An open letter to Gov. Baldacci, Rep. John Martin and friends

To the editor:
    We recently read in the Bangor Daily News that we will use and spend the Stimulus Federal Funds for repairing and adding bituminous concrete (hot top) sections of Highway 295 between Gardiner and Portland, other surrounding areas in the city of Portland and even around the Bangor area. Is this the cooperation that our state of Maine wants to offer to our federal government? Are we misleading the Federal Stimulus agenda by doing work, due to the shortfall of our state’s revenues, and spending federal dollars to finance state road repair work? We see your decisions as a great contradiction to what Stimulus Funds are intended for. We deeply believe that the Stimulus Funds are designed to help create permanent jobs with new projects. Why be against creating permanent jobs for our working people and against justice to all people in our great state?
    We understand that our state could submit appropriate plans to our Federal Stimulus people if the plans are ready. We are really baffled with the $8 million plans on the termination of Highway 95 between Smyrna to the St. John Valley. Where are those plans and can we implement those at this time? Can we get straight answers from you, Gov. Baldacci, and from our Aroostook-State politicians? It may be time to get legitimate answers on our very serious concerns.
    On the weekend news, we witnessed President Obama give outstanding talks to the people of Africa from Accra, Ghana. Our President challenged Ghanaians against corruption and conflict in favor of peace and he said, “Yes you can”. Today, we ask you to shed justice to all, fairness to all and equal opportunity to all in our beautiful state of Maine. This is something that our Governor, with the help of our Legislature, can do. We say, “Yes you can”. We say, if we have honest attitude on equal rights and equal opportunity in mind, “Yes we can”.
    Other great concerns that we have is that our own Governor still does not respond to our legitimate questions regarding the rights of our northern Maine people who seem to be treated as second-class citizens. At times, we feel being badly discriminated against. Secondly, why can’t we follow and execute the “Term Limit Laws” that are in the books? Thirdly, why should the people from southern and central Aroostook want to control and dictate their wishes upon our people of the St. John Valley? We all know that it create unequal opportunities? We just can’t understand why we should be treated so differently.
    At one time or another, those questions will need to be answered. They will not just go away. Our people want explanations on these discriminatory questions. This is also our deep commitment that we have promised to our good people of northern Aroostook. It creates an atmosphere that should not exist in our part of our State. Looking forward to hear from you.
John F. Dionne
Grand Isle