Find real solutions to poverty
Finding real solutions to poverty is in the best interest of our children and state. Preparing Maine for a prosperous future begins with ensuring our youngest residents get what they need in order to become healthy adults who will work to strengthen our communities and build our economy.
The March 19 BDN editorial on Maine’s TANF reforms clearly outlines what’s at stake when our government makes changes to successful programs. In the case of TANF, it is 10,000 children.
At time when extreme child poverty is on the rise in Maine, lawmakers should be focused on policies that reverse these troubling trends.
The TANF program, at its core, is intended to protect and improve the lives of children. The TANF program is not what creates poverty; it is what prevents our children living in deep poverty from going without basic essentials such as shelter, diapers, heat and the needed over-the-counter medicines not covered by any other source when they’re sick. TANF fills the gap resulting from low wages and equips parents with the tools they need to get and keep a job.
Reforming the TANF program should involve improvements that effectively help parents and children get out and stay out of poverty.
Shawn Yardley
Board member
Maine Children’s Alliance
Bangor
Let guns into GOP convention
I was very dismayed to read in a March 29 BDN article that the Secret Service will not allow guns into the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this July. I think it would be a great idea to let thousands of Republicans bring guns to their convention.
Lawrence Reichard
Belfast
Mainers against baiting, trapping, hounding
If the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife wants comments on its management of black bears, it only needs to look at some numbers.
Two years ago, 80,000 Maine voters signed a petition to put a referendum on the ballot banning the cruel, unnecessary and unsportsmanlike practices of baiting, hounding and trapping. When the final votes were counted, 53 percent of voters were against the referendum, another 47 percent still were in favor of banning these practices.
That’s a lot of Mainers, which includes some hunters, who don’t like seeing animals suffer. The message couldn’t be clearer.
Cherie Mason
Sunset
Sarnacki’s articles a treasure
I have been reading Aislinn Sarnacki’s articles since she began with the Bangor Daily News. I always felt she was a talented and hardworking writer. Her March 24 column on the end of “Yankee Jungle” amid questions of animal mistreatment was superb.
The thoughtfulness and feelings expressed mirrored what I felt about wild animals but didn’t know how to articulate. She is a treasure, and I look forward to reading her articles for many more years.
Mark Delcourt
Wyman Township
Trump’s blind trust
Charlie Cameron in a March 24 BDN letter to the editor suggested Donald Trump was more interested in winning the election than in actually serving as president.
Several public officials, such as the president and vice president, may put their holdings into a blind trust to avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest. What I am wondering is whether Trump will be willing and able to put all of his holdings into a blind trust.
Fred Otto
Orono
Bus drivers go above, beyond
We gave a long overdue thanks to the Community Connector drivers on Bus Driver Appreciation Day on March 18. Some of us from Transportation for All delivered cards to the drivers as they came into the depot at Pickering Square. They were thrilled.
The drivers go out of their way to try to make our bus riding experience a good one. Every day they help the elderly and people with physical disabilities board the bus, lift walkers or strollers when needed and give a hand with packages and groceries as someone overburdened tries to get on or off the bus. They go above and beyond and always with a smile.
Make it a point to ride the bus, and be sure to notice all that the bus drivers do to make the ride a better one.
Melissa Newbury
Bangor
Peaceful change is revolutionary
Peter W. Earl of Fort Fairfield mentioned in his March 26 BDN letter to the editor that a well-armed militia is vital for citizens to protect themselves. This is not mentioned in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It does call for a well-regulated militia but not a private militia.
Let’s not espouse violence to change or overthrow our government. The Constitution does not provide for that. The entire Bill of Rights must be adhered to to protect citizens from tyranny.
John Adams was elected in 1796 as the second president. It was a peaceful change in government leadership, and to have such a peaceful change was revolutionary.
Richard E. Rand
Presque Isle
School community supportive
Today, when we hear about schools, we sometimes only hear about the bad things that are going on in them.
I graduated from Brewer High School. After graduating from college, I moved away for nine years. Upon returning to the area, a teacher at Brewer High School needed a substitute because her husband was battling cancer and she wasn’t able to work. The school department was very supportive of the teacher and her family. I realized then that this was a place of which I wanted to be a part. A place where they care about the students as well as the faculty and treat them as their own.
In January, I visited the school nurse because I was not feeling well. She felt as though I needed immediate medical attention and she drove me to the hospital. We are very fortunate at Brewer High School to have an on-campus school-based health center. At that time, I was diagnosed with a serious medical condition.
When the school learned of my illness, the response was overwhelming. An outpouring of prayers, gifts, food and support were provided to me and my family. I continue to receive cards from faculty, staff, students and people in the community. You don’t realize how caring people are until something like this happens. I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you who have been part of this wonderful outreach.
Brenda Crosby
Eddington