Crimes against nature

Devoted environmentalist Laurie David has been cited by the Martha's Vineyard Conservation Commission for endangering wetlands by "building a 26-foot-long barbecue station, stone-and-concrete bonfire pit, and outdoor theater on an environmentally sensitive patch of their 14-acre North Road property without the proper permits." Laurie and her husband, Larry David, were also cited for ripping out native plants and replacing them with--gasp!--sod.

The Davids, naturally can explain. But here's the really rich part: The Davids were in a hurry to complete the project for which they were cited so that it could be ready in time for a fete to honor National Resources Defense Council champion Robert Kennedy Jr.

Confronted about the violations, Laurie David herself sensed there was more at stake in her island imbroglio than just the good will of her neighbors. According to field notes taken by conservation officer Rusty Walton during his initial survey of the grounds, “Mrs. David was seriously upset about problems on the property which I cited in a notice of violation letter recently. Her agitation was heightened by the fact that she is seriously ‘into’ conservation herself, apparently largely in the field of global warming. The discovery of problems on her property was therefore embarrassing, as it gives an appearance of hypocrisy.”

Ya think?