Saving a Historic Plaza in Orange

* I read with interest your Jan. 2 article regarding the Old Towne Orange Plaza and the historic district.

As a historic district resident and business owner and member of the Old Towne Preservation Assn. board of directors, I know that there are many people who have been actively involved in assuring that our plaza is maintained to its historic significance, as well as being a place where the community can gather for fun and relaxation.

We have a majority on our City Council who also believes in the preservation and maintenance of the plaza. Through the combined efforts of community involvement, legitimate associations and city management, we will continue to ensure our historical identity, not only of our plaza, but also of our entire historic district.

There are those quoted in the article who would have you believe that the plaza would have been ruined if it were not for the efforts of “an army of 75 activists.”

The two or three people who started the activist group used ambiguous and misleading information to incite a few fringe people to fight for something that was already being accomplished through a formal process.

The only thing accomplished by the activism was creating a greater chasm between the legitimate concerned citizen groups and our city management.

FRED GILLETT

Orange