I’d like to congratulate the city of Ellsworth. Of all the cities and towns in Maine that are grappling with the problems caused by growth, Ellsworth seems to be the only one addressing what causes it – people (population). Of all the recent articles in the papers about growth, sprawl and development, not one has mentioned population growth.

Apparently people think cities and towns expand due to some mysterious force that causes them to “sprawl.” Ellsworth is either the only place that knows what causes it or the only place that has the courage to address it.

Immigration, conservatively, accounts for about 60 percent of the growth in population in the United States; births account for the rest. Ellsworth can’t control these causes; but, by understanding that people cause growth, they can do a better job in planning for it.

John H. Frecker

Baileyville