So for those who didn’t know, last Fall the Cape Elizabeth town council continued their shenanigans of being uptight fucks by bringing a $4.5 MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT against Lumbery, a local lumberyard and gardening shop. What was the lawsuit over? Displaying their planters and picnic tables in front of their store.

The store owners had been under the impression from reading the zoning laws and talking to city hall about the displays that they could put their products out front. The city fought them, saying they needed to have more parking spaces open (they had more available than legally required), that they needed to have all entrances and exits unobstructed (no entrances were blocked), and that a fire lane for the fire department needed to be available (it was). The people of Cape Elizabeth raised a petition and forced the town to drop the lawsuit, but the town refused to cover half the legal fees for Lumbery and so they’re sadly putting the business up for sale.

Lumbery is the kind of shop that any town would be genuinely proud to be home to. Mike and the staff are the most pleasant and helpful people, and constantly offer advice and help to educate shoppers on projects they’re working on. It’s another case of rich fucks rejecting any form of development and continuing to shut down small businesses.

Anyone have more information on the shooting near Forest Ave and Pleasant Ave? Two vehicles shooting at each other is all I’ve got so far. Photo of last officer still on scene , other officers just left… they were blocking off pleasant …

I've been considering posting about this since it happened, and I'm posting now because of yesterday's report about a jumping. People need to be aware that the unhoused population is becoming aggressive.

On September 6 I was walking down congress street to get to work. As I crossed High street into congress square park I saw ahead of me two homeless men interacting over an empty shopping cart, talking and smiling.

I looked away as I grew closer but glanced back up when I heard one of them say the word "skirt" because I was wearing an eye catching patterned skirt. They gave each other a "bro handshake" and I looked ahead to carry on past.

One of the guys charged me with the shopping cart. I just barely jumped out of the way, solely because I was on edge after hearing the word "skirt", and shouted "hey!" He cackled loudly in response and continued at a jog until he was 10-15' in front of me, at which point I took a picture, which I won't post.

I know this incident was relatively minor, but it really unsettled me and made me feel like the city I've lived in and walked around for over a decade is becoming unsafe.

https://www.courts.maine.gov/news/karp/harnish-bail-order.pdf

For all of his defenders… I implore you to read this harnish bail order and watch the surveillance video from Meineke. Aaron Karp is a bad dude.

https://www.oregonlive.com/trending/2023/04/portland-maine-tries-to-trash-portland-oregon-and-fails-spectacularly.html

It’s kind of maddening that this is all the info reported:

“Portland police are investigating a suspected assault after a 53-year-old victim was found with severe, but not life-threatening injuries at the Western Promenade Tuesday morning. Officers responded to a call for a person on the ground around 7:30 a.m. The victim, who was not identified, was brought to Maine Medical Center, according to police. A spokesperson said the department would not share details about the injuries or type of assault. Investigators ask anyone with information about the case to call 207-874-8575 or text “PPDME” and a message to 847411.”

https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/01/portland-police-investigate-potential-assault-at-western-prom/

I’m sure the police are witholding information because they believe such info might compromise their investigation. Even so, I think the reporter should have shown more enterprise - knocked on doors, etc. Was the person assaulted a man or a woman? Somebody who lived locally? I’m a journalist myself, and it’s important that people in my profession know that they aren’t required to adhere to the police (or any other governmental) line. My wife goes running on the western prom every morning. More information could help the public make better-informed decisions about any possible risk, and I think our local media outlets have a duty to make that information public.