I could not be prouder of Lewiston. I watched the Jan. 23 Lewiston City Council meeting via Livestream and was was deeply moved by the level of goodwill, civic engagement and passionate, civil discussion of the bill LD 1492, An Act To Attract, Educate and Retain New Mainers To Strengthen the Workforce.

There was much agreement in the room. Many people agreed on the importance of integrating new Mainers (primarily refugees and asylum seekers), many of whom come with much needed skills (doctors, lawyers, carpenters, teachers, accountants, cooks, child and elderly care, etc.) but are limited by language.

People agreed that there are gaps in services for this population but differ on the strategies to fill those gaps. Some people, including the mayor, thought that there is no need to allocate state funds but, rather, rely on partnerships between businesses and nonprofits.

I don’t think it is an either/or choice. Lewiston needs all-hands-on-deck. How the city spends money reflects the values and priorities of the residents. The revised bill has cut the funding nearly in half and shows a willingness to compromise on the part of its supporters.

That is not a huge amount of money but it will send a signal that Lewiston residents are willing to put their money where their mouths are and that they will work in concert with existing institutions to support new Mainers who are eager to participate and contribute to this community and this country.

It is a win-win situation.

Bonnie Shulman, Auburn

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