Governor Baldacci threw up a bunch of mirrors and created a dense fog in an attempt to continue to pull the wool over the eyes of Maine citizens.
Yesterday, Baldacci traveled to Millinocket to meet with local leaders and the public to reveal his solution to obtain access to just under 2,000 acres of land that will become public access once the Baxter land swap is finalized.
His plan calls for spending around $25,000 to build an access road of about 4,000 feet, that will link up with existing roads on private land that will gain access to the 2,000 acre parcel north of Katahdin Lake. Baldacci announced construction on the road will begin next month.
Are you kidding me? Next month? We don’t even own the land we are going to access yet. Fundraising is incomplete. Who’s going to foot the bill for this road to nowhere? Is this another behind the scenes deal by Baldacci to get a road built for the four landowners at taxpayers expense? Isn’t this just another example of Baldacci’s rush to cover his tracks? We have to keep asking the questions. Why was the deal conceived in secrecy? Why haven’t the taxpayers been told all the details? Why did we have to rush through the Legislature a bill to approve this? Was it so the people wouldn’t find out the truth before the land is secured? Why does this road need to be built now? What is Baldacci trying to cover up? Is this an election year ploy to pull the wool over the eyes of Maine’s citizens so they will think he rushes in to solve a problem, one that he created himself?
Whether taxpayers and Baldacci supporters want to accept the facts or not, this entire travesty is another one of his crooked schemes. No governor should ever authorize secret dealings that involve taxpayer money. But on we go, like the blind leading the blind.
The access will be gained through the generousity of four land owners, J.M. Huber, Prentiss & Carlisle, Herbert C. Haynes Inc. and William T. Gardner & Sons. While we should never bite the hand that feeds us, I am grateful for their generousity.
However, the generousity of one land owner does not necessarily guarantee the future access of this land. Even easements and right-of-ways are not certain. The are disputed in courts of law everyday. For Baldacci’s plan to be perceived as a solution to this problem, there has to be more guarantees than handshakes and kind gestures only weeks before the election.
We still cannot lose sight of the fact that Maine is still losing 5,000 acres of public lands. Even though the roads being opened will gain access, at least for now, to the 2,000 acre Katahdin piece, ATV use has been denied. Public land should be open to all forms of recreation for the people.
Maine citizens have never been told straight up that they gave up 7,400 acres of public lands for below market value in exchange for 2,000 acres the state paid three times the amount for. We have never been told that there are encumbrances that will exist on the 6,000 acre parcel. We also need to stop hiding behind the lie that “no tax dollars were involved”. Tax dollars were involved in the form of $5.5 million realized through the sale of our public lands.
It bothers me a great deal that only 3 Senators saw through this debacle for what it was, a secret sham for a group of elitist preservationists who are working toward their long-term goal of closing down recreational access to as much of Maine’s land as possible.
The deal is bad for Maine and there still remains far too many unanswered questions and loose ends. It is in the best interest of Maine for the Legislature to stop this deal now and use our money on projects that will benefit all of its’ people not just a few elite preservationists.
Most recent articles about Baxter land swap
Chandler Woodcock Speaks Out About Katahdin Land Swap
Senator Paul Davis Speaks Out Again On Baxtergate
Perhaps Senator Davis Of Piscatiquis Gets It
More Reasons To Debate Baxter Land Swap
There Are Legitimate Reasons To Reconsider Baxter Land Swap
Something Smells Really Bad Around Baxter Park And Hunters Will Lose – Again
There are countless articles I have written on this subject. Too numerous to list all. If you follow the above links, these stories will take you back to previous stories or you can just use the search box function and type in keywords – Baxter State Park, land swap, Quimby, etc.
Tom Remington
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