Many thanks to the Portland Press Herald for publishing Washington Post writer Eugene Robinson’s column recently (“Black people are killed for being Black. Again,” Aug. 29, Page A5). We need Robinson’s thoughtful voice on current affairs. May it be a regular feature going forward. Barbara Thomson Portland

When city, county and state officials invested by voters with responsibility to address public needs have been unable to provide shelter for all of the homeless people among us, homeless encampments should be accommodated, with water and toilet facilities provided. Removals, announced 24 hours or 24 days in advance, are disgusting. Remove the removers! William […]

The premise of a recent Bloomberg Opinion op-ed carried by the Press Herald (“Commentary: Women are drinking more alcohol and it’s killing them,” Aug. 22) is contradicted by multiple federal data sources that indicate neither alcohol use nor alcohol abuse among U.S. women have increased in recent years. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health […]

Regarding the Sept. 1 Chicago Tribune commentary, “Who bears the responsibility for decisions about Alzheimer’s treatment?”: In addition to the points made regarding Alzheimer’s treatment, it is also time we allow people to make advanced care directive choices when it comes to dementia. My mother had her future care all planned out – until she […]

In response to a recent letter regarding the Electoral College and National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (“Letter to the editor: Past time to popularize the popular vote,” Aug. 27): It’s all about how America is structured and organized. I must differ with the writer. The country is actually very divided over this compact. Today, the 16 […]

I was deeply saddened and appalled by the events in Hollis last week that seriously injured four members of the Maine State Police. This is a tragic reminder that troopers, sheriff’s deputies and local officers are out there, 24/7, regardless of the situation, doing their best to serve and protect. Law enforcement seldom gets positive […]

Our primary schools have creatively saved taxpayer money at our youngest learners’ and teachers’ expense. My mother, an educator in Scarborough for 42 years, spent her last 13 years in Scarborough teaching in a portable trailer. She retired eight years ago, and the now 21-year-old portable trailer remains in use today. Our primary and middle […]

Kudos to columnist Victoria Hugo-Vidal for her brilliant and righteous takedown of Rep. Jared Golden’s diatribe on student loan forgiveness (The Maine Millennial, Aug. 27). She takes issue with Golden’s definition of “working class” and his suggestion that young people “join the Marines” as a way to get a college education or “join a union […]