To the editor:

It seems to me that there are a few people in Brunswick who don’t want to see economic growth. I refer to the railroad abutters in the Bouchard Drive area.

The downtown district is hanging on by a thread. Those of us who are in the customer service industry are holding on by a thread. The Downeaster in its full capacity would bring in plenty of people with money to spend in our downtown area.

I and the others who work on Maine Street need more people coming in and out to support ourselves and our families, not to mention the business owners who can reap the benefits as well.

With the influx of people and money to downtown Brunswick, owners could, in turn, hire more staff, make necessary upgrades to their shops and raise employee pay.

All of these things would be fantastic, not only for those who work but for those who shop downtown.

We are blessed with such a great walking downtown area with great artisan shops along the side streets, but without the full capacity of the Downeaster, these little shops might not be around very long.

I feel like the railroad abutters are trying to take money out of my pocket, my boss’ pocket and the pockets of everyone else who works or owns a business on Maine Street.

I urge folks who work downtown to take a stand and call you town councilor to tell him or her that a small percentage of this town cannot hold the rest of us hostage. They don’t have the right information and continue to use lies and scare tactics to get people on their side.

They have dragged the Town Council into an area where it doesn’t have any jurisdiction. It’s time to put an end to the nonsense and do the right thing.

We need to step aside and let the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority do its job.

I’ve grown up under the flight path of Brunswick Naval Air Station, and anytime I would complain, the only answer I got was, “If you don’t like the noise, then move.”

It may be harsh, but nobody made them buy a house next to the train tracks.

Rob Peabody

Brunswick