At the June 13 South Portland City Council meeting, rules were suspended; an item not on the published agenda was considered: Should South Portland send its money to Portland to help Portland, or should that money remain in the city of South Portland? We can argue all day long over the merits of the root cause. The fact is Portland created an asylum problem for itself beyond their fiscal abilities and they need handouts.

We who do not live in Portland could not vote for or against their officials or policies. So should your tax revenues be used to support something for which you have no representation? Our City Council has also decided to work for Portland, and will solicit other surrounding towns to make Portland’s problem a regional problem.

Are we who surround Portland, serfs and non-voting, non-represented boroughs of Portland? Will your tax dollars remain in your city? Or will your tax dollars go to Portland, where you have no voting rights? Does your council work for your city, or are they subservient to the problems Portland creates? Is this effectively taxation without representation?

Paul J. Fielding
South Portland