March 29, 2024
Letter

Fools and their money

The July 10 article regarding the purchase of land by Roxanne Quimby for a possible national park in northern Maine is unwelcome and not supported by the people in this part of the state. In addition to the general populace, 10 counties, 32 communities and three agencies plus Gov. King, Sens. Snowe and Collins, Reps. Baldacci and Allen, and the Maine Legislature have all come out against the proposal. It is arrogant to buy land for a purpose not supported by those who would be most affected.

The belief that low-paying service jobs are preferable to high-paying forest products job is indefensible. To condemn the northern third of the state to seasonal trinket-selling to tourists in the summer and to unemployment and poverty the rest of the time is unethical. I also find it ironic that Quimby chose to export the business and jobs that made her so wealthy to North Carolina when Maine people could have used them to support their families.

To now return to Maine, join the board of RESTORE: the North Woods, buy property for a park, and tell us how she wants to save us from ourselves and prevent us from making a good, honest living is as bizarre as it gets. Message from northern Maine to Quimby: Leave us and our way of life alone. We don’t want your park or your unfortunate, inaccurate and unfair depictions of the hard-working people of our part of the state.

Perhaps you could use your money for better purposes, like giving grants to schools, libraries and other organizations that beg for adequate funding for children’s programs and capital improvements or for legitimate economic development that would help the working people of Maine.

Eugene J. Conlogue

Millinocket town manager


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