Maine
Opinion: Portland’s problems matter to the rest of Maine
“Paul LePage to deal with rise in crime in Portland, cleanup effort underway at Deering Oaks.”
That was a headline from WGME on Wednesday morning this week. I don’t care who you might be – that’s humorous.
For these in southern Maine, the most important park within the state’s largest metropolis has been a multitude for awhile. Again in mid-August, Matt Gagnon shared his reflections concerning the tragedy unfolding within the commons.
The Battle for Portland is being waged between Democrats and Democratic Socialists. The latter group has been gaining floor. As soon as the November election is handed, Cumberland County will see a brand new district legal professional inaugurated. She was backed by George Soros- affiliated teams.
That’s the reason you must sardonically chuckle about LePage’s go to to the park. By merely saying a press convention, it seems he spurred a cleanup effort by native officers.
It speaks to the facility the state at-large nonetheless holds over its largest metropolis.
Whereas native management is a time-honored Maine custom, the straightforward actuality is that the state is sovereign. The left derides the thought of “states’ rights” as a dog-whistle for racism. However when the American colonists received independence, the powers of King George III — the “crown” — didn’t get entrusted to Washington.
As a substitute, sovereignty was given to the states. And with that nice energy comes nice duty. It’s as much as the state to step in when municipalities fall brief.
By most accounts, there are important security issues in Portland. There have been a variety of shootings over the previous a number of weeks. Methamphetamine and fentanyl busts are routine.
That’s the reason Portland’s scenario helps LePage.
Voters are individuals, and — if Maslow is to be believed — there’s a hierarchy of wants that all of us share. On the root are essentially the most fundamental: meals, shelter and the like. Turning this to polling, that’s the financial system. And LePage is working away with assist from those that are involved concerning the financial system.
Subsequent up is security. If you happen to’re apprehensive about one thing dangerous taking place, even when all of your fundamental wants are met, it’s onerous to maintain climbing the pyramid.
Now, nobody of their proper thoughts believes that Republicans are going to have any success on the poll field in Portland. Observers will stand by to see whether or not voters rally to former Mayor Ethan Strimling’s effort to create a “sturdy mayor” place. Two Constitution Fee members — who’ve executed the work and now oppose their erstwhile ally’s perspective — have come out sturdy towards it.
The 67,000 residents of Portland could have their voices heard in simply over a month. However, no matter these outcomes, Augusta will get the ultimate say. And the more-than-1.2 million remainder of us may be heard.
As a result of the opioid disaster is larger than Portland. Homelessness is larger than Portland. Shootings are larger than Portland.
Cleansing up parks ought to be proper in Portland’s wheelhouse. Nevertheless it appears to be like prefer it took a LePage media occasion to prod them into it regardless.
Whereas Portland’s politics could also be removed from the middle of our state, town stays an financial driver. The harbor is without doubt one of the arteries to get our merchandise into world markets; ongoing chilly storage growth is important if we’re to export our items. Engineering expertise — biomedical, or aerospace, or infrastructure — is interested in town as a part of a way of life.
Issues value cash, and our monetary core — directing capital to worthwhile ventures, whether or not area efforts in Aroostook or Monson’s resurgence — is present in Portland.
That’s the reason Portland is larger than itself. And to the extent its issues are usually not being adequately addressed on the native degree, it’s incumbent on Augusta to step in.
Even when it means holding a press convention to get them to scrub up a park.