Letters

Published
November 11, 2015

Letter to the editor: To encourage native plants and insects, let’s grow wildflowers instead of grass

Virtually 100 percent of the energy in any land-based food web is manufactured at the bottom of the energy pyramid by the primary producers through photosynthesis, the most vital biochemical process on Earth. The entire yearly energy budget of land ecosystems is manufactured here, and made available to the primary consumers. But these two trophic […]
Published
November 10, 2015

Letter to the editor: Kudos to all who helped ex-teacher get disability benefits

I want to say how pleased I am that we were finally able to get Bob Sprankle, the former Wells Elementary School teacher, the disability retirement he deserved and desperately needed (“Maine finally grants former teacher disability benefits, vows to reform system,” Nov. 3). I also want to thank Sandy Matheson, executive director of the […]
Published
November 10, 2015

Letter to the editor: Leave Portland’s governing to elected officials, not citizen groups

The defeat of Save the Soul of Portland’s spurious referendum regarding scenic views brings up a far greater issue. That citizens groups can waylay an entire city is a frightening prospect. That Portland is so small makes it even more crucial to take a careful look at these grass-roots factions. In the case of Soul […]
Published
November 10, 2015

Letter to the editor: Hard facts support calls for immediate action on climate

The bold headline on the front page of the Oct. 25 Maine Sunday Telegram said it all: “Mayday: Gulf of Maine in distress.” The series of articles by Colin Woodard that followed served to confirm the viewpoint of all who believe that climate change is real and has reached our shores. After reading Woodard’s presentation, […]
Published
November 10, 2015

Letter to the editor: Celebrate perioperative nurses, patients’ advocates in OR

If you or someone you love has had a surgical procedure, a perioperative registered nurse was directly responsible for you or your loved one’s well-being throughout the operation. While all of the other medical professionals in the room, including the surgeon, anesthesia provider, surgical assistant and other assistive personnel, are focused on their specific duty, […]

Published
November 9, 2015

Letter to the editor: For Portland voters, minimum wage took back seat to scenic view

Income inequality, not scenic views, is the pressing issue of the day. But in Portland, the consideration of a $15 minimum wage took a back seat to a debate over the ramifications of development. I bear my own degree of personal responsibility for getting caught up in local Question 2 while letting CEOs frame the […]
Published
November 9, 2015

Letter to the editor: Videotaping should be illegal at polling places

Re: “Videotaping of signature-gathering at Maine polls raises intimidation concerns” (Nov. 3): Project Dirigo’s efforts to explain its attempt to intimidate and threaten people signing a petition are ludicrous at best. Making sure the signatures are valid? The only petition they were targeting was the petition on background checks for gun purchases. There was no […]
Published
November 9, 2015

Letter to the editor: Diner will tell waitstaff he voted for higher minimum wage

Now that Portland voters have determined that the city’s service workers don’t deserve a living wage, I’ll be telling everyone who waits on me from now on that I voted for the increase so they won’t spit in my food. Mark Barnette Portland
Published
November 9, 2015

Letter to the editor: Strimling’s fundraising followed his leading in polls

I am Ethan Strimling’s father, so I’m obviously not an objective observer (if such exists), but I can’t let the subhead of the Page 1 report on the mayoral election (“Strimling wins rematch,” Nov. 4) stand without protest. The subhead claims that Ethan used “superior fundraising to beat the incumbent,” more than suggesting that money […]
Published
November 9, 2015

Letter to the editor: Obama’s characterization of deployment in Syria raises questions

Re: “Obama authorizes U.S. special forces to deploy to northern Syria” (Oct. 30): What does the president mean, “no boots on the ground” in Syria? Does he think that those special forces soldiers he is feeding into that quagmire are barefoot? And what does he mean that they are not going to be fighting because […]

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Letters