The state Legislature has the opportunity to vote for justice for the tribes in Maine. Constituents are asking legislators to support L.D. 1626, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act. Passing this bill would give our tribal neighbors equal access to the benefits […]

Has it caught your attention that there’s been an increase in travel and shipping as the economy picked up in 2021? Whenever there was a story in the paper on the record number of visitors to state and national parks, I thought of the carbon pollution associated with it. Similarly, when more freighters and trucks […]

The rights of the tribes in Maine can seem of minor concern amid today’s urgencies. Why should we care about L.D. 1626 when we’re dealing with supply chain disruptions, on top of COVID-19 disruptions, on top of climate change disruptions? Because we could learn a lot from Maine tribes. Obviously, Maine tribes have dealt with […]

On Jan. 14, the Press Herald published a commentary by G. Christopher Hunt, formerly an associate provost at the University of New England (“Biden must honor his word to Black voters, Dr. King’s legacy”), criticizing President Biden for what Mr. Hunt inexplicably characterizes as the president’s lack of leadership on voting rights. To say that […]

I firmly believe, with my entire body, that this country runs on the backs of mothers. American society and culture acts as if becoming a mother is a purely personal decision, like buying a new car or switching jobs. But mothers sacrifice their bodies, their careers, their sanity, truly, to keep this country going with […]

I am incredibly disappointed in the Portland Press Herald for reprinting the anti-teacher, anti-union, anti-public school Bloomberg Opinion editorial (Another View, Jan. 15) that calls for, among other things, shifting funds to charter schools and loosening teacher certification requirements. This kind of rhetoric leaves public schools holding the responsibility for keeping the economy and society […]

Sen. Susan Collins says she is proud to have been a cosponsor of the 2006 reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act but doesn’t mention that it has since been gutted by two Supreme Court rulings. Why is she now saying she will not vote for the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting […]

We are a group of social service and health care organizations in Portland, including Catholic Charities; Crossroads; Day One; Group Main Stream, Inc.; KFI Maine; Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition; Maine Behavioral Healthcare; Maine Medical Center; Seventy-Five State Street; Spurwink; St. Joseph’s Manor; Sweetser; The Cedars; The Opportunity Alliance, and Youth and Family Outreach. We want […]

In order to submit this letter for possible publication, you require me to provide my first and last names, as well as my town and state. I assume if my words lacked civility, they would likely not be published. Still, the Portland Press Herald – and other newspapers – allow uncivil and vile online comments […]