MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • October 15, 2023
This newspaper, under the guise of objective journalism, recently published two pieces that I believe leave it in lockstep with every developer, real estate agent and speculative investor. The first (“Maine needs 84,000 new homes in the next 7 years, report finds,” Oct. 4) is a summary of a report by HR&A Advisors, a New York City-based real estate and economic development firm. To HR&A, the answer to every problem is more development. Why are Maine agencies commissioning a New York City consulting firm to guide our development? Do we want southern Maine to be more like suburban Long Island? The second piece, the editorial board’s position of last Sunday (“Our View: Communities must step up on housing – or step aside,” Oct. 8), was even more brazen. Rampant, unguided development will attract more and more out-of-staters, drive up taxes, crowd out schools, congest roadways and further degrade the Maine way of life. ~ Jeremy Doxsee, South Portland, holds a master’s of community planning and development