Letters

Published
January 21, 2011

Letters to the editor, Jan. 21, 2011Immigration status: Ask, or not?

As a resident of Maine for the past decade, I was disgusted to see that one of Gov. LePage’s first official acts was to change an order that had barred Maine state workers from inquiring about people’s immigration status. (“Immigrant status rule rescinded,” Jan. 7). The practice of asking will effectively put people who are […]
Published
January 20, 2011

Letters to the editor, Jan. 20, 2011Fifth year of school needn’t be costly

Unlike Bill Nemitz (“Governor, be alert to the devil in the details,” Jan. 7), I was enthused by Gov. LePage’s idea of considering the possibility of offering a fifth year of high school to students who may need that bridge to higher-level education. Mr. Nemitz’s assertion that this could only happen with more money is […]
Published
January 20, 2011

More letters to the editor, Jan. 20, 2011Reaction to Gov. LePage’s NAACP comment strong, vivid

After Gov. LePage’s latest faux pas, of “kiss my butt,” I heard one of his staffers defend him by saying that LePage just “speaks his mind.” If that is the case, I’m afraid we are in for four years of small talk and short conversations. Jerry Blodgett Topsham It is extremely important that the new […]
Published
January 19, 2011

Letters to the editor, Jan. 19, 2011Mayoral contest needs to set high tone

Pam Plumb and Will Everitt’s Jan. 3 Maine Voices column, “Historic import of publicly elected mayor makes choosing wisely vital,” was on the mark. Without question, setting the tone for the office and establishing important precedents to guide our city government in the years ahead should be the highest of priorities for Portland’s first publicly […]
Published
January 18, 2011

Letters to the editor, Jan. 18, 2011Were Arizona shootings political?

The media and public figures who have rushed to rule out a political motive for the Tucson massacre should inform Republican congressman Peter King of New York, because he sees a political motive. He intends to introduce a bill in Congress that would forbid firearms within 1,000 feet of a member of Congress. Clearly he […]

Published
January 17, 2011

Our View: It isn’t ‘Candid Camera,’ but you might be on it anyway

A council order to a city bar to install sidewalk cameras is unusual for Maine, but not illegal.
Published
January 17, 2011

Letters to the editor, Jan. 17, 2011Scarborough Beach versus cars

This surfer largely disagrees with the proposed Scarborough Beach parking expansion, even if it means repeated long walks to reach the beach's end. The plan is an insult to the residents abutting the farmland and dunes and disregards the key reason so many people love Jordan's Beach: the relative emptiness of the north end, which is available to everyone that walks there. Development here would eliminate this solitude for all.
Published
January 16, 2011

Letters to the editor, Jan. 16, 2011Alfred Nobel no ‘monster’

Letter writer Tony Hammond excoriates Alfred Nobel as a “monster” (“Wrong to name peace prize after inventor of dynamite,” Jan. 2). The truth is a bit more nuanced. Nobel did not discover nitroglycerin (Ascanio Sobrero did in 1847). While Nobel invented dynamite and was an arms manufacturer, a premature obituary (“The merchant of death is […]
Published
January 15, 2011

Letters to the editor, Jan. 15, 2011The selling of the waterfront?

“Profit is not a dirty word. In fact, it is the direct and indirect solution to our challenges,” Gov. LePage has said. Profit is the central issue in Portland’s waterfront zoning debate, pitting marine and fishing industries against property owners and businesses. The political climate appears to be leaning toward a more free-market economy, where […]
Published
January 14, 2011

Letters to the editor, Jan. 14, 2011Immigration queries now OK

Hallelujah! I was so happy to read the paper on Jan. 7 to see that our newly elected governor had issued an executive order that would allow officials in state agencies to question people about their immigration status. Common sense is having its day in the sun. Social services paid for by the taxpayers of […]

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Letters