Council track record in real estate is not good

To the editor:

Open and transparent meetings about South Portland City Hall do not guarantee good decisions. They may guarantee that some points of view will be aired. But changing the minds of those who have an active agenda on the issue is problematic. 

Neighbors opposed building the fourth floor of the Ingall’s building on Waterman Drive. So what? That input was ignored. The developer’s view for profit prevailed. Where is the profit now? We do know how the neighbors felt ignored, again.

The council has a very poor record on real estate decisions. Pity the poor taxpayers who pay for the mistakes, again and again.

William R. Laidley

South Portland

Remember Cold War veterans during holiday

To the editor:

To the citizens of South Portland, please recognize and honor our Cold War veterans and veterans of every era and time of service no matter what uniform was worn, this year and every year.

Since the city of South Portland has been kind and thoughtful enough to declare May 1 as Cold War Victory Day, I have another suggestion.

I do not know how far along the planning is for this year’s Veterans Day Parade, so this request might be a little late.

I ask that this year’s Veterans Day Parade be themed as “Welcome Home Cold War Veterans.”

This would be a small honor to all those who served during the Cold War, from September 1945 to December 1991.

These brave and dedicated men and women have long been forgotten, ignored and often told they are “not veterans” since it was a supposed “time of peace.” Many of these veterans are denied membership to the VFW and American Legion.

It is time to remember and honor these veterans and finally give them the thanks they so justly deserve.

I look forward to hearing any thoughts or comments you might have on this request.

Jerald Terwilliger

National chairman

American Cold War Veterans