With the new Lewiston City Council waiting to be sworn in, many of us may feel our work is done.
Like it or not, making residents’ voices heard is not about voting between A and B. If people want to see change in Lewiston, then our councilors, legislators, and mayor will need to hear from them.
Want to see more shelters for the homeless? Good news. State funding exists and only needs acceptance from the next council. People should reach out and tell them what they want.
For those struggling to pay rent, our City Council can pass rent stabilization ordinances, but only if they know their constituents want it.
Those struggling to get from point A to point B shouldn’t just imagine a Lewiston with sufficient public transportation; make it happen.
We can finally make the changes we all want to see in Lewiston, whether it’s public transportation, housing, or anything else.
Regardless of people’s priorities, they should reach out to our new councilors and tell them their concerns. If there’s no funding available for the programs people want, they should contact their legislators in Augusta. Peggy Rotundo, the head of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is eager to help her constituents.
Yes, let’s pat ourselves on the back. We’ve changed our council from the “usual cast of characters,” to borrow a phrase from our current City Council president, but why stop there?
Let’s continue our work and change the substance, too. People have more power than they may think.
Hunter Kissam, Lewiston
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