To the Editor:
At the June 11 referendum voting in Waldoboro, 324 voters chose to adopt a “Slum and Blight Declaration for a portion of the Downtown Village as recommended in the Downtown Master Plan.” One hundred ninety-four of us voted against the article. The given reason for supporting this declaration was that it would make the town eligible for a government grant to fix up the downtown area. It was said that the words “slum and blight” were just the unfortunate legal terms.
A simple Google search showed me the Community Development Block Grant Requirements for Area-Wide Slum and Blight Designation. To quote:
“A. An area in which there is a predominance of buildings or improvements which are conducive to ill health, the transmission of disease, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency or crime and are detrimental to the public health, safety, morals or welfare because of 1) dilapidation, deterioration, age or obsolescence; 2) inadequate provision of ventilation, light, air , sanitation or open spaces; 3) high density of population or overcrowding; 4) the existence of conditions which endanger life or property by fire and other causes.”
B. An area which is a menace to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare in its present condition.”
Do the voters in Waldoboro really believe this describes their “downtown” area?
If you think it does, why would you ever eat at the Narrows Tavern or buy a doughnut or sandwich at the bakery or risk walking down the street or through the door of the pharmacy, the co-op or the consignment shop?
They are even getting ready to open a new pizza place and another eatery in the “downtown” area. Should these eateries be allowed to serve the public in an area that has been voted as conducive to ill health and the transmission of disease? Are people so blinded by the idea of “free money” to fix up privately owned buildings (it’s not free- it’s taxpayers’ money and we’re hoping a broke government will give it to us) that they were willing to vote this designation for their town?
Carole MacDonald
Waldoboro
