To the editor:
There have been some vocal suggestions and background whispers that the commotion surrounding the secession of Lyndon has caused the city of Caribou to become unattractive to new business and residents who otherwise might have relocated to Caribou. This is a diversion to obscure the reality of the serious decline that has fallen upon our city.
The decline of Caribou began long ago, when the town became a city. In 1960, the town of Caribou had reached its highest population ever of 12,464. Presque Isle’s population, which was always smaller, had caught up with Caribou throughout the 1950’s and (then in 1960) actually exceeded Caribou’s population by 422 residents).
Between 1960 and 1970, Caribou became a city of outmigration. The 1970 Census showed that the population of Caribou had declined to 11,419 which represented a loss of 1,045 residents. Throughout the 1970s the city of Caribou continued to report residents leaving the area and by the time the 1980 Census was taken another 1,503 people had left Caribou, which now had a population of 9,916.
The 1970’s Urban Renewal project was a disaster. It was a big gamble based upon a Las Vegas mentality that if you build it they will come. It virtually destroyed the Downtown District encompassing Sweden and Main streets. It was a project pushed through by the then new City,Council, which devastated retail shopping in Caribou. For every one business that was successfully relocated, three others were lost. It was a huge failure of urban planning. The gamble was a total loss and the results of that tragedy are still evident today.
Like the Circus Maximus of ancient Rome, Sweden street has now become the modern day venue for the entertainment of the masses through street parties to distract them from the misery that surrounds them.
The 1980s were not kind to Caribou either. After the first decision to close Loring Air Force Base was beaten back, the U.S. military pumped millions of dollars into the refurbishing of Loring and the outmigration of workers and their families slowed a bit. In 1990, the Census reported a Caribou population of 9,415, a loss of another 501 citizens. Then, when the closure of Loring AFB became a reality in the1990’s, the city of Caribou saw another 1,103 residents moving away. The 2000 Census now showed a population of 8,312.
The Caribou City Council, had put all its eggs in one basket in the hope of taking back the title of “Hub of Aroostook County” which it had always held. Modernize the downtown and calling itself the “The Most Northeast City in the United States” was their move to take back their lead. It was a failure.
Instead of regrouping and trying another strategy, they are still looking at and investing their time and energy in developing the “Downtown District” which is hanging on for dear life but is doomed to fail. It will never regain its stature as a thriving retail marketing area due to the crushing burden of high real estate and personal property taxes.
For more than 40 years, Caribou has been competing with Presque Isle for economic development and the growth of population that comes with it. Regrettably, Caribou has lost in every way imaginable. This competition has led to the over taxation of citizens and in particular, its rural homeowners.
It is plain to see that the Caribou Secession Committee was formed because of the past and present failures of Caribou and is in no way responsible for them. Caribou, with the present City Council, is unfixable and we want no part of this failing enterprise. Instead, we will devote our time and energies to rebuilding the town of Lyndon into a community where taxes will be reasonable because our town government will be much smaller and more efficient.
Perhaps the post-secession Caribou will learn from our success!
