Lewiston is not some little burg that should lose track of its responsibilities because a member of the city staff leaves or changes jobs. But that’s exactly what the officials say happened to explain why required Department of Environmental Protection permits where not obtained before the high school and several other facilities where built 30 years ago.

A state law was enacted in 1970 that required all significant developments to get permits to ensure the sites meet environmental standards. The permits should be issued before construction begins.

The school system did not fulfill its obligation in 1973, when it built the high school and Multi-Purpose Center, in 1975 when it built tennis courts or in the 1980s when it built a parking lot. Any simple mistake looks like a systematic problem of compliance when it keeps happening.

The school system and the DEP uncovered the problems in 1994 and applied for “after-the-fact” permits and then, a little later, asked for an extension on the application deadline.

Fast-forward to 2003 and the permits still have not been issued. But now, there’s a penalty. The lack of permits is holding up a project to build a walking and biking trail through Franklin Pasture and down to Lisbon Street. DEP is refusing to issue a permit for the trail until the “after-the-fact” permits are completed.

Both the DEP and city schools share blame. Surely, it’s reasonable to expect a little follow-through from local and state government to make sure the laws on the books are enforced.

The school department plans to take care of the situation soon.

It could take as long as six months for the permits to be issued, if nobody forgets. Meanwhile, work on the trail waits.


When TV attacks
Fox News Network doesn’t think Al Franken is funny.

To prove it, they’ve filed a lawsuit trying to stop the former Saturday Night Live comedian from using the phrase “fair and balanced” on the cover of his new book, which pokes fun at the network and its bombastic hosts.

Titled “Lies, and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right,” Franken’s book has soared on Amazon.com’s pre-release sales figures as a result of the publicity the Fox suit has generated.

In the suit, Fox News claims “fair and balanced” is part of its trademark. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a trademark is: “A word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.”

There’s little chance that consumers would confuse Franken’s satire as a stand-in for Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News.

Perhaps intended to intimidate, the suit, which sinks to name calling, has done just the opposite. Franken is rolling in the extra attention his book is receiving.

Fox News built its brash empire dishing it out. Now on the receiving end, the network shows itself to be thin-skinned and frivolous.
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