Elect Grohman as Biddeford mayor
To the editor,
I couldn’t let another day go by without throwing my full support behind Marty Grohman, my neighbor and friend, who’s running for mayor of Biddeford. My late mom, Paulette Beaudoin, a former Maine state representative, spotted his talent early on and nudged him into politics. Trust me, Marty’s got what it takes.
He’s seasoned, with legislative experience that makes him well-equipped to tackle Biddeford’s challenges. He’s a true collaborator who can work across party lines — something our town desperately needs right now. Marty’s open and accountable, always ready to listen to anyone’s concerns, which speaks volumes about his character.
And let’s not forget, Marty has vision. He’s got his eye on a future where Biddeford thrives sustainably, inclusively, and economically. He’s got actionable plans for better schools, the parking garage, and affordable housing.
In a nutshell, Marty’s the kind of leader that Biddeford needs and deserves. My mom would’ve been proud to see him run, and come Election Day, he’s got my vote. I hope he’s got yours too.
Susan Beaulieu
What to do about Biddeford’s unhoused?
To the editor,
Portland’s city fathers are struggling to add more shelter space for a situation that has gotten ahead of them. In Biddeford, our city fathers seem to have decided that a shelter will just bring more homeless people here.
Let’s all pray for a mild winter
Based on their population size, Biddeford and Portland seem to have roughly the same proportion of people living in tents and shelters and cars. The difference is that Biddeford’s homeless encampments are off the beaten track, by the river and scattered in the wooded areas on the southern part of the city. With very little effort I had counted 20 tents on the river a month ago, but I am told by an expert that there are at least that many more now in those locations, and many more in parts of the city I didn’t know about.
Biddeford doesn’t have to make the same mistakes as everybody else. Yes, our homeless population is growing rapidly, and yes, we were not prepared. But then, virtually no cities were prepared for this tsunami of related events — the sharp increase in housing prices, the disappearance of affordable housing, the deluge of cheap and accessible drugs, and the lack of capacity in the treatment programs and social services.
We are coming up on an election. I would very much like to hear what our candidates for mayor and city council have to say about this situation. I hope the next time we talk about it won’t be when somebody dies of hypothermia.
Tom McPheeters
Biddeford Pool
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