Mayor Larry Gilbert

Mayor’s Corner: Broken Windows and Litter are Synonymous to Crime

Twin City Times- Thursday, July 30th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #97

Glen Aho, Auburn’s City Manager and fellow TCT Columnist gets it!  I know it must appear to be unbelievable for me to say that, especially after having been a critic of Aho for his part in killing the effort to consolidate the twin city’s services.

Aho does get it, from his comments in the TCT 7-16-09 issue. He wrote about the “Broken Windows Theory” developed by James Q. Wilson, Professor of Government at Harvard and George L. Kelling, research fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard at the time they developed the theory.

Basically the theory goes like this; if you allow a window to remain broken and don’t repair it immediately, you can almost guarantee that more windows of the same building will be broken. It basically sends a message that you don’t care.  The same theory applies to littering. If you don’t clean it up and allow it to become pervasive it sends the message that you don’t care. With that comes the loss of control by the law abiding residents who become fearful of the lawlessness that comes with it. Deterioration takes over allowing crime to find a home.

Both Wilson and Kelling are highly respected by law enforcement officials not only in the U.S., but throughout the world. I had an opportunity to meet both men a few years ago in Los Angeles at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference. Also there, was Los Angeles Police Chief Bill Bratton.

I took part in a press conference with Bratton on the Brady Bill at the National Press Club when he was New York City Police Commissioner in the early 1990’s. There were several mayors and police chiefs who participated in the press conference with Jim & Sarah Brady. Brady was President Ronald Reagan’s Press Secretary when both were shot in Washington, D.C.

Mayor Gilbert Announces "Keep Lewiston Litter Free" Program

If you're going to litter, you're going to pay," is the message Mayor Laurent F. Gilbert, Sr., wishes to convey to residents in an effort to make Lewiston more aesthetically pleasing in hopes of attracting businesses and people to the All-America City.  Littering is a civil violation for which a fine of $100 up to $500 can be levied.

With a focus of "Keep Lewiston Litter Free," Gilbert has partnered with the Lewiston Police Department and the Lewiston Public Works Department to combat improper placement of debris and trash.

Gilbert warns, "Littering is a community problem and truly requires a community response.  Residents are being asked to cooperate by not littering. Those who still choose to litter will be cited by the Lewiston Police Department, as such conduct will no longer be tolerated." 

Acting Lewiston Police Chief Michael Bussiere reiterates Gilbert's stance, "Littering is one of those quality of life issues that the police department will be addressing with stepped-up enforcement efforts for those who choose to not properly discard their waste.  Individuals who are caught littering can expect to be summonsed to court and fined if found guilty."

Gilbert's focus on littering is part of his Downtown Beautification/Preservation Initiative, and the initiative's purpose is to instill pride back into the downtown and within neighborhoods by enhancing the appearance of homes, lots, buildings, and parks. 

He adds, "Littering is illegal, and it costs the taxpayers in the time that Public Works picks up items that have been carelessly thrown away.  It also has a negative effect on our community when people are looking at Lewiston with an interest in moving or establishing a business here.  Indeed, a clean community is one that is attractive to economic development.  With economic development comes jobs, and with jobs comes enhanced financial stability."

Tanzanian Reporters Visted Lewiston

On July 14, 2009, this group of Tanzanian Reporters visted Lewiston with Lewiston Sun-Journal Editorial Page Editor Anthony Ronzio. 

 

After taking a walking tour around the downtown area and visiting the newspaper, the group came to Lewiston City Hall.  There they met with Mayor Larry Gilbert and Acting City Administrator Phil Nadeau. Gilbert & Nadeau explained a bit about Lewiston's government, its relationship with the news media as well as answering the foreign reporters questions.  Much of the discussion centered on the new immigrants who have settled in Lewiston from Somalia.

Pictued with the group are Gilbert in the center, Nadeau on the left Ronzio and two University of Maine professors who hosted the group.

[Bangor Daily News]

Mayor's Corner: The time for President Obama’s Health Care Reform is now!

Twin City Times- Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
Mayor's Corner #96

President Barack Obama in his Address to the Joint Session of Congress on February 24, 2009 said “I suffer no illusions that this will be an easy process. It will be hard. But I also know that nearly a century after Teddy Roosevelt first called for reform, the cost of our health care has weighed down our economy and the conscience of our nation long enough. So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year.”

When we elect our politicians we expect them to live up to the campaign promises that they make.  How many politicians campaigned on a plank of their platform that they would be opposed to any type of health care reform. I don’t know of any who did.

The one politician who vowed during his campaign to reform health care in this country so that all would be able to receive affordable health care was the man we elected as our President of the United States.

We all know that our health care system is broken and it truly is in need of reform if we are to be competitive with other western nations who provide health care for all of their citizens.

On June 1 of this year, I participated in a conference call with mayors from across the country which was headed by Valerie Jarrett the Senior Advisor to the President and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.  During the call they outlined three principles of the President’s plan, they are: 1) Reduce the cost of health care, 2) Protect people’s choice, and 3) Assure quality health care.  This certainly makes sense to me.

2009-10 Lewiston Youth Advisory Council Members Announced

At the July 14th Lewiston City Council meeting, the 2009 - 2010 members of the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) were appointed by Mayor Larry Gilbert. Thirteen (13) youth were appointed this year, with seven returning members and six new members.

The membership consists of:  Hanan Ahmed, Jama Ahmed, Matt Beauparlant, Devin Bergeron, Kevin Costello, Stephanie Costello, Veronica Irish, Holly Lavorgna, Allison "Allie" Lewandowski, Mackenzi "Kenzi" Masselli, Clarissa Smith, Victoria "Tori" White, and Marissa Zanoni.

Now starting its 8th year, the youth council has been an active part of the community since the charter membership first met in September of 2002. The youth council was established by the Lewiston City Council in 2001 to encourage youth civic engagement, to provide youth with an opportunity to experience municipal government, and to provide youth with a voice on both community and youth areas of interest.

The 09-10 membership will participate in a full day of orientation on August 14th consisting of presentations by municipal staff, interactive exercises, and leadership training. Those serving as advisors to the group will continue to be Lewiston's Community Relations Coordinator Dottie Perham-Whittier and Director of Recreation Maggie Chisholm. Councilor Denis Theriault serves as City Council liaison to the youth council.

For additional information on the Lewiston Youth Advisory Council, individuals may visit www.ci.lewiston.me.us/lyac or contact members by calling 513-3121, X3205; TTY/TDD 513-3007.

Mayor's Corner: Mayors Against Illegal Guns call for common sense legislation

Twin City Times- Thursday, July 16th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #95

A couple of years ago I joined an organization founded by Mayors Michael Bloomberg of New York and Thomas Menino of Boston. The coalition is called “Mayors Against Illegal Guns.” They initially started with 15 mayors from across the country. We are now 400 members strong.  Our goals are to advocate for good common sense legislation that will keep guns out of criminals’ hands.

I have served 33 years as a law enforcement officer and an additional 5 years as a law enforcement trainer.  From my experience as a career law enforcement officer, I have seen the tragedy that results from the use of guns in an illegal manner or as an instrument to commit suicide.

Whatever the reason, the result is always tragic, yes, even when a criminal has to be killed in order to imminently save the lives of others. In such a case, the officer or officers who had to do the shooting are generally left in a state of shock which takes its toll on the officer. The criminal also has a family that hurts as a result. I have seen this firsthand.

Over the years, I have testified on numerous occasions on good common sense gun legislation only to see it killed by legislators who lack political will to stand up against a very powerful gun lobby called the NRA (National Rifle Association). Can you imagine an organization supporting the legalization of armor piercing bullets? These are bullets that are intended to pierce the body armor of police officers.

We, the 400 Mayors Against Illegal Guns, are now calling for both houses of congress to pass some common sense gun legislation.

Mayor's Corner: Energy Bill passes the House; it’s now up to the U.S. Senate

Twin City Times- Thursday, July 9th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #94

When President Barack Obama was elected by a significant majority in this country, the electorate wanted him to be successful in his leadership of this country. There were many issues that he addressed in his pursuit of the presidency.  To name a few of those pursuits, he talked about affordable healthcare for every American, the economy, jobs, education, and clean energy to name a few of his goals.

On Friday, June 26, 2009, the United States House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey bill that is the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Mayors across the country urged their congressmen to support the bill. Although the vote was very close, it did receive bipartisan support.  Energy independence and climate change will truly be addressed if this bill becomes law.  It is now up to the United States Senate.

Those of us Americans who elected our President should obviously want him to be successful in what he promised us. The only way a president can be successful is if he is supported by those who are governed. Although we most certainly support our constitution’s principles of checks and balances, all of our elected officials need to work for the common good.

Debate in Congress is essential to good government. With debate and compromise comes the government that we all seek. All of us have different views as to how we achieve our common goal.

With clean energy that is so essential not only to our country but to the entire world, we must find the means of achieving our goal as a nation and as a world that must work together to keep our planet clean of pollution that will, if not addressed, destroy generations of the future.