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To the Editor:
In the January 22-23 paper was a guest column by (Lisbon) Mayor Peter Wilson.
First of all, when the revitalization project began it was to repair buildings and move new businesses into the open spaces, but Mayor Peter Wilson has used this to harass businesses not in operation. This can be verified by asking around at businesses in town. This kind of behavior has far more potentional to drive out business than to draw business in.
Only eight of these buildings being rehabbed is far from making great strides. The fact that Lisbon has lost 8 percent of its population in the last decade can be attributed largely to certain people buying out business property and hiking up rent.
Now it is proposed to attack non-commercial buildings, residence. Even when people own a house they have to ask permission, a permit, to build onto it. Not only does this make it more difficult to "beautify" a home, but this law is in fact a violation of the U.S. Constitution's 4th and 5th.
Why should people have to pay taxes into a dictatorship?
Besides, what your mayor obviously overlooks is that while many may live in Lisbon, not everyone has an income, therefore taxing what does not even exist.
Now our mayor is wanting to build at DORA. There are bars if people want a drink and this would both create a hindrance to the business potential of these bars and make it more open to underage drinking. Also, more trash left in the street.
We all know what explorers the youth can be. If he wants the Greenway Trail to attach to the square, give it time. With all the fertilizer he's spreading I'm sure some trees will grow.
Elbert Ray Householder
Lisbon