By Scott Taylor
,
Staff Writer Friday, November 21, 2008
LEWISTON - If Congress sets aside money to stimulate the national economy, Lewiston wants to get its share.
The city is one of 153 municipalities in 43 states asking for a total of $89 billion in federal aid, part of a Main Street stimulus package proposed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
Lewiston is the only Maine municipality to take part in the group's funding request and one of only eight cities from New England.
"Our public infrastructure is falling apart and we depend on property taxes and excise taxes to pay for things," Mayor Larry Gilbert said. "I think we need a stimulus package to help us out."
The first draft of the Conference of Mayors' wish list includes 4,591 projects across 10 categories, including energy infrastructure, community development and highway work, airport and train investments, schools, public housing and drinking water improvements.
Programs in the first draft would bring $24 billion to cities and towns and would create 256,407 jobs nationally, according to the mayors' group.
Lewiston lists 31 capital works projects, including storm-water projects, repairs to city streets, upgrades to public housing, and heating and ventilation work at two Lewiston elementary schools. The list also includes $5 million for a passenger facility at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, three new buses for the Twin Cities' Citylink bus system and a $500,000 bus-washing system.
In all, Lewiston's wish list includes $35.7 million in capital investment.
"A lot of the things we're proposing would ... put people to work, doing the things we've fallen behind on because we haven't been able to afford them," Mayor Gilbert said.
President-elect Barack Obama has called on Congress to approve a broad economic stimulus bill before he takes office. It could include as much as $150 billion for bridge and road repairs. Obama has pledged to make those kinds of infrastructure investments after he's sworn in, if the current Congress fails to act.
Posted By:michael at November 21, 2008 6:10 AM(Suggest Removal) if these idiots would quit giving the farm away in welfare compensations and other socialist programs, then maybe their would be money for roads,schools etc..
Posted By:Kevin at November 21, 2008 6:35 AM(Suggest Removal) I think im gonna file for some of that Bailout money too. My roof looks shabby, my driveway needs to be redone and gosh I would really like to landscape my yard. This whole bailout has turned into the most foolish decision I think I have ever seen. It seems that businesses will no longer be held responsible for poor management decisions.The governement has now created welfare for business what a great idea Where did our Free Market Economy go?
Posted By:Josh at November 21, 2008 6:40 AM(Suggest Removal) Why should the money I pay in federal taxes go to Lewiston when I live in Auburn. Don't like the dump you live in, raise your property taxes to fix it up.
Posted By:Jay Bee at November 21, 2008 6:47 AM(Suggest Removal) To be fair, the City is required by Federal Law to separate their sewer and stormwater facilities, and like usual, the Feds didn't want to give them money to do it. It's only fair that Lewiston gets something back for all the millions they've been forced to commit.
Posted By:Mike at November 21, 2008 7:27 AM(Suggest Removal) They passed the bailout package even though many of us, including myself, thought otherwise. Not much we can do about that now so reality is if Lewiston doesn't get in line someone else will.
Posted By:'1776' at November 21, 2008 7:35 AM(Suggest Removal) This is interesting, taxes aren't going to be raised on 95% of the people, but "President-elect Barack Obama has called on Congress to approve a broad economic stimulus bill before he takes office. It could include as much as $150 billion for bridge and road repairs. Obama has pledged to make those kinds of infrastructure investments after he's sworn in, if the current Congress fails to act." but where is this money going to come from. Was this $150 billion part of the 'promises' that he said he was going to do - or an additional amount. According to economists and his fellow Democrats in Wash. Dc, he was going to fall $90 billions short on his promises. Now if he can get this done before he gets into office, he & the rest of the Democrats can say it was the fault of the 'Bush Administration'. Can anybody tell me of another 'President-Elect' that had set up a 'Presidential-Elect' office and podium with a fancy 'billboard' to advertise who he is? That's some arrogance. I've been around almost 70-years and I've never heard of it happening before, or the amount of publicity for the 'President-Elect'.
Posted By:Robert61 at November 21, 2008 7:40 AM(Suggest Removal) We were requested to submit and we did so, many communities did not submit as the timelines were quite tight. Amazing that some would fault the city for doing this while in ther posts ranting over having to pay in excess of $6,000 a year in city property taxes here. Jay Bee, on this we agree, the stormwater utility costs were an unfunded federal mandate, so if we can get some of that reimbursed that saves on local folks paying.
Posted By:Jason at November 21, 2008 7:46 AM(Suggest Removal) I'm all for reducing my tax burden if at all possible. Why not take advantage of something that is available from the fed. It would be stupid not to! If they were handing out free burgers at mcdonalds, you better believe I am going to take advantage of that. I guess some people just like to complain on here without merit?
Posted By:Lumpy82 at November 21, 2008 7:46 AM(Suggest Removal) Half a mil on a frggin bus washing system? Seriously? That would be on my priority list too.
Posted By:Dr. Hassan Bin Sobah at November 21, 2008 9:06 AM(Suggest Removal) Peggy Rotundo was quoted on the morning news saying that she hoped the Obama team would send money from Washington to help Maine out. And just where, Peggy, will this money come from? There are no money trees in Washington. It comes right out of the 50% of us that are working. Please note that the "evil Bush" team spends about 50% more in Maine than the great guys of the Clinton administration.
Posted By:Tired at November 21, 2008 9:10 AM(Suggest Removal) It'll take more than $35.7M to clean up "The Dirty Lew". They ought to do what Springfield did and just pick up the town and move it 5 miles down the road.
Posted By:Former Lewiston Resident at November 21, 2008 9:12 AM(Suggest Removal) Jason, where do you think the money from the FEDs is comming from. It's not free money, it's your hard earned tax dollars. So you paying for it no matter which way it goes.
Posted By:Scott at November 21, 2008 9:24 AM(Suggest Removal) While Dysarts, Bonj, may make a killing on washing big rigs, I'll bet that the city won't be able to use the washer to wash private property and charge a fee, although a great idea. How about we give the criminals in the Andro jail a ladder and a water hose to wash the busses. So R61 I will get my joke of a storm water fee back if you get this money? Jason, wake up. Any money from the feds came out of my pocket as well as yours, that is if you work. You are right Micheal, if we would not give handouts to those that CAN work we would have money to fix up the roads and bridges.
Posted By:Not-So-Freshman Ryan at November 21, 2008 9:50 AM(Suggest Removal) You're all wrong. This money is not coming from your pockets. It's coming from Chinese investor who fund the federal deficit. The only people paying for it are the crippled future generations of the world. That being said, the economy sucks and the best ways to fix that are investments in infrastructure and education. Those are the two things (according to Keynesian Economics) that can increase our country's production, so what the city is asking for would actually help to turn our local economy around and would set us up for a more prosperous future.
Posted By:Jason at November 21, 2008 10:36 AM(Suggest Removal) It's the country's hard earned tax dollars. From EVERYONE in the country, our (read: maine tax payers) burden would be minimal. It's not a direct tax. If it's going to get handed out anyway, there is no reason we shouldn't take advantage of that. I would rather see it benefit a town in maine than a town in AZ.
Posted By:j at November 21, 2008 11:23 AM(Suggest Removal) Wow, some of you just dont get it. This doesnt reduce overall tax burden, we're still paying for it. Further, I see no reason why Federal bailout money should go to any city or town. Tighten your belt like the rest of us have to. INteresting how one bailout package has now turned every business, city and state into a welfare case with their hand out. The point is, the money SHOULD NOT BE HANDED OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE. And Ryan, investing in education you say? Interesting how the battles in every small town in Maine is about cutting the school budgets and the State just decided that they will not be paying what they had said they would this year. JASON, irrelevant who's taxes are paying for it, your line of thinking is what is wrong with this country today.
Posted By:Robert61 at November 21, 2008 11:39 AM(Suggest Removal) Darn looks like that Ryan kid is pretty smart, not bad for being raised in Lewiston, must be good parenting. Scott, depending on what we get from the fed and how they allocate its possible to reduce or eliminate the stormwater utility program, can't say right now as its all speculation and there is no fed program for this, its just a request by the National Mayors council to show what we would need. As to welfare and rents, the amount allowed is $500 either way it just changes how much paperwork you do to qualify someone based on wihch formula you use. But I can understand how someone not understanding finance and having a sgort attention span would not understand this issue.
Posted By:Scott at November 21, 2008 4:13 PM(Suggest Removal) R61, I read Bonj bashing you all the time and never really agreed with or thought he was being fair until now. You have a typical politicians view, throw more money at it. For your info, I don't have a short attention span and have great financial knowhow. I own two houses, one an apartment building in Lewiston, which will both be paid off early. I have zero credit card debt and until the greed and bad decision making by our gov't and financial institutions screwed up the economy and tanked my 401k I was on my way to retiring at 55. All that and just a poor Lewiston High school education. Go figure.
Posted By:Merlin at November 21, 2008 4:19 PM(Suggest Removal) What in creation is this world coming to. Every two bit politician including Mayor Dilbert is looking for a piece of the pie. He probably feels that since half of his constituents are on welfare why not he and his goonies?
Posted By:Jason at November 21, 2008 4:20 PM(Suggest Removal) Well the 21 people on here can voice their opinion to stop the handouts. It's going to happen regardless of how you feel, there is no vote to be had on this. I feel it should be taken advantage of or someone else from another state will. I'm all for cutting back spending, but I am not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Posted By:Robert61 at November 21, 2008 5:14 PM(Suggest Removal) Scott, you weren't the one with a short attention span I was referring to, chill out. Now as to the politician view, lets see, someone comes up to the city and says what would you use the money for if it was available - the city put together a list, did not consult or tell the councilors ahead of time, but somehow its us being greedy and ruining the economy. Now lets say the money already in Washington and not affecting your tax dollars did come and and we reduced your property tax bill in Lewiston, are you opposed to a reduced tax bill, because if you are no one is forcing you to pay less than what it could have been. I can almost guarentee that if it had been Auburn requesting the funds the same people complaining about Lewiston looking for awelfare handout from the fed would be on here screaming because we didn't do the same, in fact thats what many are asking of their Auburn councilors today. Lastly, if you read the artile you'd understand that a great portion of any money we receive would help create jobs in this town and allow for more good business development, another plus. Okay, so time for the final exam class...you're walking down the street and see a $10 bill on the ground, and you hear the street sweeper coming behind you - do you pick it up or let it go into the sweeper to be dumped with trash. Thats a pretty fair equevelent of what MIGHT happen if in fact this proposed bailout was eacted. Our president-elect said he wantedf to help many rural states and towns hurting, the Mayors conference came up with a plan and presented it to the fed, all in a very short time period. Oh and as to paying off the apartment building early, you might want to consult with your tax preparer and at least understand the consequences when you sell the property. Hello capital gains, something the president elect wants to increase the rates on.
Posted By:Robert61 at November 21, 2008 5:24 PM(Suggest Removal) J & Scott, bonus question, do you really think that by not having this money your taxes would go down on the federal and state level? The money already exists, the question becomes who will get it - banks got theirs, auto manufacturers are trying to get theirs and the cities are saying hey if you want to really stimulate the economy here's what we think would help the most. Again, the money is aready there, giving it to Lewiston would not affect your tax bill for income, but might make your property tax bill lower. Seems some of you might just be from Auburn and be upset because Auburn did not get in on time because "they had too much going on" (true quote from someone who works there).
Posted By:Merlin at November 21, 2008 5:41 PM(Suggest Removal) Robert61,as a two bit politician in a welfare town you certainly are at home. Your views reflect those of past DFF who were members of the Lewiston city council. "If de goverments are givin away monei we shud get some too dere.
Posted By:Robert61 at November 21, 2008 11:54 PM(Suggest Removal) So Merlin, I assume you'd rather it went to London to bail out AIG? Or to Israel to protect itself wth our money while hoarding their own? I assume DFF stands for Darn Fine Friends
ICAEL accreditation is the mark of quality for echocardiography services,
so we are pleased to have earned this distinction. It demonstrates that we
are providing a high quality service to our patients, said CMHVI Executive
Director Susan Horton.
a cardiologist who specializes in electrophysiology,
has been appointed to the Central Maine Medical Center Medical Staff. She is
practicing with Central Maine Heart Associates, a clinical department of
CMMC.
is the first Midwifery Service in Maine and only the second in New England to be recognized by the American College of Nurse-Midwives with its Golden “With Women for a Lifetime” Commendation.
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