Growing up on Lincoln Street and Little Canada during World War II and its aftermath, I witnessed firsthand the atrocities inflicted on families by unscrupulous landlords. Parents, working long hours in the mills, arrived home to find their children and furniture stacked on sidewalks while others occupied their apartments. It mattered little what seasonal conditions prevailed. Children of these families were my friends, and the memory of their suffering remains vivid to this day.

I prayed we had learned from the past and risen above its abominations. I was wrong. Greed and lack of human compassion remain intact. Only the names change. History repeats itself in the plight of hapless families facing eviction for the Auburn Mall expansion. Could this not wait until after the holidays or more clement moving conditions in the spring? With so many vacant mall areas, is this expansion necessary? Growth and development must transcend greed to become a meaningful asset to any community.

What about tenant rights? The demolition company removed private property without informing Lisa Fortier of its intentions. The developer admits no one notified Fortier and claims the demolition company “moved more quickly than expected.”

Hello! Is no one in charge of this project? As the community rallies for these tenants, how about a law firm stepping up to protect their rights? There is nothing in the developer’s mall that I cannot buy elsewhere. Not one cent of mine will ever line the pockets of the “Grinch who stole Christmas!”

Roger R. Turcotte, Lewiston

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