Mayor Larry Gilbert

Mayor's Corner: My childhood Christmases remembered at holiday time

Twin City Times- Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #118

Every year at Christmas time I tend to reflect back on my childhood and remember this most festive holiday. As a child it was such a special time preparing for that day when Santa would visit and bring gifts that brought great joy.

I remember in the early 1950’s going shopping with my mother, Eva, by taking the bus at the corner of East and Warren Avenues and riding it to the very busy downtown Lewiston. We went to B. Peck’s Department Store and I sat on Santa’s lap and told him my wish list. Of course there was the picture with this jolly old man and I would always wonder if his beard was real as it was so white and yet I didn’t dare touch or yank it to confirm any suspicion.

This was followed by going to the fish pool filled with gifts and with a stick with a string and hook on it to fish for a gift you could hook. This then insured that I was ready for Christmas.

Mom continued her shopping and I always enjoyed going to Ames Butter Store on Lisbon Street. There they sold eggs, and would cut pounds of butter from a gigantic cube of butter. What I enjoyed most was the odor, especially of the fresh peanut butter. There was no other like it.

My father, Emile, had painted a huge Santa with a bag of toys on a large piece of wood and cut it out as it was life size. He had placed it on the roof of our house near the chimney and put a spot light on it along with colored lights all around our front porch at 23 Forest Street in Lewiston.  Before going to bed at night, I would press my nose to the window of my bedroom and look outside at ours and neighbors Christmas lights.

Mayor's Corner: “College isn’t for me; I’ll never go to school again!” Yea, right!

Twin City Times- Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #117

Back when I was in high school, I fell behind and I had told myself that “college isn’t for me and I’ll never go to school again,” so I thought!

Last week I wrote about College for ME-Androscoggin and the annual luncheon that recognizes non-traditional students who have overcome obstacles to achieve their college degrees.  I wrote that this week I will share my story as to how I became a non-traditional student to eventually earn my bachelor’s degree. 

Here goes: My family left Lewiston to move to California in 1955 when I was ten years old and a student at St. Peter’s School. I attended Holy Angels School in Arcadia, California and then Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, California.

It was at some point while I was in high school that I fell behind and basically gave up trying to do well in school. I loved my high school but somehow, I was allowed to fail to achieve and I graduated 78th out of a class of 80. Graduation didn’t mean much for me other than uttering to myself “college isn’t for me and I will never go to school again.

High school graduation was on a Sunday afternoon and early the next morning I started working with my father as a house painter. I liked that work and continued while my friends went on to college. Two years later, I was drafted into the U.S. Army serving a year in Texas and another year in Vietnam.

Mayor's Corner: College for ME-Androscoggin Inspires College Attendance

Twin City Times- Thursday, December 10th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #116

Last Friday, I attended the annual College for Me-Androscoggin Higher Education Awards Luncheon at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. There were some 300 community members in attendance to celebrate college student success stories as well as the presentation of awards for Corporate Leadership, Student Advocate, Student Awards and Special Award. 

Last year when I wrote my column on College for ME-Androscoggin, I highlighted the story of a pregnant high school student who with the support of the community went on the get her nursing degree while overcoming many obstacles. 

Last Saturday, the Sun-Journal reported on the event in an article entitled Awards honor four inspiring college students written by their outstanding reporter, Bonnie Washuk. Those honored were Steven Bolduc, Alicia Webber, Norman Newton and Mary Lou Thibodeau.  All had very impressive stories about their life and their continuing education in college. I refer you to the Sun-Journal for their stories.

I would venture to say that most non-traditional college student each have a story to tell about how and why they were inspired to go on to college.  In next week’s Mayor’s Corner column, I will share my story about my college experience.

For this week I want to highlight College for ME-Androscoggin. I will draw verbatim from the handouts at the luncheon and from their website.

Mayor's Corner: Get Health Care Reform Done Now! Plus Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!

Twin City Times- Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Mayor's Corner #115

As the Health Care Reform initiative has been lingering because of the resistance of members of Congress and in particular one party, their mantra has been jobs, jobs, jobs!
I urge those who have been saying no to Health Care Reform to get it done and the sooner they get it done, the sooner they will get onto jobs. It will be interesting to see if those who have been saying no, no, no to Health Care Reform and calling for work on jobs instead, will they again start saying no to jobs and pointing to another subject?

While we are on the subject of jobs, we have to look at how we got into this situation in this country. Over the past few decades, large investment banks, Wall Street Financiers and Corporate CEO’s have made their profits over the backs of workers, families and local communities.

They have been protected by conservative members of Congress by weakening regulations, cutting corporate taxes and reducing funds for public services and programs. This has negatively impacted the middle class that has tried to go to work every day to sustain our economy. It has impacted the poor and now the working poor.

The result of the above that we are experiencing is the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. It might have been worse if it hadn’t been for the Recovery Act which slowed down the free fall.  Some of the stimulus money is just arriving at communities that have applied for same. Here, in Lewiston, we have recently been awarded the support to hire two police officers.

Nationally, the unemployment rate stands at 10.2%. Up until last month we had experienced 22 straight months of job losses. We are continuing to experience job losses monthly, although the rate of job losses is decreasing as we are trying to grow our economy.

Mayor's Corner: Mayors Against Illegal Guns v. Ft. Hood Massacre

Twin City Times- Thursday, November 26th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #114

Having served at Fort Hood, Texas during my first year in the U.S. Army, I was stunned to hear of the gun massacre dealt on nearly fifty people by a terrorist serving as a Major in the same U.S. Army.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan was suspected of having terrorist links. The FBI had monitored Major Hasan reviewing 10-20 communications between him and Anwar al Awlaki – an al Qaeda recruiter who acted as a “spiritual advisor” to two of the 9/11 hijackers.

Of course Hasan had passed the federal background check in purchasing his gun. FBI counterterrorism officials were not notified when Hasan purchased a gun. He used that gun to kill 13 people and injure more than 30 others.

Former FBI Agent Brad Garrett told ABC News on November 12, 2009 that “the piece of information about the gun purchase could have been critical. He also said “one of the problems is that the law sometimes restricts you in what you can do,”

As a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) along with some 500 member mayors from around the country, we support common sense gun legislation while still upholding the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution which we all swore to uphold.

Mayor's Corner: Refugee & Immigrant Services/General Assistance in Lewiston

Twin City Times- Thursday, November 19th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #113

Last week the Lewiston City Council received a presentation by Catholic Charities Refugee & Immigration Services which was presented by Mr. Steve Letourneau the CEO of Catholic Charities Maine, Ms. Arian Giantris the Director of Refugee & Immigration Services and Ms. Casey Nguyen who directs the Lewiston Office of Refugee & Immigration Services.

Sue Charron, the Director of Lewiston’s Social Services Department also presented the city’s social services that are available to those who may qualify under Maine law.

I thought I would share with you some of the information that was presented so that you would have a better understanding of all that is involved in refugee and immigrant services. For this purpose, I have received permission to copy directly from the power point presentation in order to share the information with you.

Catholic Charities Maine (CCME) has been the only refugee resettlement agency in Maine during the past 30 years. They are an affiliate of 1 of 10 national resettlement agencies. National Voluntary Agencies (VOLAGS) work directly with the U.S. State Department to determine where to resettle refugees. CCME projects to resettle 300 primary refugees in FY2010.

New Mainers, is a term often used to describe refugees, secondary migrants and Asylees.

Mayor's Corner: L-A Reports Consistently Low Crime Rates

Twin City Times- Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #112

Television evening news reports would lead you to believe that L-A is the Crime Capital of Maine. Quite to the contrary, L-A has reported consistently lower crime rates in comparison to other larger cities in Maine such as Portland, Bangor, South Portland, Biddeford, Augusta, Waterville, Westbrook and others.

According to Wickipedia Encyclopedia “The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), contain official data on crime that is reported to law enforcement agencies across the United States who then provide the data to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). UCR focuses on index crimes, which include homicide and non-negligent manslaughter, robbery, forcible rape, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. UCR is a summary-based reporting system, with data aggregated to the city, county, state, and other geographic levels. Crime statistics are compiled from UCR data and published annually by the FBI in the Crime in the United States series.”

In looking at the latest UCR figures which are for the year 2008, by population, Portland had a crime rate of 48.2, Lewiston’s crime rate was 32.9, Bangor’s was 64.9, South Portland rate was 49.2 and Auburn as Maine’s fifth largest city had a rate of 33.9, a slight bit higher than Lewiston.

In order to be fair, we have to look at those cities that have significantly more retail stores such as Bangor, South Portland and Auburn. Their rates would be driven up by Larceny-theft. As an example, the highest crime rate in Maine is in Carrabassett Valley with a crime rate of 207.1. The rates of crime are figured by the number of crimes per thousand population. The population in Carrabassett Valley is 478, yet during skiing season the number of people who visit the town is significant and the thefts of ski equipment contributes to their crime rate.

When you combine both Lewiston and Auburn’s crime rates it comes out to 33.4 and in comparing that to Portland’s rate of 48.2, one can see that L-A’s crime rate is significantly lower. So, I say don’t lay that label of high crime in L-A, and in particular Lewiston, as the crime rate is low in comparison to other communities in Maine.

Mayor's Corner: Celebrating Five Decades of International Exchange

Twin City Times- Thursday, November 5th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #111

I most recently received a letter from Emily Fournier of 6 Revere Street, Lewiston a Student Ambassador from Lewiston Middle School.

I will quote below from her entire letter as I believe you will find it most fascinating and from which in the end I will relate to my most recent trip to Paris, France.

She wrote:

“Dear Mayor Laurent F. Gilbert, Sr.,

Hello, my name is Emily Fournier. I am thirteen years old, and I attend Lewiston Middle School as an eighth grader.  I was recently interviewed as well as accepted for an organization called People to People. This magnificent organization was founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 and since then has included many different Presidents as honorary chairmen.

By getting accepted into the program, I have become a Student Ambassador and will be traveling to England, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland for twenty days during the summer 2010.  I feel honored that I was accepted because only forty high school and junior high students throughout Maine get to participate in this wonderful experience. During my trip, I will learn about the history, culture, and religion of the citizens of each country. I will meet government officials and practice the customs of the people of the different countries when I stay with a host family. Another thing that I will gain from this trip is friends that will last a lifetime.

Mayor's Corner: A Mayor’s role is as a community facilitator and supporter

Twin City Times- Thursday, October 29th, 2009
Mayor's Corner #110

In cities such as Lewiston and Auburn where there is a strong council, weak mayor and city manager form of government, the mayor’s role takes on other forms of public service. That isn’t to say that a mayor has no means of influence because he or she does.

There is always the “bully pulpit” which in and of itself can take many forms. Certainly this Mayor’s Corner of the Twin City Times is a means of communicating and acting as a community facilitator or supporter to help people achieve their dreams, be that in the form of volunteerism, business, public service and the list goes on.

Other means of functioning as a community facilitator and supporter is through the use of other media such as cable television, attending meetings, writing letters of support.  A mayor’s role is an active one.

Ceremonial groundbreaking with shovels or ribbon cutting at grand openings occur often and are opportunities to celebrate the efforts of many, be that for a business or school opening. They generally require the delivery of a speech. Such would not be possible without the able and extraordinary assistance of the likes of a Dottie Perham-Whittier, Lewiston’s Community Relations Coordinator who writes the speeches and coordinates the activity. The mayor’s support is only made possible with such behind the scenes assistance.

There are those who are involved in teaching our young children, be that at a day care or a school. For example, Estelle Rubinstein the Executive Director of Head Start has invited mayors to come read to pre-school children and have lunch with them. The Ready Read program has been another means of being supportive by reading to children at day care centers. Then there is Ms. Andrea Bail a fourth grade teacher at Martel School who invites “mystery readers” readers to her class that includes the mayor.

Mayor's Corner: Mayors’ Institute on City Design at Northeastern University

Twin City Times- Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
Mayor's Corner #109

On August 21, 2009, I received a letter from Mr. George Thrush, FAIA, and Director of the School of Architecture at Northeastern University in Boston. He wrote that I was selected as one of a small group of mayors to participate in the October 7-9, 2009 session of the Mayors Institute on City Design (MICD). The institute is sponsored through the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Architectural Foundation, and the United States Conference of Mayor. There was no cost to the City of Lewiston.

The letter stated that since 1986, the Mayors’ Institute has helped transform communities through design by preparing mayors to be the chief urban designers of their cities. This particular institute was hosted by the School of Architecture at Northeastern University. It brought together 7 mayors and a select group of planners, architects, landscape designers and other national experts who explored opportunities in each of our cities. It gave us the opportunity to learn new approaches to some of the urban challenges confronting our communities.

Last month Mr. Daniel Hewett who is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Northeastern’s School of Architecture traveled here to Lewiston. Acting City Administrator Phil Nadeau, Assistant to the City Administrator Lincoln Jeffers, Energy Sczar Ian Houseal and I met with him at city hall for a couple of hours discussing the proposed strategic plan covering the Riverfront Island area of downtown Lewiston. This area encompasses all of Island Point, Canal Street to Cedar Street and the river front all the way back to Island Point near the Great Falls. The entire area is encircled by water be it by our canals or the Androscoggin River.

We provided Mr. Hewett with a briefing of what has been developed in the area as well as what is proposed for the area. We stressed to him that our canals and the river are resources that we have that have not been developed for enjoyment by our community and in particular our young adults. 

We explained that with our educational institutions in Lewiston-Auburn, we educate our young people only to have them leave to work in areas where there is a great deal of vitality and recreational activity for them to enjoy. If we are to retain and attract an educated workforce to bring in industries and economic development, we must be able to demonstrate that we have such a workforce here in order for employers and developers to invest in this area.