Have you noticed the green lawn signs declaring: “Save on Taxes Vote Yes on 7”? They, in my opinion, represent a form of bait-and-switch with the intention to mislead. By offering the possibility of saving taxes with removal of the dam, we will save the cost of repairs to the taxpayer:

THE BAIT. The intention is to distract from the fact that, indeed, they have no idea the actual cost to dismantle the dam and subsequent damage to Megunticook River and its watershed: THE SWITCH We have no hard numbers for this project or guaranteed grant money.

Alewives will once again use the Megunticook River to spawn: THE BAIT. The fact that this has not been proven or guaranteed: THE SWITCH.

A past example of good intentions without knowing the actual cost and effect on Camden, happened in the early 1970s. In 1974 Arthur Watson donated to the Snow Bowl ski lifts from the foreclosed Bald Mountain. The addition of this infrastructure was suppose to increase revenue, which would then cover the cost of operations. In fact, the installation of the lifts was very costly and, despite this generous gift and high hopes, the Snow Bowl ran at a deficit for the next 20 years, more or less. This deficit was covered by Camden taxpayers.

Beware of political promises.

Bonnie McKenzie lives in Camden