Portsmouth needs to set priorities for its 'grandiose projects': Letters
Portsmouth needs to set priorities for its 'grandiose projects'
July 27 — To the Editor:
Portsmouth may have to face the reality that our city simply does not have enough space to accommodate all of the grandiose projects that it is currently considering, at least not if we don't want to sacrifice such beneficial aspects of our city's life and fabric as our beloved farmers market, our children's ballfields, free parking spaces close to downtown, or views of our historic architecture. Also, a recent article in the Union Leader stated that a scientific study concluded that people who live near green space live, on average, 2.5 years longer ("Want to live longer? Long-term exposure to green spaces could be part of the answer, research finds," Union Leader, July 11, 2023).
It may be advisable to prioritize our city's potential undertakings. Clearly, a better police station should be first since it affects public safety. I would think that workforce housing would be second, and that a sports complex should be third. Perhaps we should decide exactly what to do about the police station before making any concrete plans for the lower priority projects. Furthermore, we certainly should not be willing to give up any of the very special parts of Portsmouth life that make it the unique place that it is for any of these endeavors.
Christina Lusky
Portsmouth
A fitting honor for Mel and Jean Low of Rye
July 28 — To the Editor:
Nicely done! On July 24, after statements of support from many in attendance at the Rye Select Board meeting, Chairman Tom King proposed dedicating the conference room at the Rye Town Hall Annex to Mel and Jean Low. The naming in their honor passed unanimously.
The Lows, who have lived in Rye since 1960, were instrumental in creating Parsons Park Corporation which placed Parsons Field and the Rye Town Forest into conservation, thereby preserving this extensive recreation area for Rye forever. They were part of the effort to repulse Onassis's attempt to sink an oil pipeline off of Rye's beaches.
Mel served two terms on the Rye Select Board and negotiated with the Housing Partnership to provide affordable housing in Rye for more than two decades. The list of their contributions as civic volunteers goes on and on and this recognition is well deserved.
Cathy Hodson
Rye
How many wrongs will it take for the political right to get it right?
July 27 — To the Editor:
We have all heard the saying two wrongs do not make a right. However, I wonder how many wrongs it takes for the right to finally get it right? Since at least the 1980s, the right-wing Republicans have been wrong on the major issues of abortion, climate change/environment. Democracy, taxes/economy, education, LGBT rights, history, guns, public health and health care. While I am sure some will take exception to my characterization of who is wrong on these issues, the facts, as one writer stated, “speak for themselves.”
With regard to abortion, a June 2023 Gallup poll found that 69% of Americans support legal abortion in the first 3 months of pregnancy. The results of the 2022 mid-term elections also support this polling. With regard to climate, one need not look past the U.S. has broken more than 2,000 high temperature records in the past month, and that the water temperature at the tip of Florida has exceeded 100 degrees. On democracy the right-wing now embraces Autocrats like Orban of Hungary, holding their CPAC convention there and inviting him to speak at their gatherings here. They also continue to support Donald Trump despite his obvious attempt to overthrow the 2020 election and his disregard for the laws of the nation. The right continues to support more tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations despite the fact that their previous tax cuts have added $10 trillion to the national debt and are responsible for a 90% increase in the debt ratio if you exclude the one-time COVID and 2008 Great Recession expenditures. (Center for American progress, 5/23) The right also continues to oppose any reasonable gun safety reforms despite the fact that 87% of Americans favor criminal background checks, 77% favor a 30-day waiting period and 61% favor a ban on assault weapons. (FOX News 4/23) The right also proved to be dead wrong with regard to public health. A recent study determined that Republicans experienced a 43% increase in excess mortality after the COVID vaccine was made available. (NPR 7/23) I could go on but you get the point.
Unfortunately, the right has still not gotten the message on many of these issues, even though the 2022 midterm elections should have sent off alarm bells. To make up for their losing positions Republicans have resorted to extreme gerrymandering and voter suppression to maintain control of statehouses and for the moment, the House of Representatives. Considering the changing demographics of the nation and how far out of touch the right is with the younger generations this strategy will also prove to be wrong. Hopefully we will still have a country by that time.
Rich DiPentima. LTC, USAFR, Ret.
Portsmouth
Live in southern Maine? Apply for low-cost, high-speed internet
July 28 — To the Editor:
Low income residents of southern Maine have a great opportunity right now to apply for low-cost high speed internet service. We (Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission) are asking everyone to spread the word to families, neighbors, and anyone who could benefit from Maine’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Internet access is now a critical part of civic engagement, employment, and access to essential services, such as telehealth and education. Enrolling in the ACP program can help to significantly reduce the household financial burden associated with monthly internet costs while helping everyone access high capacity, high speed broadband from home.
Here’s how it works: Maine’s ACP is a federally-funded program that provides a financial discount of up to $30 per month on broadband internet service and a one-time $100 discount on the purchase of an internet-capable device with participating internet service providers. To date, the ACP program has successfully enrolled approximately 84,000 households statewide out of the nearly 240,000 who are eligible in Maine. We’re working with Sanford-based York County Community Action Corporation to enroll as many eligible households as possible.
Eligibility criteria for ACP enrollment includes a maximum household income of $60,000 for a household of four. For qualifying households, the subsidy could bring the cost of monthly internet down to as low as $19.99 per month, depending on which internet service provider is used.
Visit www.getinternet.gov to determine eligibility and to sign up for the ACP program directly. York County residents interested in enrolling can also get one-on-one support with the enrollment process from staff at the York County Community Action Corporation by calling 207-977-4096.
We don’t want anyone to get left behind!
James Rather, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth needs to set priorities for 'grandiose projects': Letters
