The answer to Marsha Auster’s letter (Nov. 5) asking why Lewiston-Auburn is overlooked by all the great stores in Portland, and how even the DownEaster Railroad goes around Lewiston-Auburn, is pretty simple.

Lewiston-Auburn has suffered from poor leadership for decades. The cities also compromised themselves by receiving federal funding continuously in order to build or house a low-income population.

Lewiston-Auburn is the dumping ground for all of New England and beyond. Why would stores want to locate here when the second-largest city in Maine is mostly made up of poverty-stricken people?

Welfare is the only attraction. There is no quality employment available here.

I would like to have a larger array of stores to patronize in Lewiston-Auburn, and when I want to visit my three children (who have all left the state for better jobs), it would be great to take a bus or train here in town instead of driving to Portland.

My only hope is that Gov.-elect Paul LePage will look kindly on his hometown and provide help to the locally elected officials and set them in the right direction. The cities need to pull out of the downward spiral in order to attract a better life for the few hard-working people of Lewiston and Auburn.

Steven Goulet, Greene