Down East Notes

Scottish man finds Maine lobster buoy

Press Herald - With 94 percent of its land private, Maine has a nearly four-century tradition of allowing public use. But landowners, in an influential 2008 survey by the University of Maine’s Jessica Leahy, said the biggest reason to cut off that use is littering and illegal dumping. Nearly 40 percent of the landowners surveyed reported that the public does things on their land that they don’t want, with littering as the top problem and illegal dumping right behind. About 30 percent of private landowners were “actively considering” placing restrictions or prohibiting access in the future to their property, primarily because of problems with littering and illegal dumping, according to the research... “Much of illegal dumping is not from recreation users,” she said. “It’s from local people who are not using their transfer station.”

Pew Trusts -  A Stateline analysis of states’ employment data shows that while all states have added jobs since their economies hit their nadir during the recession, some have added far fewer than others. Ten states (Alabama, Arkansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and West Virginia) have seen total employment grow 5 percent or less compared to their lowest points, according to the analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data. On average, employment has increased 8 percent among all 50 states and the District of Columbia since each one’s individual nadir.

Maine Public Broadcasting - Seventy-five thin foam mats were laid on the ground outside [Portland] city hall late Tuesday afternoon. Homeless advocates say they represent the 75 people likely to find themselves without a bed for the night, under new city plans to close overflow shelter space at the Preble Street Resource Center.

A poll commissioned by the Portland Green Independent Committee found that 55% of Portland residents  want a $15/hour Living Wage ordinance for the city. The poll was conducted by Public Policy Polling. “An Ordinance Toward A Living Wage” has been circulating since the beginning of April. It will set a living wage for all Portland workers. Similar ordinances have been passed in other cities across the United States while the state and federal governments procrastinate. The ordinance requires large businesses to pay workers $15/hour by 2017; while businesses having fewer than 500 employees would have until 2019. The Greens have until June 19 to turn-in the requisite 1,500 valid signatures