This week’s edition!
Politics
Governor attends Eagle Scout ceremony
Governor Paul R. LePage attended the Eagle Scout ceremony for Nicholas P. Corey on Saturday, May 11 at Holy Trinity Parish in Lisbon Falls. The Governor is a first cousin to Nick’s grandmother, Carmen Saindon. Nick attained his rank of Eagle Scout, Scouting’s highest achievement, in December. Pictured are (l. to r.) Nick Corey; Governor LePage; Muriel Michaud, Nick’s mother; and Alex Corey, Nick’s brother, who is a U.S. Navy Ceremonial Honor Guard and fellow Eagle Scout. TCT photo by Laurie A. Steele
Enough is Enough: Mayors asked for funds to tear down fire hazards
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
When you were a child, unless your parents were grifters, you were taught that honesty is the best policy. Your parents told you repeatedly that the best way to earn the respect of others was through truthfulness and honesty.
Apparently, this standard does not apply to Governor Paul LePage, at least as far as the press and his political enemies are concerned.
Unless you have been living in a cave or been hospitalized in a coma for the last few years, you know that Maine is broke. After surveying the fire destruction in Downtown Lewiston, Governor LePage announced the state was broke, but he would try and find some money and resources to help us out.
Enough is Enough: Hospital debt, school grades and the history of L-A
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
It’s time for the readers of this column to step up to the plate. Our hospitals have to be paid!
The continued failure to pay this debt is denying L-A and surrounding communities the opportunity to fill between 150 to 200 shovel-ready jobs with benefits. It’s time to stop playing political games that have a direct effect on people’s lives.
The immediate payback to the hospitals is overwhelmingly supported by Democratic and Republican legislators. The problem? Senate President Justin Alfond and Speaker of the House Mark Eves refuse to bring the legislation to their respective chamber floors for a vote.
It’s time to mobilize and start flooding their offices with phone calls and emails telling them to pay the state’s debt to the hospitals.
Letters: Mayors swept Lewiston’s problems under the rug
To the Editor:
These recent arsons downtown has made me one fired up inner-city preacher. First and foremost, I have always felt that my ministry was a ministry to the poor, the displaced and those who are frightened. Obviously, there is no lack of ministry opportunity in the inner city of Lewiston these days.
My faith stretches higher than a church steeple, and my vision extends far beyond a stained-glass window. It is my opinion and observation that the recent manifestation of complete chaos within the heart of our city lays in the hands of our city’s former mayoral leaders.
I believe that John Jenkins, Kaleigh Tara, Lionel Guay, and Larry Gilbert have all played a part in sweeping our city’s crime and dysfunction under the rug over the years in the name of commerce. None of them wanted to be considered negative, and all of them created a positive environment with a pro-business-like image such as “L/A it’s Happening Here.”
Gov. LePage surprises retiring Auburn barber
A retirement party was held at Marco’s Restaurant in Lewiston on Saturday for Harold Smith, an Auburn barber retiring after 50 years. Governor Paul LePage surprised Smith by showing up to his retirement party. LePage and Smith are pictured here with Marco’s waitstaff: (l. to r.) Cali Blackman, Harold Smith, Janet Perrine, Andrea Beaulieu, Gov. LePage, Rebecca Borgess, Amber Marin, Kathleen Arsenault. (TCT photo by Laurie A. Steele)
Letters: Poverty doesn’t have to guarantee academic failure
To the Editor:
A student who doesn’t understand a lesson and the adult who doesn’t understand a joke may each pretend to understand. The adult’s naivety might be a lack of adult experience. A student’s deficient vocabulary might be their naivety, their lack of experience.
Deficient vocabularies find residence amidst poverty and so do difficulties in learning. This is affirmed by reviewing results from the 2012 NECAP standardized test. We expect test scores to correlate to community income, and where we find poor test scores we expect to find poverty and almost always do.
Enough is Enough: “Landfill Capacity” bill would cost Lewiston $215K
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
On Monday of last week I was pressed into service and sent to Augusta to testify in opposition to LD 1363 before the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resource.
LD 1363, “An Act to Ensure Landfill Capacity and Promote Recycling,” was submitted by Rep. Benjamin Chipman, I—Portland. It would amend existing law to prohibit state-owned, solid-waste-disposal facilities from accepting waste from the Processing and Recycling Facilities if the waste coming to these facilities originated outside of the state.
Letter: Children in L-A have no voice in education
To the Editor:
Florida’s fourth-grade students, in international testing, rank second in the world in reading, even surpassing Finland, an educational powerhouse, which ranked third. This is incredible!
Florida, with a large Hispanic and black population (the state is only 57% white) would be expected to perform poorly. But this amazing fourth-grade success portends improved performance in Florida’s higher grades.
Enough is Enough: Cooperation is needed to create a desirable city
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
It takes vision to create a desirable city—vision in the form of young entrepreneurs: young entrepreneurs who have a dream, drive and a can-do attitude; entrepreneurs who can successfully navigate all obstacles before them. To the women and men that subscribe to this world, “quitting is not an option.”
You also need well-versed, seasoned business people—business people who have knowledge and understand the workings of commerce, business, industry, banking, local, state and federal government operations; business people who know how to get things done; business people whose advice and counsel will almost surely guarantee success.
Enough is Enough: Chaplains reflect the work of the Catholic Church
By Robert E. Macdonald
Mayor of Lewiston
When I became mayor, I made a promise that I would address the welfare fraud being committed by the out-of-town transients that blow weekly into Lewiston. I have worked with Lewiston’s welfare director, Sue Charron, developing legislation and finding legislative sponsors to introduce bills aimed at eliminating fraud and abuse.
I am happy to report that we are on the verge of achieving our goal.
In the next few weeks, this column will present detailed plans designed to improve the livability and marketability of our town. In order to achieve these goals, you, the reader, will be asked to perform a simple task.
