ill-fated order to invade Fidel Castro’s Cuba.
However, this misses an even more iconic example of a president who was clear about presidential responsibility. Harry S. Truman uttered the iconic line: “The buck stops here.”
Harvey Silverglate
Cambridge
I am writing to express my agreement with Milton’s rejection of the MBTA Zoning. This zoning makes no sense. You can’t force people to not have cars or walk everywhere. There is no possible way to guarantee that living near an MBTA station will ensure people will take the T to work. In small towns, everyone needs a car to shop, pick up kids from school, go to doctor appointments etc. I believe most families have a car, and they like it that way.
The state didn’t say it would be forcing zoning laws on towns when the MBTA Stations were built. The MBTA was supposed to help towns, not force them to destroy their towns. Small town infrastructure cannot withstand this kind of development. I would argue that the water supply is limited also. Where is the MWRA going to get the water to support all the building that is being forced along its corridor? If that “well” dries up, where will we be? Who is going to pay for all the new schools?
I do not understand why an AG who came on after the law was passed is allowed to change the requirements and penalties of that law on her own. Now in addition to withholding grants that should be distributed fairly, she is going to “fine” and possibly prosecute towns that don’t comply??
The fact that they are holding hostage grants paid for by our taxes is appalling to me. I sincerely hope the towns will band together to fight this.
Joan Gonfrade
Ashland