Auburn’s government cost to operate will continue to increase, probably at a rapid rate.  If private sector economic development is retarded, or even stopped, city-provided services will have to be curtailed. Our property tax rate already is one of the highest in Maine. So, voters might ask candidates “What do you propose we do about […]

In an Aug. 26 letter, Robert Reed cites statistics about the effects of inflation (“Necessities were more affordable under Trump than Biden“). Unfortunately, he’s missing the all-important “why.” But before I get to that, Mr. Reed says the president controls the Federal Reserve. Not true. He nominates — and the Senate approves — the independent […]

I completely agree with Liz Henry’s in-rebuttal response to Dan Bilodeau, published Aug. 22. Also, in the SJ that day was the announcement that Mayor Jason Levesque is seeking a fourth term, checking off what he considers his accomplishments. He appears to have no awareness that his efforts to fill Auburn with multi-unit housing while […]

I am deeply worried about the future of public education in Maine. Unless the State Legislature adjusts the school funding formula this session, Mainers will find themselves paying much more for far less in their local schools next year. This is not about politics; it is about math. We all know it. Home values have […]

I am very upset about the city of Auburn’s decision to cancel the recycling program. It was a very shortsighted decision. Many of us recycled, and for good reasons. The city needed to do some education about the recycling program, not just cancel it. In effect what the city did was to shift the cost […]