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Van Buren Maine and Larry Cote Van Buren Main's Economy is SO BAD there is now a song about it! Van Buren Maine
Here is the Van Buren Maine song. A friend of mine sent it to me in Frenchville after several people in Van Buren had passed it around as an e-mail. I think the song about Van Buren Maine was written after the US Census report came out ranking Van Buren Maine as the poorest city in Maine and Maine one of the poorest states in the USA.
I've also heard rumors that some people may be do under the table things to take the welfare cases out of Portland and then export them to a place like Van Buren Maine.
If you think that Van Buren is going to improve anythime soon, forget it. I've heard that the police spend all of their time in the sandwich shops on Main Street - they never pulling anyone over for speeding, loud music, etc. Van Buren Maine has become a city that is afrade to crack down on the low lifes that live there since the city thinks that if they don't have food stamp and welfare people they won't have anybody at all. Van Buren is likely correct about that. It is really a poor trashy place.
Van Buren Maine Song
Van Buren Man
In the Van Buren Land
Arf-Arf Honk-Honk Boom-Boom Land
Hey Larry Cote - "Cotex" Man
You've turned Van Buren To a Welfare Land
You and the Boom-Box Food Stamp Man!
Welfare!
We're talking about Food Stamps
We're talking about low-class
Van Buren Man
In the Van Buren Land
Arf-Arf Honk-Honk Boom-Boom Land
Hey Larry Cote - "Cotex" Man
Van Buren's now powered by the Welfare Man
Boom-Box cars past low-class bars
Van Buren Man
In the Van Buren Land
Arf-Arf Honk-Honk Boom-Boom Land
Hey Larry Cote - "Cotex" man
Do the police in your town -
Earn a living sittin at the snack bar man?
Van Buren Man
In the Van Buren Land
Arf-Arf Honk-Honk Boom-Boom Land
Hey Larry Cote - "Cotex" man
We used to have a nice town
Before the Food Stamps
Before the welfare
Before the chicks on WIC
Before the Boom-Box cars
Before the white trash
Ya, ya, ya
Lori
Frenchville, Maine
11 Updates & Rebuttals
Mary "sullivan" Porter
Temecula,California,
U.S.A.
WELL SAID TUEPEA FROM NEW YORK
#12Consumer Comment
Mon, August 11, 2008
I too grew up in the beautiful state of Maine. Van Buren was a neighboring town and I moved to California after graduating. Several years ago I had the urge to go back.
I brought my family (husband- a California native, and our four sons) to Maine to visit where I grew up. My husband said it was the MOST RELAXING TIME HE HAS EVER HAD. We and our kids had so much fun.
There was no need for overpriced "theme parks" Maine is the theme by itself. Friends here envy me for growing up in Maine, they all would like to visit it some day.
My memories are similar to yours and I WOULDN'T TRADE THEM FOR "ALL THE TEA IN CHINA". -----my moms saying.----
We bought a second home there and may move back permanently soon. It is so sad to hear such bickering. You may not know how good you have it because you have not lived in any other states (large city areas) Been There Done That.
BE THANKFUL!!!
Maine is the REAL Vacationland.
Tuepea
Altona,New York,
U.S.A.
I don't believe what I'm reading in here!
#12Consumer Comment
Wed, February 20, 2008
Come on people! You are complaining and fighting over nonsense! It is apearent that you've not lived in a true city or even in a medium size city, cause you would not be saying what you're saying in these posts. I'm not going to argue those pionts that are here but I'm going to remind you of some things though!
One is the air that you all breath in Van Buren Maine! People here in this city would pay to sniff at the air that you breath. The waters you drink out of the faucette is clear and clean with little or no filtration at the water pumping station. You don't get water that fizzes up like 7 up! City water is gray in color, what color is your water in Van Buren Maine? How about the weather, Do you get extremes of weather like we Do in the cities? Weeks of scorching sun light. No! You get 4 seasons of mild northern maine weather, due the fact that Van Buren Maine is nested in a Valley.
In Van Buren maine, everybody knows everybody else, it's like being in a big family. In a city you don't have that, you are basicaly on your own. And as far as crime goes, what little pettie crime that goes on in Van Buren dose not stay a secret for long, and every one is aware of who, how, when, and where. So the criminal don't get to far! And you all talk as if the cops there are a joke. Well, maybe they a little relaxed or laid back about such. But really do you want them to do their jobs as their counterparts do here in the cities.
It would really be a nice thing to see the cops pull your grandmother out of her car on a blizzard snowy day, throw her on the gound, give her the complete riot act, search her body and her car,(while she is still laying on the ground) for drugs and or booze, or even a gun! All because she forgot her drivers license at home! They do that here no matter who you are!
The little high school that is there, no matter how bad the teacher, because of the closeness of the town folks and of course in the school, also along with the no so zero tollerence attitude, students will learn alot more, than going to a city school that resembles a county jail in operation. Think about it! The people in Van Buren enjoy things there that we in cities or in other area of the states would be put in jail for doing.
It is possible to start your car in the driveway, with the doors UNLOCKED, let it run 10 to 15 minutes, and expect the car to be there when you go out! Not where I'm at!
In van buren they have snow, real d**n snow, open feilds of snow to go snowmobiling, Van Buren has clean waters for fishing that you can eat the fish after you catch them, not here, pioson! Even the wildlife is all most twice the size as they are here in New York and Vermont! No Joke to that! And to Larry, and some of the others too! You should all go and take a trip south to some of the cities past portland Maine! When you get back from the dirty mess, you'll understand more of what I've wriiten here!
My name is Wayne, I live now in New York! Regretting every moment of it! I was brought up in Van Buren Maine. And even though I was the black sheep of the community, I would not trade those years for anything in the world. There is nothing out there that can come close to growing up in Van Buren Maine, And feeling safe and sucure, and well taken care of. I would also like to say that in Van Buren , there is something there that no body can put a value on nor can any one decrease it's value, that's the richness of the people and their sense of family and togathernes. And when you are there you can feel it!
L.
OklahomaCounty,Oklahoma,
U.S.A.
America is a GREAT Nation! Enjoy the Opportunities our forefathers formulated for our great nation when they wrote the Declaration of Independence.
#12Consumer Comment
Sun, July 10, 2005
There is an organization called "The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)" that might be able to help folks in Maine.
If you want your town and your state to survive these hard times, help form a dedicated committee of volunteers whose goals are to rebuilt positive attitudes. Look for the good things going on in your state. Have someone experienced in Brainstorming come to your area. Surely there's a member of a RSVP chapter who would come to your area, free of charge, to help uplift the spirits and desires of your great state and your wonderful community!
Come together on common grounds. (1) You live in America, (2) Your residence is in the wonderful state of Maine, U.S.A., (3) Each resident possesses God-given talents and abilities, (4) Everyone wants to have an opportunity to share the responsibilities of entrepreneurship to create or improve the economic development, (5) Listen to each person living in your community! (And the list goes on and on ... common grounds.
Accept NO negative thoughts such as "It won't work here because ..."
Or, "I'm not going to be a part of that project because somebody said (or did) something that I didn't agree with."
When someone makes a negative statement, ask the person to make the negative statement into something positive. EXAMPLE: "There's too many people who disregard and/or disrespect the authority in this town! I feel that if we involve those people in this positive endeavor, the person can help us find ways to build the enthusiasm for living in a wonderful community."
Make only positive statements about your town. LOOK for good things going on in your community. What an opportunity you people have! Learn to appreciate the good things of live going on in your great state!
God is so good! (Make your own verses.)
God gives us breath! (Repeat as the song.)
God loves us so! (Repeat as the song.)
God answers prayers! (Repeat as the song.)
God is so good! He's so GOOD to me!
Allow people of faith to help you. One good way to begin a positive road to recovery is to challenge the residents of EVERY home to read ONE chapter in the book of Proverbs each day. There's thirty-one chapters in the book of Proverbs. That's one chapter for each day of the longest month. Spend some time reflecting on the teachings in King Solomon's book of wisdom. If a home has no Bible, find one for them to use during this special project. Think seriously about the things wise King Solomon wrote.
Proverbs 1:7-9, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck."
Ask your RSVP leader or the pastor or leader of a church in your community to begin each meeting with a positive teaching from the book of Proverbs. Ask the pastor of one of your churches or the RSVP to help the group stay on a positive route.
My best wishes to each of you as you look for the good things going on around you! They're easy to find! Enjoy God's beautiful earth. Who else can make a strong oak tree develop from a little acorn? Who else can teach a honey bee how to make honey? Who else can teach a bird how to build it's nest? Who teaches the bird how to fly? Who else can put a rainbow in the sky? Who else can provide that crisp morning air? Enjoy the freshness a new day brings to life in your wonderful community! Take time to enjoy life! It's so short!
Lift up your eyes to His greatness! He's waiting for you to take the time to listen to Him and follow His leadership. READ the book of Proverbs. Reflect on the wise teachings. Mull them over and over in your mind as you get involved in activities of each new day.
What harm would it be to open each session with the great hymn, "How Great Thou Art" and end your meeting with "God Bless America" or another great patriotic song. Hold the flag of our country high!
One more suggestion, involve those young people living in your community. They are the future generations of out great nation! Teach them things they need to know! As President Kennedy said, "Ask not what your nation can do for you but ask what you can do for your great nation. The same goes for your community.
Sally
Former Aroostook County Resident,Maine,
U.S.A.
City of Van Buren is NOT the problem. problems are with the Maine Department of Human Services
#12Consumer Comment
Tue, November 18, 2003
I think it is very important for readers here to note that the Town of Van Buren Maine, nor is the town manager responsible for the mess that Van Buren and other communties in Maine are in right now.
First of all the problems are with the Maine Department of Human Services located at:
www.state.me.us/dhs/faq.htm
And with the Maine State Attorney General's Office at:
www.state.me.us/ag/crime/welfarefraud.html
Of course there is John Baldacci who discovered that there was a $10 Million shortfall in the DHS program, but what has he done?
www.state.me.us/governor/baldacci/index.shtml
I would see all types of problems up there. For example there was this lady, shacked-up with this other guy, on welfare and she would drink and SMOKE two packs a day. Who payed for it? Yep! Taxpayers. Then she smoked so much that they would bring the oxygen bottles to her house - at the TAXPAYERS expense of course! Where were the people from Maine DHS?
Then there is the Section 8 "racket" that runs wild in places like Van Buren Maine. You have these low class slum lords who abuse and steal taxpayer money via grants, etc. They do this through the abuse of government loan and grant programs and through dishonest contractors who file false information on the locations where work is done.
They do nothing to take care of problems that occur and to be sure that these people are not ripping-off the system and taxpayers. In fact, one recent story in the press noted that an employee of Maine DHS was on welfare and she was convicted of WELFARE FRAUD!
In short, if John Baldacci is looking for $10 million in missing welfare funds he should get his Attorney Gerneral of his duff and send some investigators to places like Van Buren Maine AND Frenchville*. In fact, we could call it the "John Baldacci Van Burren Challenge"! I'm sure they'll find out that Maine DHS has done nothing or very little in following up on the welfare cases all over Aroostook County.
In short, the people of these communities are good people but there is also a lot of abuse taking place with help at the state level. I think they may also be placing ex-cons at small communities in Maine, but I'm not sure about that, but there was something in a local paper after a girl was killed at Colby College my some sicko from Utah who was in Maine on some "export" program. Until the State of Maine changes their poloicies and gets really tough with welfare fraud the taxpayers will be ripped-off in that state. The people of Maine should get BETTER!
AND the reason for the "*" by Frenchville? Come on now! I wead in the paper that one of these Section 8 slums were trying to get people to live there by offering them a color TV if they moved in! How white trashy can you get?
Jerry
Holton,Maine,
Town of Van Buren Maine Guestbook Information
#12Consumer Suggestion
Wed, November 06, 2002
Just one additional thing Mr. Larry Cote. I did some research and I talked to a former employee of the web hosting service about your so called Town of Van Buren Guest Book or Visitor's Book.Yes, I'm sure if people were to visit the Town of Van Buren Maine's guestbook they would see nothing but positive things. But Larry COte, are any of the following things that I found out true?
Did you have a visitor browser cookie system without a privacy notice on your site?
I was told it was used to track visitors and IP addresses so you could moan to their ISP's if anything NEGATIVE about the Town of Van Buren Maine was posted.
Did you have an easy delete system installed so you could erase ANY NEGATIVE comments about the Town of Van Buren Maine?
Are any of the following true:
Did you erase reports on your site guestbook that employees in the Town of Van Buren Maine were using Maine state licensed trucks and heavy equipment (city and county owned equipment) on private property? If that report is true that is a violation of the law, including federal law if any federal funds were used to purchase that equipment.
Did you erase complaints about the local school district - how students were let out of school to pick potatoes? How students were not being taught the basic skills?
Did you erase complaints that the police were not ticketing speeders (especially trucks)?
Did you erase reports that the police were allowing cars to park on sidewalks, park the wrong direction on streets, etc., etc., etc.?
Did you erase reports that people were concerned that you were conducting meeting that should be open to the public in priviate "executive" sessions?
Did you erase reports that city workers were not doing there jobs or they were taking excessive breaks on the publics paid time?
Did you erase concerns thet the Town of Van Buren Maine Office has handouts on how to collect Food Stamps AFDC welfare, etc?
Did you erase concerns that dog poop had been allowed to stay on the sidewalks for weeks?
Did you erase reports from people who had lost their mailboxes several times in one winter due to speeding snow plows owned and operated by the Town of Van Buren Maine?
Well Mr Larry Cote, is any odf this true? if what I hear is true then I'm sure your Town of Van Buren Maine Guestbook will have a never-ending stream of people saying how great your town is. Too bad you can't hit delete when you visit your town on vacation and people run into all of these problems. I would hope that if people have problems with Larry Cote and the city of Van Buren Maine that they will report it here, far away from Larry Cote's delete key.
P.S.: I think that if people have photos of Town of Van Buren Maine city vehicles or heavy equipment being used on private property you should report it to the US Department of Justice and post them here. I've also been informed that the US Department of Transportation does take complaints about local and state police that fail to enforce traffic laws due to federal highway fund requirements.
Jerry
Holton,Maine,
Town of Van Buren Maine Guestbook Information
#12Consumer Suggestion
Wed, November 06, 2002
Just one additional thing Mr. Larry Cote. I did some research and I talked to a former employee of the web hosting service about your so called Town of Van Buren Guest Book or Visitor's Book.Yes, I'm sure if people were to visit the Town of Van Buren Maine's guestbook they would see nothing but positive things. But Larry COte, are any of the following things that I found out true?
Did you have a visitor browser cookie system without a privacy notice on your site?
I was told it was used to track visitors and IP addresses so you could moan to their ISP's if anything NEGATIVE about the Town of Van Buren Maine was posted.
Did you have an easy delete system installed so you could erase ANY NEGATIVE comments about the Town of Van Buren Maine?
Are any of the following true:
Did you erase reports on your site guestbook that employees in the Town of Van Buren Maine were using Maine state licensed trucks and heavy equipment (city and county owned equipment) on private property? If that report is true that is a violation of the law, including federal law if any federal funds were used to purchase that equipment.
Did you erase complaints about the local school district - how students were let out of school to pick potatoes? How students were not being taught the basic skills?
Did you erase complaints that the police were not ticketing speeders (especially trucks)?
Did you erase reports that the police were allowing cars to park on sidewalks, park the wrong direction on streets, etc., etc., etc.?
Did you erase reports that people were concerned that you were conducting meeting that should be open to the public in priviate "executive" sessions?
Did you erase reports that city workers were not doing there jobs or they were taking excessive breaks on the publics paid time?
Did you erase concerns thet the Town of Van Buren Maine Office has handouts on how to collect Food Stamps AFDC welfare, etc?
Did you erase concerns that dog poop had been allowed to stay on the sidewalks for weeks?
Did you erase reports from people who had lost their mailboxes several times in one winter due to speeding snow plows owned and operated by the Town of Van Buren Maine?
Well Mr Larry Cote, is any odf this true? if what I hear is true then I'm sure your Town of Van Buren Maine Guestbook will have a never-ending stream of people saying how great your town is. Too bad you can't hit delete when you visit your town on vacation and people run into all of these problems. I would hope that if people have problems with Larry Cote and the city of Van Buren Maine that they will report it here, far away from Larry Cote's delete key.
P.S.: I think that if people have photos of Town of Van Buren Maine city vehicles or heavy equipment being used on private property you should report it to the US Department of Justice and post them here. I've also been informed that the US Department of Transportation does take complaints about local and state police that fail to enforce traffic laws due to federal highway fund requirements.
Jerry
Holton,Maine,
Town of Van Buren Maine Guestbook Information
#12Consumer Suggestion
Wed, November 06, 2002
Just one additional thing Mr. Larry Cote. I did some research and I talked to a former employee of the web hosting service about your so called Town of Van Buren Guest Book or Visitor's Book.Yes, I'm sure if people were to visit the Town of Van Buren Maine's guestbook they would see nothing but positive things. But Larry COte, are any of the following things that I found out true?
Did you have a visitor browser cookie system without a privacy notice on your site?
I was told it was used to track visitors and IP addresses so you could moan to their ISP's if anything NEGATIVE about the Town of Van Buren Maine was posted.
Did you have an easy delete system installed so you could erase ANY NEGATIVE comments about the Town of Van Buren Maine?
Are any of the following true:
Did you erase reports on your site guestbook that employees in the Town of Van Buren Maine were using Maine state licensed trucks and heavy equipment (city and county owned equipment) on private property? If that report is true that is a violation of the law, including federal law if any federal funds were used to purchase that equipment.
Did you erase complaints about the local school district - how students were let out of school to pick potatoes? How students were not being taught the basic skills?
Did you erase complaints that the police were not ticketing speeders (especially trucks)?
Did you erase reports that the police were allowing cars to park on sidewalks, park the wrong direction on streets, etc., etc., etc.?
Did you erase reports that people were concerned that you were conducting meeting that should be open to the public in priviate "executive" sessions?
Did you erase reports that city workers were not doing there jobs or they were taking excessive breaks on the publics paid time?
Did you erase concerns thet the Town of Van Buren Maine Office has handouts on how to collect Food Stamps AFDC welfare, etc?
Did you erase concerns that dog poop had been allowed to stay on the sidewalks for weeks?
Did you erase reports from people who had lost their mailboxes several times in one winter due to speeding snow plows owned and operated by the Town of Van Buren Maine?
Well Mr Larry Cote, is any odf this true? if what I hear is true then I'm sure your Town of Van Buren Maine Guestbook will have a never-ending stream of people saying how great your town is. Too bad you can't hit delete when you visit your town on vacation and people run into all of these problems. I would hope that if people have problems with Larry Cote and the city of Van Buren Maine that they will report it here, far away from Larry Cote's delete key.
P.S.: I think that if people have photos of Town of Van Buren Maine city vehicles or heavy equipment being used on private property you should report it to the US Department of Justice and post them here. I've also been informed that the US Department of Transportation does take complaints about local and state police that fail to enforce traffic laws due to federal highway fund requirements.
Jerry
Holton,Maine,
Larry Cote is Wrong (What else is new?)
#12Consumer Suggestion
Mon, November 04, 2002
Dear Larry Cote Town of Van Buren Maine,
You comments are very interesting here but I think many of the comments I see are due to the fact you are the "cowards" and that you dont look at the FACTS. I guess you think the US Government is telling a lie to all of us. Is it true Larry Cote that the Town of Van Buren attempted to BLAME the loss of population and income on the tragic events of 9-11 even though the data was collected in the year 2000 BEFORE 9-11? Using such a tragic event as an excuse for your problems. Shame on all of you if that is true!
Are the following not the US Census Statistics 2000 for Aroostook County and the Town of Van Buren Maine ? Well, I read them to mean that everyone is leaving Aroostook County Maine and the Town of Van Buren Maine included Aroostook County had a total loss of -14.95% of the population and the Town of Van Buren Maine lost -13.6% In 50 years there will be nobody left in the Town of Van Buren Maine or in Aroostook County Maine It also lists the Town of Van Buren Maine as the POOREST location in Maine and Maine is also one of the worst states in the USA. Well Larry Cote, do you think an average income that hangs around the $20,000 mark is positive? Do you think that a population loss of -14% every 10 years is positive?
The reason that the Town of Van Buren Maine and the State of Maine is in such a mess is the politcal leaders and Town Managers who tell lies about the facts. I'm sure Larry Cote is making twice as much as the average income in the community he is supposed to serve. The tax money goes to support people like Larry Cote not to improve conditions for the citizens, to get jobs and to improve education. That is why these towns will be empty in 50 years. This includes where I live in Holton, Maine.
For anybody who reads this posting the real "cowards" are the political leaders and town managers who hide their heads in the sand and ignore the facts. Anyone can find the reports that make your town the poorest in Maine and they can get the facts at:
http://www.boston.com/census/longform/maine/
Or:
http://censtats.census.gov/data/ME/1602378535.pdf
Or, from the US Government, (I'm sure they lie eh Larry Cote?):
http://factfinder.census.gov/bf/_lang=en_
vt_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP3_geo_id=06000US2
300378570.html
Municipality 2000
Population % Change
from 1990
Aroostook County 73938 -14.95%
Allagash town 277 -22.84%
Amity town 199 6.99%
Ashland town 1474 -4.41%
Bancroft town 61 -7.58%
Blaine town 806 2.81%
Bridgewater town 612 -5.41%
Caribou city 8312 -11.72%
Cary plantation 217 -7.66%
Castle Hill town 454 1.11%
Caswell town 326 -20.10%
Central Aroostook UT 95 79.25%
Chapman town 465 10.19%
Connor UT 424 -9.40%
Crystal town 285 -5.94%
Cyr plantation 117 -17.61%
Dyer Brook town 199 -18.11%
Eagle Lake town 815 -13.48%
Easton town 1249 -3.25%
Fort Fairfield town 3579 -10.48%
Fort Kent town 4233 -0.82%
Frenchville town 1225 -8.45%
Garfield plantation 86 -15.69%
Glenwood plantation 0 -100.00%
Grand Isle town 518 -7.17%
Hamlin town 257 25.98%
Hammond town 98 5.38%
Haynesville town 122 -49.79%
Hersey town 63 -8.70%
Hodgdon town 1240 -1.35%
Houlton town 6476 -2.07%
Island Falls town 793 -11.59%
Limestone town 2361 -76.20%
Linneus town 892 10.12%
Littleton town 955 -0.10%
Ludlow town 402 -6.51%
Macwahoc plantation 98 -14.04%
Madawaska town 4534 -5.60%
Mapleton town 1889 1.94%
Mars Hill town 1480 -15.91%
Masardis town 255 -16.39%
Merrill town 249 -15.88%
Monticello town 790 -9.40%
Moro plantation 63 65.79%
Nashville plantation 55 27.91%
New Canada town 306 20.95%
New Limerick town 523 -0.19%
New Sweden town 621 -13.15%
Northwest Aroostook UT 27 -40.00%
Oakfield town 732 -13.48%
Orient town 145 -7.64%
Oxbow plantation 56 -18.84%
Penobscot Indian Island Reservation 0 -100.00%
Perham town 434 9.87%
Portage Lake town 390 -12.36%
Presque Isle city 9511 -9.85%
Reed plantation 207 -30.07%
St. Agatha town 802 -12.73%
St. Francis town 577 -15.52%
St. John plantation 282 2.92%
Sherman town 937 -8.76%
Smyrna town 415 9.79%
South Aroostook UT 486 20.30%
Square Lake UT 615 9.04%
Stockholm town 271 -5.24%
Van Buren town 2631 -13.60%
Wade town 250 2.88%
Wallagrass town 561 -3.61%
Washburn town 1627 -13.46%
Westfield town 559 -5.09%
Westmanland town 71 -1.39%
Weston town 203 -1.93%
Winterville plantation 196 -9.68%
Woodland town 1403 0.07%
Oh! But this is all a big lie. Right Larry Cote?
Larry
Van Buren,Maine,
Individual with false comments
#12REBUTTAL Individual responds
Thu, September 12, 2002
We all know these negitive comments are wrong. The town of Van Buren is the wealthier than it ever been. The Town's audit will show you growth with limited spending. As far as welfare, I know for a fact the town has spent less than $1,200. per year and has seen less than $500.00 per year in the past 6 years during the term of the management in place. Foodstamps and AFDC are state run programs not local programs. Persons that make statements about Van Buren like those in May, June and July are the people we don't want in the Town of Van Buren because they bring in so much negativizm to an area.
I agree with Mike, you are not stating facts. I believe by your statements you're unhappy and have been in troble with the law. If you look at the Van Buren web site guest book you will find there are individuals that like Van Buren and are coming back to live. If you have any guts, please call the Town Office and talk with me about your problem and maybe we can set the record straight; or are you afraid of the truth?
Larry Cote,
Town Manager
Mike
Van Buren,Maine,
Coward!
#12Consumer Comment
Wed, September 11, 2002
It is part of our basic rights that you be allow to state your opinion. I would mention that you have done so with the same amount of class as those you seem so intent on condeming.
You also talk as though you are uneducated and ignorant. If you think Portland, or Bangor does not have projects for people to live in then you have not left your yard. You should also know that the crime statistics have increased all through Maine.
Although Van Buren has it's share of small petty crimes, we have practiclly no serious crime in town at all. You make all these accusations, but how many council meetings have you attended?
How many town meetings have you attended?
How many school board meetings have you attended?
How many times have you contacted the police to report these crimes of yours?
If this is how you really think then, stop being a coward and print your whole name.
Gerald
Van Buren,Maine,
What do you Expect? Town of Van Buren Maine is a big Economic Mess
#12Consumer Suggestion
Fri, July 26, 2002
It is really a big problem in Van Buren, Maine. The Town of Van Buren Maine has actually imported people on welfare and food stamps from the State of Maine to fill up the public housing projects run by the Town of Van Buren.
Many years ago the Town of Van Buren Maine was a very nice place to live. Now it it is just awful and I will be moving to another state in a few months. I think that the Town of Van Buren Maine thinks that it needs to import low class people so they will fill their housing projects to get money from the state and the feds. Places like Bangor, Portland, etc. are all but too happy to get rid of the low class people who have no social skills, no education and no employment opportunities. I think they have taken a "Let someone else deal with these people..." aproach.
As a result of this short-sighted Maine policy, places like the Town of Van Buren Maine end up with all of these people. The problem is, there is also a poor education system in Van Buren in particular and Aroostook County in general. So, all of these welfare cases are sent to a location that is ill equiped to offer them training or employment.
It may be hard to understand, but there is actually high crime rates considering the size of the Town of Van Buren Maine. Drug abuse, DUI, break-ins, etc are very high in this community considering the small size. But, as the US Census pointed out, the Town of Van Buren Maine is the poorest community in Maine and Maine is one of the poorest states in the United States. Given that statistic, I think you can see why the Town of Van Buren Maine is in such a mess.
Poor local services like police from the Town of Van Buren Maine even make the situation much worse. The police in Van Buren cannot (or will not) enforce even the most basic of laws or code. Try to walk down a sidewalk and you will be run over by some teenager on a bike that looks like he's been in drug rehab. Traffic laws? Even in this area people can do almost anything they wantand, unless they are doing perhaps 60 in a 30 zone the police will do nothing. We really never see the police do anything, even when the observe the crime or infraction - but they are paid very little. I guess I wouldn't stop a kid running over people on the sidewalk even though it's against the law, those kids are likely on drugs and armed.
The public schools in Van Buren, like Aroostook County, are a big mess too. Don't expect school districts that actually take off for a "potato harvest holiday" to turn the economy around. The Town of Van Buren Maine was lost long, long ago and I doubt anything will come along to imrove this place. The population has given up or moved away - I include myself in that group.