To the editor:
In regard to the Presque Isle Bypass Project: I grew up in Presque Isle (born 1942) and have practiced optometry here for 36 of those years. I know my town perhaps better than most. I have studied the Project and its impact and have concluded that it’s not just a horrible waste of our tax dollars, but will have no benefit to our community. The Project, by design, can only hurt the community of Presque Isle. Besides, the state of Maine is flat broke and has been since Angus King left office; Gov. Baldacci has done nothing but add to our state debt by allowing unnecessary projects to proceed — the Presque Isle Bypass Project is one of those. Sen. Collins should have the good sense to discontinue the Project but appears not to have the wherewithall to do so. Politicians basically have little feel for saving taxpayers from devastating debt; they’re never personally affected.
In short, the Project is not only a dumb idea, but will cost taxpayers millions of bucks we don’t have. If the Project is carried out, despite the wishes of the vast majority of local business people, the state of Maine will go deeper into debt and irrevocable damage will be incurred by our city. Again, the politicians who appropriated the Project money will never be affected. The state of Maine is on the brink of bankruptcy and has been for some time now. Efforts to circumvent bankruptcy have come way too late and now the nation’s very being is in jeopardy. The Bypass Project should be abandoned. If the Project went to a local referendum, it would be summarily defeated.
Presque Isle
