opinion Archives - The Portland Press Herald

Joe Guzzardi: Pregnant moms at the border, thanks to immigration policy

by Joe Guzzardi Guest column June 2, 2023June 1, 2023

President Biden’s welcome-the-world border policy presents graver challenges than just admitting an estimated 10 million worldwide migrants by the time the Biden term ends in January 2025. Among the migrants are convicted criminals and terrorists on the FBI’s watch list. And needing specialized attention are pregnant women. A Time story, “Pregnant Asylum-Seekers Needed Help at […]

Times Record Opinion

Carl Golden: Biden campaign to take a ‘Where’s Waldo’ approach

by Carl Golden Guest column June 2, 2023June 1, 2023

While the contours of President Biden’s re-election campaign have yet to come into focus, early signs imply leaning greatly on surrogates to shoulder the heavy burden of promoting the president’s record and engaging in aggressive negativity against his opponent. The strategy suggests shielding the president from the media and maintaining tight control over his public […]

Maine Voices, Opinion

Maine Voices: Concerned about the essence of urban life in Portland’s Bayside

by Kelley McDaniel Special to the Press Herald June 2, 2023June 1, 2023

Urbanist and activist Jane Jacobs’ concept of ‘the sidewalk ballet’ risks being steamrollered by a new apartment block on Hanover Street.

Op-eds, Opinion

Commentary: Background checks are the backbone of gun violence prevention

by Judi and Wayne Richardson Special to the Press Herald June 2, 2023June 1, 2023

Nothing will bring back our spirited, loving daughter Darien Richardson, but we know we can prevent more tragedies.

Op-eds, Opinion

Commentary: Work requirements won’t solve labor shortages

by Cara Brumfield and Emily Andrews Progressive Perspectives June 2, 2023June 1, 2023

And they do more harm than good, especially among the people they’re supposed to help.

Times Record Opinion

Giving Voice: Pulling together to weather the housing crisis

by Andrew Lardie Interim executive director, Tedford Housing June 1, 2023June 1, 2023

Last Friday at Tedford Housing, for the first time in memory, five men who spoke little English knocked on our door asking for a bed for the night. It was a bit chaotic as they patiently strained to control their desperation — strained be heard. Everyone is worried about housing right now, with good reason. […]

Times Record Opinion

The Maine Idea: Ukraine a defining issue for 2024

by Douglas Rooks The Maine Idea June 1, 2023May 31, 2023

Was everybody as bored by the debt limit “crisis” as I was? This alleged drama, covered wall-to-wall by every major news outlet incessantly for days on end, was always headed for a predictable and undramatic ending. President Biden made some minor and fleeting concessions to the fact of a (tiny) Republican majority in the House, […]

Times Record Opinion

Tom Purcell: Americans rediscover the summer picnic

by Tom Purcell Guest column June 1, 2023May 31, 2023

It’s a positive trend that I hope continues: the resurgence of summer picnics. According to Mental Floss, the COVID pandemic caused a picnic boom beginning in 2020 that is showing no signs of letting up. In 2020, with restaurants shuttered and experts telling us the bug didn’t spread so easily in outdoor air, many people, […]