I thank Sun Journal reporter Mark LaFlamme for reassuring my wife and I that we made the right choice in deciding not to live in Lewiston as we get set to move to the area from the Midwest. His column on the similarities between Lewiston and “Casablanca” did a lot to explain why more than a couple Maine residents told us they didn’t think we would want to actually live in the city where my wife will be working (March 2).

I’d like to give LaFlamme the benefit of the doubt that his column was satirical, but we’ve heard enough negative comments about Lewiston to make us think anyone reiterating them isn’t really interested in changing them. LaFlamme seems more the bartender than the Bogart in his tale. Which is too bad, because we’d really like someone to say something positive about the city. So far, that’s been elusive.

I guess we’ll just have to assume the worst and knock on wood that we don’t get scammed or offered crack. We won’t come to Lewiston for leisure because apparently no one does (I hear Auburn has all the shopping anyway).

And even though the problems of three or four people may not amount to a hill of beans in this world, their opinions on their home add up a lot quicker — especially when they come from the local newspaper.

Right now, they’re making us wonder if Lewiston could ever be more than just a pit stop in our own journey.

Clinton Larson, Sioux Falls, S.D.