On May 6, many people read an article in this paper about issues in Bayside. As readers were settling into the words, pictures and their own opinions, I was walking by a Bayside street cordoned off with police tape. A woman had just been shot. A ragged and street-worn man ran by crying, “Is she […]

The Portland Press Herald’s recent coverage of and discussion regarding Bayside is shining a much-needed light on an unacceptable situation. Many of the articles, op-eds, letters and comments demonstrate an understanding that the issues are complex, with no simple solution. But some persistent, overly simplistic narratives are counterproductive to the course of real progress. One […]

“Bayside at rock bottom” (May 6) captured the complex realities of my neighborhood effectively. We can walk anywhere, our home is relatively affordable and it’s a diverse, friendly community. However, the ugly realities of day-to-day life are just as the article describes. The day it was published, a woman was shot on the sidewalk in […]

As a concerned parent of two young Portland Public Schools kids, I strongly urge you to listen to us – the families and teachers who are trying so very hard to get our kiddos the very best public education they deserve. We understand that writing a budget is multifaceted, but nothing should be more prioritized […]

What a difference a day makes. Here we are, scaring people with the prospect of closing schools on the Casco Bay islands, eliminating foreign-language classes and crossing guard positions and other horrors if significant reductions were to be made in the Portland Public Schools budget. Then, Superintendent Xavier Botana decides the reductions will not require […]