Letters

Published
December 9, 2015

Letter to the editor: Republicans should deliver bad news to the governor

In 1950, Maine Republican U.S. Sen. Margaret Chase Smith made her Declaration of Conscience, in which she condemned the tactics being used by the House Un-American Activities Committee, under the leadership of Wisconsin Republican Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Initially it made her unpopular, but in time it made her a legend. In 1974, Sen. Barry Goldwater […]
Published
December 9, 2015

Letter to the editor: Brick sidewalk replacement is both costly and unwarranted

In response to a critique by columnist Shoshana Hoose, there have been several letters recently on the hazards of brick sidewalks, with a call for their replacement. Portland’s downtown has 14 miles of mostly brick sidewalks, and replacement costs (±$5.80 per square foot) could easily exceed $2 million. Kentucky architect and architectural conservator Gary Kleier […]
Published
December 8, 2015

Letter to the editor: Saying ‘Merry Christmas’ out loud in Portland is frowned upon

Re: “Re-creating Bethlehem brings people together” (Nov. 30): Re-creating Bethlehem is possible in the Camden area because there is very little diversity and integration. Christmas is celebrated with notably less interference from different peoples and beliefs. Every year, my family, children, grandchildren and old folks visit the area of Rockport, Rockland and Camden to enjoy […]
Published
December 8, 2015

Letter to the editor: Missing coverage on Rally for Refugees devalues Press Herald

In Monday’s edition of the Portland Press Herald, I was most disappointed by the lack of coverage of the Rally for Refugees, held in Monument Square in Portland on Sunday evening. This was the largest rally I have seen in the past 10 years, easily surpassing 1,000 participants, and was an important statement of the […]
Published
December 8, 2015

Letter to the editor: Portland’s efforts to keep pedestrians safe highlights city’s leadership

Here at the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, the state’s leading organization dedicated to promoting the rights and safety of walkers and bicyclists, we couldn’t help but notice a bitter irony in the Portland Press Herald on Dec. 4. Two articles addressed pedestrian safety. On the front page, one story discussed drivers’ complaints about the new […]

Published
December 8, 2015

Letter to the editor: How does spending by Mainers truly compare to other states, particularly on health care?

Edward D. Murphy’s report (“Mainers spent more last year, but with their usual frugality, new federal figures show,” Dec. 2) provided many economic facts to consider. Of course, averages are tremendously misleading. Can the numbers described as “per capita” possibly be true? Are the numbers actually “per household”? Is an average number used for defining […]
Published
December 8, 2015

Letter to the editor: No excuses for Woodrow Wilson’s racism – or others’

Re: “Commentary: Woodrow Wilson, as racist, reflected failings of his era, as do other presidents” (Nov. 28): I read with disgust Roger Bowen’s justification of some of Woodrow Wilson’s racist, misogynist and pro-eugenics views. In his commentary, Bowen attributes those beliefs to Wilson’s being a product of his time. “He held some views that are […]
Published
December 7, 2015

Letter to the editor: Founder of Joe’s Smoke Shop in Portland  a model of virtue and drive

In just a few days, a building on Congress Street will be torn down. This is not just any building, this building is an institution. Anyone who has lived in Portland during the last 70 years is familiar with Joe’s Smoke Shop. This landmark store was originated by Joseph L. Discatio, a young son of […]
Published
December 7, 2015

Letter to the editor: Writer blames wrong people for Middle East troubles

The Voice of the People letter in the Dec. 2 Press Herald by Cynthia Little is nothing more than the usual anti-Jewish lies of the Boycott, Divest, Sanction group which espouses the destruction of the Jewish State of Israel. She blames all the misery in the Middle East on Israel and affirms the tirade of […]
Published
December 7, 2015

Letter to the editor: Solidarity Harvest spotlights community aspect of union

Your Nov. 23 front-page article on Solidarity Harvest is a great illustration of people helping people during hard times and the holidays in Maine. Thank you for covering this wonderful community effort. One important point was not made clear. The “solidarity” in Solidarity Harvest comes from union solidarity. The 8,000 people fed represent 1,200 union […]

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Letters