In my view, the city of Portland should raze the buildings on the Maine State Pier and re-deck the pier for public use.

What an incredible draw for locals and tourists alike.

Additional Photos

The cruise ship Celebrity Summit draws people to Portland’s Maine State Pier last September. A letter writer says a pier cleared of buildings and re-decked would attract even more. Staff file photo/John Ewing

A re-decked pier would enhance the city’s effort for the cruise ships. Imagine a 1,000-foot view up the bay for vendors, concerts, public functions, tour boats and more.

Visual accessibility from the Maine State Pier would give locals and tourists greater reasons to frequent the Commercial Street area and the Old Port. Another hotel will only bring more cars into the area.

I suggest to petition the City Council to consider raising expectations on the waterfront by razing the buildings on the Maine State Pier.

Carlo Giobbi

Portland

Chamber of Commerce ads against King unwelcome

As a small-business owner in Brunswick and a member of the Southern MidCoast Chamber of Commerce, I was angry to read in The Portland Press Herald July 26 that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has purchased ads to try to influence the Maine U.S. Senate race. Their target is the front-runner, Angus King, who is running as an independent.

The national chamber has a mission to support only Republican congressional candidates and according to the article, “will spend $100 million to influence elections this year.” In addition, “Campaign finance laws do not require the chamber, a nonprofit organization, to disclose its donors.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce seems very one-sided in its efforts to support pro-business candidates rather than candidates who have a grasp of all local, state and national issues and who will remain independent of party interests. More importantly, if they looked at each candidate with perspective, they would learn that “during his terms as Maine governor, King focused on economic development and job creation. He also affected significant reforms in education, mental health services, land conservation, environmental protection and the delivery of state services.” For more on what he has done for Maine, visit his website at angus2012.com.

I find it hard to believe that all chamber members are of one political persuasion; namely, Republican. If this is the case, then the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is not representing all business owners equitably and ethically. I support the election of Angus King. He is intelligent, trustworthy, honest, disciplined and above all has great integrity and will do the right thing for the state of Maine and its citizens. As our U.S. senator, Angus King will be a formidable leader and speak for the principles of Maine and not for the dictates of a political party or political action group/committee.

Anne V. Marr

CheckList, LLC

Brunswick

The Chamber of Commerce just launched a barrage of negative campaign ads against independent candidate for U.S. Senate, Angus King, who by any objective measure was a fair-minded and fairly pro-business governor.

Residents of Maine should reject these out-of-state attacks; the only way to stop this right-wing attack machine is to boycott local businesses whose continued support for the chamber provides the funds and political support for these attacks.

Our local businesses cannot hide from these attacks by throwing the blame on their national organization, which they fund and support directly and indirectly. Maine residents should be able to select their own senator without interference from a lobbying organization from Washington.

Paul Hogan

Kennebunkport

Mom and moral compass support marriage equality

I have learned a lot in the past 12 years. I used to just wonder secretly if our elder son was gay. Some signs were there, but I denied them and buried the thoughts. I didn’t know much about homosexuality and it scared me.

It wasn’t until his younger brother’s wedding that I began to see more clearly. The wedding was in St. Louis. It was a beautiful ceremony on the grounds of a stately mansion. There were gifts and bridesmaids and flowers; an exchange of vows and rings. There was even a horse-drawn carriage to whisk the bride and groom off to the reception and an evening of dining and dancing.

It was a happy time. But our oldest son was in a strange mood. He was not his usual upbeat, fun-loving self. When I asked if something was wrong, he mumbled something and turned away. He seemed confused but said only that he was struggling with the best man toast. He wanted it to be right. I didn’t pursue it at the time, but somehow knew. I just knew.

Later, I found the courage to ask and he told me about Jim. They had been together for five years. I came to understand that he was in a loving, committed relationship — like his brother was.

I have learned so much. Our son did not choose to be gay; he chose to be himself.

Please vote for marriage equality.

Anita Morrissey

Sidney

The authors of the Old Testament did indeed believe homosexuality was wrong, but your recent letter-writer should keep reading (“Someone’s missing Bible’s facts on same-sex marriage,” July 4).

The authors of the Old Testament also believed that raped women should marry their rapists, that disrespectful children should be stoned to death and that thousands of innocent men, women and children who worshiped “other” gods should be slaughtered “without mercy.” In Leviticus, these same authors tell us that it’s OK to enslave people of “lesser races,” as long as they’re not Israelites.

What kind of moral compass are we navigating by here?

In America, we have a Constitution that guarantees freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion. Not everybody believes in the Old Testament, nor should they be made to.

To restrict someone’s rights, you must show good reason to do so. A religious admonition written thousands of years ago by clerics who thought it perfectly reasonable to kill someone for collecting wood on the Sabbath (Moses and his accomplices) is hardly sufficient.

The letter writer needs to know that Jesus said nothing about homosexuals.

He did, however, have some strong words against divorce. But is there any church out there trying to stop divorcees from marrying again?

What would Jesus do? I know what he wouldn’t do. He wouldn’t try to disguise his prejudice behind a fig leaf of archaic Bible quotes.

Marc McCutcheon

South Portland

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