Of the last four incumbent City Council members to stand for re-election, three have been defeated: Mayor Mike Brennan, Ed Suslovic and Jon Hinck.
Now the City Council is lashing out at Mayor Ethan Strimling, who has made a habit of calling out the least popular policies proposed by City Manager Jon Jennings.
Mr. Jennings is a longtime resident of Cape Elizabeth and has bragged to a reporter for this paper that he “could care less” about the views of Portland residents.
Polls show that the people of Portland support rebuilding our decrepit public schools, implementing rent stabilization and limiting subsidies to corporations. The voters opposed Mr. Jennings’ effort to shut down the India Street health clinic, just as they opposed the sale of Congress Square Park.
Mayor Strimling promised he would “listen” to the voters as mayor, and it seems to me that’s exactly what he’s doing.
Instead of complaining to the Press Herald about the mayor, the remaining City Council members and the city manager should do the same. That’s the only way Portland will come together.
Steven Biel
Portland
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