Recently, the Lewiston City Council heard a proposal from the Visible Community and the Neighborhood Housing League, requesting more code officers. They are gravely needed (just ask parents trying to keep their children warm this winter).

Two code enforcement officers are not enough to meet the demand of the community. Asking for proactive officers was met with the statement that there wasn’t enough money in the budget to pay for additional personnel salaries.

I am reminded of a school’s personnel who took a cut in salary to prevent losing a teacher.

In today’s economic struggles, everyone is expected to do his part. Or are city officials excluded? Are their jobs more important than those of other people? More important than the safety of Lewiston’s citizens? Weren’t they voted in as a service to their community? I expect the people I voted for to be in service to the people who voted them into office.

The second point from the meeting was that most of the councilors seem to think that trash is the biggest problem in Lewiston.

That seems to me to be an issue for property owners. In other states, the property owners are fined for having trash conducive to an eyesore.

Or are the council members referring to the unemployed, disabled, senior citizens, new Americans, or low-income citizens? It wasn’t clear to me. I hope the councilors remember that all those people have the right to vote.

Kay Lavoie, Lewiston