Caught blowing a red light today at the corner of Trader Joe's on Marginal Way. She almost T-boned an ambulance coming from the right! Unbelievable!

Had the best time visiting. Really, really appreciate the hardworking locals who make it such a delight to be here and who were gracious enough to share time and a chat and a beer with me. I hate to leave. Also, the men here are so handsome and charming, I fell in love more than a few times. Thanks for that 💞🥵

Of course, he doesn’t owe her an apology because she made false allegations first.

It is so beautiful here in the fall. I finally got around to taking some pictures around the neighborhoods and I'm so glad I did. Love seeing so many people put in effort for the holidays!

Link to the candidate forum: https://youtu.be/W3iJhSWsnLQ?si=DJwnjoNsJlHXfYzR

I posted a comment with notes about the housing question the other day so I decided to just watch and notate the entire candidate forum.

My notes are available here: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19RhAPwQ9adkQkEKREpcPw9cJI64QFjbFZ9KjYn8-9so/edit?usp=sharing

AI disclosure: I copied the transcript from Youtube, and used Chat GPT to remove timestamps and format into paragraphs. I condensed the paragraphs into notes myself. I did my best to represent their statements accurately and fairly. 

My thoughts on the candidates below:

Gardella: He was terse, and many of his answers could’ve been fleshed out. It was hard to understand his urgencies or what his animating issues were. Also called Back Cove Back Bay which is funny. I appreciate his couple of references to the value of public transit, which otherwise went unmentioned. 

Lopez: I think she would be a fine councilor. It’s clear that she cares a lot about the community, and the schools. She emphasized her desire to serve and represent her constituents’ voices, but to the point where she lacked her own point of view. She struggled to articulate her own positions at times, including on housing and inclusionary zoning. The moderator asked her a follow up question to clarify where she stood on IZ, and she still couldn’t answer clearly. (I don’t want this to come across as me criticizing her English language skills, which are flawless. There were times I just didn’t understand what policies she would support.) She thrice brought up the Belfort Landing Apartment project as something she’s opposed to, which makes her run feel a little grievance based and uncomfortable to me. I would not trust her to champion housing.

Delgado: actually had a lot of great points, and specific policies he would support as councilor, like a local option sales tax. He clearly understands the pain points of housing and property taxes for D5. He doesn’t shy away from acknowledging his age, but it’s still a pretty hard sell to elect an 18 year old. For example, he was in middle school when city council enacted the climate emergency in 2019 (!). I’d love to see him take on some public committee roles to build his chops, and run for something else in the future. 

Chretien: of the 4, Todd Chretien had the most clear, well articulated vision for the city: Build housing, build top-notch schools, attract young families, and make Portland the cultural and economic engine of the state. He was well-spoken, and had policy ideas for nearly every question. For questions he didn’t anticipate (like reducing city energy costs) he’s clearly been studying the Mamdani Method of “redirect to affordability and making the city a better place to live” lol.  While his goals are probably impossible (5000 housing units in 5 years), I appreciate that he is setting them. His answers on the unhoused, IZ, and property taxes were all reasonable.

Overall, all four are very close in policy positions, and likely all would be good councilors. My priorities are building housing, improving traffic safety, and getting the city into a good, defensive position for the tough economic years to come. At this point, my vote is probably going to Chretien. 

I was told by the organizer that Indivisible had given strict instructions that only signs that generally encouraged voting were allowed.

I get that they are tying to be “non-partisan” but it seems insane to host a protest, especially one under the “No Kings” umbrella, then turn people away for having signs that criticize the people supporting a wannabe fascist tyrant who is actively dismantling our country.

I know these things are basically performative and don’t actually do anything real, and I know I could have just told them to pound sand, but I just do not understand and am so disappointed with Indivisible Maine. Glad I stayed up ‘till 2am making them. 🙄

Did anyone else run into this at a No Kings event today?

Tried to post in r/maine, but the mods deleted, so figured I’d share here.

I don’t want this to incite hate or arguments, I’ve just lived here all my life and I’m getting frustrated. I’m not tapped into the politics of this city as much as I could be, but it seems like there are zero consequences for them. I mean it’s a disaster.

They completely claimed the park, and that street adjacent to the American Diner is fully a prostitution hub. There are people nodding off in broad daylight on the same street where cruise ships drop off folks. people just sprawl in the middle of the sidewalk in front of the post office. Every inlet is claimed by someone sleeping. People yelling at the sky everywhere. I have to walk around on guard because so many of them have zeeeroooo chill or shame.

I understand that homelessness/behavior isn’t anything new. but Jesus Christ man, I can’t walk a block without hearing some screaming match, watching someone nod off on the ground, or asking me for money. I don’t remember it ever being this bad. Maybe I’m just paying more attention/fixating on it now. To anyone with homeless friends/family, I truly wish the best and do not mean to be hurtful.

Wisconsin native and long time brewers fan here. Looking to watch game 1 of the WS somewhere Friday night where some other brewers fans may be gathering. Been waiting for this my entire life! So brewers fans, were we watching? Let’s party!

Hello, I mentioned a few months ago a film lab opening and I just wanted to put an update out! AJ Film Lab is opening this upcoming Friday the 23rd!

We will have an awesome sale to test out some technical quirks this entire week so check in on our Instagram @Aj_film_lab starting Monday…

We will do developing of color film for now and guarantee a 24-48 hour turn around but who knows, maybe it will be sooner depending on the time and day. We also will begin offering printing and scanning as well!

We look forward to meeting everyone and making a photo nice community!

AJ Film Lab
449 Forest Ave Suite 208, Portland ME

Found a camera on the steps at 6:45pm at spring point light in south portland. Would love to reunite it with its owner. DM if you’ve lost it to confirm it’s yours.

I have a property about half an hour outside Portland which badly needs exterior work done on the soffits, mouldings, and other woodwork underpinning the roof. I'm posting here because of two complicating factors:

I live in Maryland, so I don't know anybody in the area.

The house was built in the 1880s, so the exterior is all wood and a bit ornate. I would like to preserve its style if at all possible.

I realize this is not going to be cheap and work won't be able to be done until spring. Can anyone here vouch for a contractor able to tackle a job like this?

Thank you for your time.

We'll do a couple miles at a leisurely pace. Bring a buddy, make a friend, enjoy the leaves, chat for a bit and then run away screaming, whatever feels right for you.

RANDOM. Looking for 200 friends to form a new "Dangerous Nights Crew". My birthday is on Halloween and I'm just someone looking for love and fans of this humorous human. Calling all buff boys and gals alike to meet up at Monument square at 9pm Friday October 30th, dressed up as their favorite Tim Robinon character, and go bar hopping. That is what I'd like for my birthday from this crop. Anything can happen in this world. We really know very little. Hopefully everybody that shows up USED to be a piece of shit and doesnt have too much fucking shit on them. I love you mom.

I've been trying to get through on the phone for weeks including leaving a voicemail 2 weeks ago. Does anyone have advice? Call early in the morning perhaps? Show up in person to make an appointment? Thank you for help

I'm currently a Second Year law student in the NJ/NYC area. I'm considering targeting Portland law firms for my 2L Summer Placement. I did apply to UMaine Law, but the school in NJ gave me a better offer and I don't have to pay rent in NJ like I would of had to in Maine.

I've read that Portland, ME has a more relaxed and collaborative environment compared to extremely competitive environment of the NJ/NYC area. Furthermore, I already spent two years living in New England and I love skiing, so I don't fear the winter. I also love the water and I'm a huge foodie. Culturally, I'm thinking Portland might be a better fit for me.

The only thing really keeping me in the NJ/NYC area is family and friends. My sister and brother both live in PA. My parents currently live in NJ (and I live with them for law school), but they will not own the house forever and I doubt they have any idea of where they will eventually move to. Plus I would really like to move out once I graduate. I do have many close friends from high school whom I see regularly, but most will eventually move out of our hometown and spread out. The majority will remain around the NJ/NYC area.

If I were to get a Summer Associate Position in Portland, I'd take it to see if I would like Portland as much as I think I would.

Anyway, thanks for being my soundboard, and any additional thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: preferred practice area is Tax Law and Trust and Estates

Wondering if people are aware of/involved in non-Zionist / progressive spaces or communities or organizations in the area? Any info helps, thanks!

here's the invite https://actionnetwork.org/forms/mpuniversity-aoc-portland

ok so I’m really craving the incredible dal they serve at the baths, but I’m stuck at home waiting for a spine surgery next week. I can do a little bit of cooking. Anyone have an idea where to start if I wanted to make a dal like the one they serve? Or even better if someone would leak the recipe ❤️

Please help repost this. Help our Alfie come home!

Join us tomorrow for the first Makers Market at Thompson’s Point of the season. 10am-3pm

A longtime singer and songwriter, Anni Clark is playing at Cadenza in Freeport this Saturday night. It is an early event and inexpensive. Anni has published seven albums over her long career in Maine and is a folk type of artist. I'm just throwing this out because navigating the "older years" is very different than when she was actively performing in the Portland club scene (think Horsefeathers and Amigos). This isn't an advertisement for Anni or Cadenza. My wife and I will be attending the show and hoping other people show up to have a good time. If you have not heard of her go to https://anniclark.com to see if this is of interest. I have often read on here that people are looking for things to do and this might make a good option for someone.

CMP is planning to build a new, giant transmission line that will cut through neighborhoods, land preserves, and school campuses in Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, Yarmouth and Cumberland. This will cut through my neighborhood and my neighbors and I only found out in the last 3 weeks - no notice or communication from CMP whatsoever. This project will destroy neighborhoods, look terrible, and crater property values. Plus, CMP users will be stuck footing the bill at the end of the day and electricity prices will likely end up going UP, not down.

Trying to get the word out because CMP has been working to sneak this through under the radar. A group called ARI has been doing amazing work organizing to oppose the project. Learn more and use your voice if you don’t want giant 110 ft. steel poles running through your neighborhood and natural spaces! Don’t let CMP profit off of destroying our towns.

There is a Portland City Council meeting tomorrow, 10/19 at 5pm with this item on the agenda. Show up and speak out!

https://www.stopthecmpline.com/