Access denied

Some years ago, low-income activist Judy Guay was invited to a party at the Bangor home of John and Karen Baldacci. Once she was assured the affair would be held in a wheelchair-accessible room, Judy agreed to attend. But on arriving, she found some kind of barrier that made the room inaccessible.

The hosts were so uncomfortable; Judy, always gracious, always kind, assured them it was fine. John (I think at the time a member of Congress) stayed and chatted by the car awhile. During the conversation, he said – referring to his time as a state legislator – “Judy, you taught me the difference between right and wrong.”

I am pretty sure that if my friend and inspiration Judy Guay were still rolling around here on Earth, she would have contacted the governor to remind him of that day. But she is one of a heartbreakingly huge number of Americans whose lifelong lack of access to the resources necessary for a long, healthy life made it impossible for her to keep her body as vibrant as the spirit that lit her from within.

We don’t need Judy to tell us the difference; we just need to acknowledge the truth. Denying some of us access to your living room while assuring us it’s accessible is akin to denying Maine’s neediest people the basic resources for a decent quality of life, while telling yourself it’s about “tough choices.”

The governor and Democratic Legislature should be ashamed of themselves.

Jane Livingston

Veazie