To the editor:
In case you missed it, the Jan. 2-3, 2016 edition of the Bangor Daily News contained a front page article entitled 10 QUESTIONS FOR MAINE IN 2016.The second question pondered by the writer was, “What if Caribou Splits?”
In an attempt to explain the relevance of their question, they say that “a divorce of urban and rural exemplifies the growing tensions in Maine.” We agree. Our City Council, in particular, refuses to recognize the different needs and expectations of our rural community. Their “one size fits all” approach to governance speaks volumes about the structure of our local government, which lacks direct representation of rural citizens.
The news story continues with the explanation that, “More so than ever, our state is divided between north and south, east and west, prosperous and struggling, growing and graying.” This is all true. But the glaring difference between the State and Caribou municipal governments is that rural communities have elected representatives in the Maine Legislature, where we do not have direct representation in Caribou.
The news article concludes by asking, “If a rock-ribbed community such as Caribou can split along these lines, what does it say for the rest of Maine?” The question uses an interesting adjective to describe Caribou. Rock-ribbed means, unyielding, confirmed and uncompromising. Precisely! That term accurately describes the exact condition which has fostered the problems leading to our secession effort.
We think a better question to ask is; What happens if Caribou doesn’t split?
The short answer is that rural residents will continue to be exploited by a non-representative City Council that caters to the urban residents who, on a per capita basis, pay significantly less property taxes than rural residents. And our right to petition our municipal government regarding matters of taxation and spending will be violated into perpetuity as the size and cost of city government continues to grow faster than the rate of inflation.
As we begin the New Year, we are thankful for the protections afforded to us by Article One, Section Two of the Maine Constitution which empowers us “to alter, reform, or totally change the same(our government), when their safety and happiness require it.”
The rebirth of the town of Lyndon is simply a constitutional reorganization of governmental services for a 28 percent reduction in property taxes.
