Protect migrating fish
On Oct. 21, the BDN published an article dealing with fish mortality at two dams. Out-migration of juvenile and adult fish through hydropower facilities continues to be a problem, especially this year with low flows in many of our rivers. The people of Maine and around the country have spent millions of dollars successfully opening up our rivers to sea-run fish. The Penobscot River is a wonderful example. But all of that is for naught if many of the juvenile fish get chewed up trying to return to the ocean.
What we need are better data to predict when these fish migrations occur and adjust dam flows and turbines accordingly. This would happen on those days or nights when significant numbers of fish are moving. For example, flows in Pushaw, Souadabscook and Blackman streams have been at record lows this fall. But with the rain last weekend, flows increased, and I would bet that young alewives were on the move. They had been trapped in their rearing lakes and ponds from weeks to several months.
Lore has it that adult eels move in the fall on the dark of the moon with increased river flow. I’m sure former eel weir operators could provide some excellent knowledge in this area. I know of one University of Maine study on eels that should give some predictive information in a year or two. It is time for government agencies, foundations and dam owners to attack this problem. We have the wherewithal, all we have to do is do it.
Ray Owen
Orono
Political journeys
When a 17-year-old kid is pining for the good old days, you know you’re in trouble.
I have been conscious of four elections. From the beginning, my parents and teachers were determined that I would form my own opinions of the candidates. I drew President George Bush a picture of a cat. Not a grand statement, but he sent me a letter and photograph — a great honor for a 5-year-old. In fourth grade, my teacher had us look up news stories about each candidate to determine their stances on the issues. Then, in eighth grade, my teacher had us debate. I didn’t choose a side because I liked to rebel sometimes. I picked Jill Stein of the Green Party.
Now, my little sister is in third grade. I am ashamed that this is the first election she will know. I am ashamed that Donald Trump’s behavior means that her teacher won’t be able to let her class look up articles about the candidates. I am ashamed that even buzzwords have been replaced with showy, hollow insincerity.
I sent Bush a picture when I was 5, and now I like Bernie Sanders, though I still can see both sides. My sister’s political journey starts now, and there’s no telling where she’ll end up.
Though when she heard my mom talking about Hillary Clinton, she asked, “Who’s he?”
“A candidate for president,” my mom said. “She’s a woman.”
My sister stared. “I want a girl president.”
So, it’s not all bad.
Maria Christian
Eliot
O’Neill for Senate District 7
With the rise (and fall) of negative politics at the national level, it has been refreshing to see how campaigns in Maine are conducted. For the most part, candidates go door to door and meet people. I was just visiting in Texas, where a state senator’s district has more than 800,000 people in it. In Maine, it’s around 40,000 to 50,000, giving our candidates the possibility of a real person-to-person campaign.
I’ve met Moira O’Neill, a Democrat running to represent Hancock County in the Maine Senate, a few times, and I’m impressed. She’s clearly a dedicated, hardworking and caring person. She listens to what people have to say, and she is committed to serving District 7.
Her opponent, Sen. Brian Langley, is a nice enough man, but I’ve found his voting record — against raising the minimum wage, against expanding Medicaid — goes against the interests of voters in the district. At public meetings he, like Rep. Bruce Poliquin, won’t commit one way or the other to the party’s presidential nominee.
I like people who will tell me how they will vote on important issues and races. I like people who will stand and be counted. O’Neill has shown real presence and leadership, and it seems to be everywhere. She has earned my vote, and I hope she earns others’ votes.
Phil Bailey
Hancock
Drug war turns us against neighbors
When politicians invoke the war on drugs in response to the opioid epidemic, I wonder what they mean by war. Who exactly are they fighting and with what arms? War implies an enemy. For 40 years politicians have been battling against people in our communities, armed with policies that fail us. They are armed with programs such as DARE, which has been proven to have no significant impact on childhood drug use. They seem to enjoy positive press by exploiting the plight of people who use drugs while doing nothing to address the pressing needs of their communities.
The same “law and order” politicians who claim to be working to address Maine’s substance use problem are working against initiatives that would increase access to treatment and care to help people recover. In the heat of battle, they have chosen not to provide treatment options but rather to criminalize people who suffer from a serious medical condition. Politicians who vote against increasing access to naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal medicine that is proven to reduce overdose rates, have made a decision not to save lives.
The next time a politician claims to be fighting the war on drugs or uses scare tactics to influence our vote, remember that he is fighting a war against our neighbors, friends and family. That politician is fighting a war against access to services. That politician is fighting a war against the health of our communities. That politician is fighting a war against us.
Ross Hicks
Harm reduction coordinator
Maine Health Equity Alliance
Brunswick
Election notice
The BDN will stop accepting letters and OpEds related to the Nov. 8 election on Oct. 28. Not all submissions can be published.