Letters

Published
March 14, 2015

Letter to the editor: System is failing on serious mental illness

In 1830, social activist Dorothea Dix began a successful movement to establish hospitals for seriously mentally ill people who were being housed in jails and prisons. In 2015, 16 percent to 30 percent of the jail and prison population is seriously mental ill – the same percentage as before Dix took action. Once again, jails […]
Published
March 14, 2015

Letter to the editor: Rep. Harlow takes aim at egregious hunting practices

Re: “Letter to the editor: Proposed bear hunting bills fly in the face of recent vote” (March 10): “Resounding” is hardly how I would describe the outcome of the November vote on bear hunting practices in Maine. In his letter, Chuck Fagone fails to acknowledge the facts regarding the recent vote, not the least of […]
Published
March 14, 2015

Letter to the editor: Pledge of Allegiance should not be optional

It appears that the Pledge of Allegiance at South Portland High School and related editorial comments have generated much heat and not much light. At least this has given us something more compelling to discuss than the apparent disconnect between global warming and record amounts of snow with attendant cold temperatures! At the outset, there […]
Published
March 14, 2015

Letter to the editor: For volunteer firefighters, car washes should be a deserved perk

Re: “Escalating tensions leave a Maine town in turmoil” (March 3): How sad that North Yarmouth selectmen have taken issue with the volunteer emergency medical technicians and firefighters using the station to wash their cars. These volunteers put their lives on the line many times when they respond to a call. Beyond that, the emotional […]
Published
March 13, 2015

Letter to the editor: Portland City Council should block new building code changes

On Monday night, the Portland Planning Board unanimously passed building code changes that would allow 45-foot-high, 10-foot-wide “tube” buildings on the city’s peninsula and three-family apartment buildings with no parking spaces required. Building lots would need to be only 20 feet wide, instead of the current 40 feet. Thus, not only could there be some […]

Published
March 13, 2015

Letter to the editor: State senator’s ugly Facebook post demeans his country

State Sen. Michael Willette, R-Presque Isle, recently forwarded a crass Facebook post linking President Obama to the terrorist organization ISIS. This action by an elected official demeans the people he represents and the United States of America. For an American citizen and state officeholder to circulate such crude remarks about the president of his country […]
Published
March 13, 2015

Letter to the editor: Blackstones bar is fine as is: A perfect gathering place

Re: “Developer proposes 132-unit apartment building on Congress Street” (March 10): As a longtime resident of Portland’s Parkside neighborhood, I welcome smart development! I also recognize a strong need for an increase in market rate and affordable rental housing. I appreciate developers who want to work with residents and existing local businesses to find a […]
Published
March 13, 2015

Letter to the editor: Ignore irrational fears, parents. Get your children vaccinated

I am 86 years old. My parents were vaccinated. I, my husband and all our siblings were vaccinated. All our children and grandchildren were vaccinated. Do any of your readers ever wonder how come smallpox is not around anymore? All my children and grandchildren routinely received the shots against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus at […]
Published
March 12, 2015

Letter to the editor: Don’t change pay rate of Maine’s tipped workers

Before the Legislature is L.D. 403, which would abolish the provision of the law that allows tipped employees to be paid significantly less than minimum wage. The subminimum wage of $3.75 per hour is the only pay that tipped employees can truly rely on – the rest of their income is supplemented by the whim […]
Published
March 12, 2015

Letter to the editor: Extreme weather a threat, so take action to cut carbon emissions

As we’ve seen this winter, there have been extreme changes in weather patterns. These massive and frequent snowstorms in New England are not the only indicators. The West has experienced more severe droughts and wildfires, and the Midwest and East have had increased flooding. These are real threats facing public safety today. This is what […]

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Letters