To the editor:
I have followed the developments and correspondence between the city of Caribou and the committee for secession since the onset of the secession movement. I vowed I would not enter the fray, as such a move can often lead to neighborhood animosities. However, I can no longer abide my silence on the issue.
There is a glaring lack of professionalism and an abundance of emotional ranting which characterizes the communications from the secession committee. This is not how decisions at the municipal level, which affect thousands of residents, should be made. It seems that some study of property tax rates and trends has been done by the committee. But there is also a decidedly angry bent to their whole premise that frankly has me concerned.
I stand to be relegated to living in “Lyndon” if this thing goes through, and I am not in favor of such a change. Such a huge change, based on a few men’s ire, is not in my best interest. The prospect of living in a “town” which has no center, which has no services other than those from the county, and which is led by some people who have proven that they can enact change by raising a ruckus, is not for me.
Rather, I would like to see a reasonable, considered and unemotional discussion of the list of concerns take place, with an impartial moderator so that things stay on track. Grown-up people should be capable of coming together and having a reasoned discussion, and solving problems, without creating a lose-lose situation such as the secessionists are proposing. I am willing to participate in such a problem-solving group.
Of course there is room for improvement in the ways some of the city’s decisions are made. That is always the case, and the reason is there is no single decision on a single topic that can satisfy 100 percent of the residents. However, in a country where we enjoy freedom of speech and local participation in the affairs of our city, we should embrace the opportunity to meet and discuss as much as is necessary – not limited to the regular meetings of the City Council – in order to resolve, revise and amend what is needed so that all parties’ issues are answered.
The problem of taxes needs to be addressed, but we need to do it together, as a community, and not take the bait of this wedge that drives us apart.
No one will benefit from splitting our community apart. No one. Now is the time to come together and make use of our freedoms wisely to solve our common problem. We need to proceed with wisdom.
Lisa R. Davis
Caribou
