BAR HARBOR, March 18, 2023 - The leader of the citizens initiative to cap cruise ships visits took out papers Friday to gather signatures with the intention of running for Town Council in June. Charles Sidman is also seeking to build a slate of candidates to run with him. Four seats are up for election - three 3-year terms and one 2-year term to fill the vacancy of Jeff Dobbs, who resigned for health reasons.
This election is at a crossroads for Bar Harbor. If Charlie Sidman and three other like minded candidates win it will strive to end the monopolistic stranglehold Ocean Properties(OPL) has had for the past 15 years on the tender business, with its considerable revenues. Taxpayers are beleaguered, facing huge increases in the tax rate, and there's no earthly reason for residents not to have this source of income. Voters beware. OPL will spare no expense or effort to ensure Bar Harbor remains their "company town." There will be candidates with a conflict of interest, business owners who directly and exponentially, profit from increasing cruise ship traffic. MDI has no shortage of summer visitors. Acadia attracts 4 million who don't come all at once like a swarm of locusts and then disappear. Whatever money they spend on t-shirts and trinkets, doesn't compare to the negative economic impact of seasonal visitors and locals who avoid Bar Harbor's downtown. It's abundantly clear seasonal visitors leave city life behind and come to our island for the outdoor experience. Bar Harbor residents want their streets back. The only way that's going to happen is when a council majority is in place to implement the will of the people.
This election is at a crossroads for Bar Harbor. If Charlie Sidman and three other like minded candidates win it will strive to end the monopolistic stranglehold Ocean Properties(OPL) has had for the past 15 years on the tender business, with its considerable revenues. Taxpayers are beleaguered, facing huge increases in the tax rate, and there's no earthly reason for residents not to have this source of income. Voters beware. OPL will spare no expense or effort to ensure Bar Harbor remains their "company town." There will be candidates with a conflict of interest, business owners who directly and exponentially, profit from increasing cruise ship traffic. MDI has no shortage of summer visitors. Acadia attracts 4 million who don't come all at once like a swarm of locusts and then disappear. Whatever money they spend on t-shirts and trinkets, doesn't compare to the negative economic impact of seasonal visitors and locals who avoid Bar Harbor's downtown. It's abundantly clear seasonal visitors leave city life behind and come to our island for the outdoor experience. Bar Harbor residents want their streets back. The only way that's going to happen is when a council majority is in place to implement the will of the people.
Thank you Charles Sidman for stepping up. I will campaign for you.
We need good unbiased leadership in MDI's most important village!
Shitman doesn't even have an online presence. He is scared of what people really think of him.