Does anybody in City Hall have the honesty to tell Lewiston residents how many taxpayers make up the population of Lewiston? What is the ratio between taxpayers and welfare recipients, or immigrants?

Every year, Lewiston taxpayers face tax increases. When you see what’s going on here, it’s a real insult to the homeless population. While some homeless people try to find ways of escaping the elements, or finding something to eat, Lewiston treats outsiders with free housing, health care, food and transportation. Oh, yeah, don’t forget the cell phones.

Poor Lewistonians have to walk, ride a bike or take a bus to do their shopping because they can’t afford a car.

Lewiston residents know where the tsunami of new students comes from; Mayor Robert Macdonald doesn’t have to make excuses.

Lewiston has an overabundance of overpaid, upper-management personnel that, if trimmed, could benefit the budget and ease the taxpayers’ burden.

Let’s take care of our own. Enough is enough.

Bob Pelletier, Lewiston

Editor’s note: Neither the city of Lewiston nor its taxpayers provide free housing, health care, food, transportation or cell phones to anyone. Meanwhile, federal, state and local assistance programs are based upon an individual’s income and assets, and are equally available to all people, whether they have been here a year or a lifetime, and regardless of race or ethnic origin. Some people are ineligible for certain benefits because they are asylum seekers rather than refugees.