PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • November 10, 2020
The Portland City Council will vote on a 12th historic district, to be comprised of half of Munjoy Hill. The proposal includes nothing to celebrate the diversity of The Hill’s people and history. Even the streets that were once occupied by African Americans are not even included in the district. The Armenians, Irish and Italians are also not recognized. Portland continues its outdated approach to preservation by focusing on building appearance, putting extra burden and cost on owners and, thus, renters. With Portland’s Black population at 8.25 percent and their income lower on average than the white population’s, the unintended effect is to push them out. ~ Carle Henry, Portland