The issue with Pierce Atwood versus the plight of One Monument Square’s owners has nothing to do with what the city did or didn’t do.
Rather, if viewed in the framework of how Portland operates, the City Council — that unfortunate arm of government that has stifled and bungled any smart growth in the city for years — should have addressed such issues as dilapidated buildings like Cumberland Cold Storage, an eyesore at best, or the crumbling piers.
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The need for tax abatements might have been unnecessary if programmed, viable growth along the waterfront were allowed.
In all other coastal cities — large, medium or tiny like Portland — the waterfront is the most valuable asset, throwing off much-needed tax revenue from development to offset the costs to residential taxpayers.
Such wisdom seems to be alien territory to the clueless councilors. Instead, we surrender to a city council that is totally inept, a quirky bunch of lawmakers without vision or smarts, small-minded and petty.
The attempt to install a powerful mayor instead was bungled and inept, hardly surprising.
Recently a friend of mine went to the city manager to discuss a substantial project that he was trying to create and was met with hostility and lack of professionalism, leaving him stunned and disgusted at how the city operates.
What should happen immediately is that the City Council and everyone else who has sat in the seats of power for years be airlifted to the streets and give the voters of Portland the right to chose a leader who can take charge, much like we look to an elected governor to lead, rather than mislead, his electorate.
John Golden
Portland
Don’t base vital federal policies on mere emotion
Feelings are a powerful human motivator. Unfortunately for this country, feelings seem to be what are driving the current political agenda.
When the Gulf oil spill happened, the knee-jerk reaction by our illustrious president was to try to impose a drilling moratorium simply because he saw a few images of oil coated birds and “felt” it was the right thing to do — regardless of the impact on the livelihoods this moratorium would surely cause.
As it currently stands, several rigs have already left the region, taking the jobs held by Americans along with them.
These results of implementing political desire based on feelings are reckless and will most definitely destroy an already fragile U.S. economy.
The chronic tendency for this administration to make snap judgments is assuming grotesque proportions. This so-called leadership is characterized by a pathological reaction to the impressions of the moment.
The “politics of feelings” will continue to slow this country down as more bureaucracy is implemented to regulate the playing field instead of leveling it. It seems that everyone who is trying to get ahead and be successful must suffer so those who choose not to excel can feel good about themselves.
Talk about slowing down economic growth! Take the unemployment claims extension package.
It seems like a nice idea to take care of those who are unemployed for longer periods of time, but to what end must I have to continue working to pay for these people? How much more in taxes must I pay for social programs, while my own future retirement becomes more doubtful?
There surely must come a point where enough spending is enough. Everyone has to realize that this kind of political ineptitude is going to destroy any ability for the country to come back economically.
Steven Schorr
Jay
Cutler, Mitchell, LePage boosted by supporters
In 1988, at the age of 10, I became interested in politics and have been a proud, lifelong Democrat. However, for the first time in my political life I am proud to stand behind a true independent like Eliot Cutler in his quest to become the next governor of our great state.
I want to build a career and family in Maine and I am absolutely convinced that Eliot Cutler provides young Mainers with the best chance to rebuild Maine’s economy and create a prosperous future.
I recently returned to Maine after obtaining a law degree out of state and, much like many recent graduates, I am striving every day to find employment in an economy still shedding jobs with stagnant economic growth.
We need a leader in Augusta who will foster business growth by encouraging investment in Maine from large companies and helping to cut costs for Maine’s vital small businesses.
We need a leader in Augusta who has new ideas to reform and improve our education system. We need a leader in Augusta who is not on the far fringes of either political party but rather has a clear, independent vision to help Maine get back to work through innovative solutions that are good for business and good for workers.
We need Eliot Cutler in Augusta.
Adam Zimmerman
Portland
Let me get this right. One candidate for governor, Paul LePage, says he supports drilling for oil off the coast of Maine. He said this during a public debate, just a few weeks after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico — the worst environmental disaster the United States has ever seen.
Another prominent candidate, Eliot Cutler, has worked for a law firm with strong ties to the oil industry. His former law firm represented an oil company that was owned by the Chinese government, and Cutler himself was a trustee of an investment management firm that had a significant stake in the Chinese oil company.
To top it all off, his law firm provided lobbying services for BP. Cutler’s relationship to Big Oil causes me great concern.
There is only one candidate in this race that is committed to fostering clean, renewable energy — Libby Mitchell. As a leader in the Legislature, Libby has been a staunch advocate for wind power, helping to create pre-permitting of wind sites to expedite their creation.
She has led the charge to develop Maine into a clean energy hub, by leading the effort for state and federal investment in our research institutions so we can further explore the applicability of tidal power, biofuels, and other green energy strategies. I could go on.
Because I support a cleaner, greener Maine, I support Libby Mitchell for governor.
John Kosinski
Brunswick
In response to the July 9 letter from Todd A. Sweet of Kittery supporting Eliot Cutler for governor, I would like to express my belief that Paul LePage is by far and away the very best candidate for Maine’s new governor. Surely, his primary victory speaks for itself.
Furthermore, Mayor LePage has a proven record on many levels and he is definitely a man for the people — not someone who spouts his lawyerism and runs on the coattails of others.
Independent Eliot Cutler sounds as though he is really a Democrat of the worst kind! He has already spent more than $600,000 while Paul LePage is financing his campaign without taxpayer funding!
As an aside, Democrat Libby Mitchell is using taxpayer money, which I highly resent. Why is it that when people want to run for an office, they like to use other peoples’ money?
Connie Smith
Westbrook
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