Garrett Brown’s struggle with addiction
A sincere thanks to Bangor Daily News editor Erin Rhoda and the BDN for the sensitive and thought-provoking article about Garrett Brown, who died too soon from a drug overdose but left a legacy to help others.
Rhoda outdid herself in tactfully presenting all of the factors that can surround the life of those addicted, their families and the “system.” My sincere condolences to Garrett’s family and loved ones.
Pat Martin
Bangor
Arctic coast needs protection
I am saddened that Rep. Bruce Poliquin recently voted against protecting the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness. Poliquin joined 226 other members of the House in voting against an amendment to the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act that would have protected this land.
The refuge is truly one of America’s last wild places. Its coastal plain supports large populations of caribou, polar bears and more than 135 species of migratory birds from all 50 states that congregate there each summer.
Each year, here on Maine’s coastline, we can see semipalmated sandpipers that may have spent the summer in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
As part of our public lands system designated for use by all Americans, I hope Poliquin will support protection for the coastal plain in the future.
John Demos
Northeast staff
Alaska Wilderness League
South Berwick
Landownership an illusion
I have but one simple question of private property rights advocates, especially those who oppose a generous gift of land to be set aside for the enjoyment of all people in northern Maine as a national park and recreation area: Why is it so acceptable for one landholder to decide what to do with his or her land if he or she wants to harvest resources from it, but not acceptable for another landholder to decide to preserve his or her land from such use, by whatever means available to them?
Land ownership is an illusion, anyway. As the saying goes: “We do not inherit land from our ancestors. We borrow it from our descendants.”
Kathy VanGorder
West Tremont
Supreme Court fight helps liberals
Since 1971, there has been a conservative majority on the Supreme Court. With Justice Antonin Scalia‘s vacancy, there is now a split of power. There are four liberals and four conservatives (one of whom occasionally sides with the liberal justices). This means that as it stands right now, liberals hold at least equal power, maybe a little more. On a bipartisan front, this is more power than they have had in decades.
I would like to see a President Barack Obama nomination placed on the Supreme Court, but it is
very unlikely. There is enormous pressure on the Republicans to block any nomination, and if they do so, it will likely cause them problems for congressional Republicans running for re-election in November. Also, our chances of electing a liberal president will likely grow even stronger. So things are not looking that bad for liberals right now.
Senate Republicans will do what they want, and they really don’t care what anyone thinks. Let the Senate Republican do as they please; they have finally painted themselves into a corner.
Linda Peek
Lewiston
Community fisheries need disaster protection
Maine’s current distribution of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration disaster funds has the potential to compromise community-based fisheries. Without adequate input from all stakeholders, this unfair process could undermine the efforts of the health care sector to source fresh, locally caught seafood.
Health Care Without Harm’s Healthy Food in Health Care Program supports New England hospitals in their efforts to promote a sustainable and equitable local food system. Our network of 153 health care facilities represents 57 percent of all hospitals in New England and about $20 million in annual food spending.
Seafood is an important source of lean protein, and hospitals from Rhode Island to Maine are serving seasonally available, underused species in order to protect our ocean resources and support our local fisherman. As the supply chain infrastructure has improved, demand for this fish is only increasing. We are concerned that the allocation of NOAA funds thus far is a missed opportunity to support community-based fisheries.
We encourage the Maine Department of Marine Resources to follow the same protocol as other states that have received this relief funding, and organize public hearings for fishermen and the public to participate in an open process about how to fairly allocate the last of the available funds.
Maine should create an open and transparent process, and it should ensure that the community-based fisheries affected by the disaster are given access to the funds.
Jennifer Obadia
Eastern U.S. project director
Healthy Food in Health Care
Health Care Without Harm
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Stockton Springs house dispute
After reading in a Feb. 27 BDN article about the fight over the fate of a house in Stockton Springs, I wondered what might happen if the community got together and helped Hollie Ann Beal fix up her house. Perhaps some of her “wealthy” neighbors, who complained about its appearance, would pitch in and give her a hand.
The Board of Selectmen could cooperate by acknowledging her efforts to renovate the property and giving her time to complete the work. What a wonderful community effort it would be.
Janbe Keegan
Winter Harbor
Trump a proven leader, dealmaker
How is it Marco Rubio is being praised for his recent attacks o n Donald Trump, and people wonder why he didn’t attack Trump sooner? Then, in the next breath, media critics wonder why the presidential race has become raucous and out-of-hand? Do you detect just a bit of hypocrisy?
Trump is generating support because the American people are sick and tired of Washington politicians and their antics, such as Obamacare, the failed economy, backroom deals, the Iran deal, the loss of jobs, companies moving overseas and illegal immigration.
Although he is trashed for his raucous behavior, Trump is looked upon by as a proven leader and honest dealmaker and trader in the eyes of his followers who continue to multiply.
Bob Leeman
Brewer