To the Editor:
After spending one hour and 20 minutes yesterday (8/14) stuck in bumper to bumper traffic between Patti’s Takeout Seafood and Sarah’s Café on Rt. 1 heading south, I had to comment on the recent Letter to the Editor written by Ann Adams of Jefferson. (“Totally unacceptable,” LCN, 8/11/11, Page 4)
After more than 20 years of tactics designed to halt the proposed bypass, the good citizens of Wiscasset finally wore down the DOT into cancelling the project. Over the years traffic through Wiscasset has been described as a seasonal issue that only inconvenienced people for three or four months.
As Ann pointed out it is a problem from Memorial Day to well past Columbus Day. I would add that it is more than an inconvenience if you take into consideration the amount of time we spend in a line of cars, trucks and RV’s snaking along Rt. 1 and the amount of gasoline and diesel fuel that is wasted in a time of outrageously high fuel prices.
I have to admit that I too thought of Ann’s suggestion that we, the citizens of the other towns in Lincoln County, consider boycotting the shops and restaurants in Wiscasset. Back in the 1960s Cesar Chavez led a very successful boycott of California grape growers that dramatically changed the lives of migrant grape pickers. I can still recall seeing bumper stickers across the country asking people to boycott California grapes.
As it has often been shown, a boycott is one of the most successful ways to change a bad situation. We can’t change the DOT decision, but we can direct our disappointment and anger to those individuals who were instrumental in bringing it about.
I think it is time for those of us who have sat in traffic for miles hoping to get to an appointment or work on time to think about a boycott as payback.
There are a lot of alternatives to the north and the south of Wiscasset, so no one would have to do without if we decided it is time for us to take our money and business elsewhere. Money talks and it is about time that we spoke up loud and clear.
I have one additional suggestion. I think we should encourage visitors to the area to go to Red’s Eats. If, as so many citizens of Wiscasset believe, Red’s is a major contributor to the town’s traffic issues, then bring on more. Let’s just add to the problem that only those residents would experience as everyone else would not be in the town or trying to drive through Wiscasset.
Barbara Contardo, Newcastle
