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Maine Policy Review
Number of Followers: 2

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 1064-2587
Published by U of Maine

[2 journals]

Collaborating for a Thriving Maine Forest Sector
- Authors: Katrina Brewster Pugh et al.
  Abstract: The authors of this commentary describe a coming together of an EPSCoR planning team with community leaders across the northeastern US forest sector. The community leaders came in support of this high-stake NSF proposal and in support of each other. As a result, their transdisciplinary deliberations on data and artificial intelligence (AI), economics, inclusion, and learning not only generated inputs to the recently announced $7 million NSF EPSCoR E-RISE award (OIA-2416915), but also gave them new language to describe their collaboration capacity.
  PubDate: Tue, 06 Aug 2024 08:25:51 PDT
Adapting Small-Scale Fiber Production to the 21st Century: Maine’s
Evolving Strategies
- Authors: Stephanie Welcomer et al.
  Abstract: This study, funded by the US Small Business Administration, aims to better understand the operational, strategic, and economic dimensions of Maine’s fiber producers’ businesses. Fiber producers are those raising animal-based fiber, including sheep, alpacas, rabbits, and goats. The producer focus of this paper highlights the responses from 27 fiber producers and their insights into the realities of Maine’s fiber sector.
  PubDate: Fri, 26 Jul 2024 09:10:36 PDT
Broadband Diffusion in Rural Maine: A Qualitative Assessment of
Residents’ Attitudes
- Authors: Micaela Elanor Simeone
  Abstract: The transition to universal broadband in rural Maine will be transformative, and as policymakers shift focus towards adoption and use, they should thoroughly understand how rural Mainers view the internet more broadly and how they see broadband affecting their lives and communities. Through in-depth interviews with 27 Mainers across 8 counties, this project aims to document how rural Mainers are reacting to the inevitability of broadband penetration, what people view as the pros and cons of new digital infrastructure, what reasons people have for resistance or skepticism, and, in general, how the broadband conversation relates more broadly to people’s visions for the future of rural Maine.
  PubDate: Tue, 16 Jul 2024 10:56:08 PDT
Medicaid Expansion in Maine Significantly Reduced Uncompensated Care Costs
during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Authors: Jordan H. Rhodes
  Abstract: This study examines the impact of Maine’s 2019 Medicaid expansion through the Affordable Care Act on hospitals’ uncompensated care costs. The author finds that this expansion reduced uncompensated care costs by an average of 26 percent per year, leading to a $126 million reduction in uncompensated care costs during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The most pronounced reduction in costs occurred across larger, general acute care hospitals. When comparing bad debt vs charity care, the reduction in uncompensated care costs is driven by a steep decline in reported charity care costs. This decline offsets increases in bad debt expenses in 2020 across smaller, critical access hospitals. The results highlight Medicaid expansion’s effectiveness in lowering uncompensated care costs during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Maine.
  PubDate: Mon, 24 Jun 2024 09:02:00 PDT
Roles for Maine’s Physicians in the Climate Crisis
- Authors: Gail Carlson et al.
  Abstract: Physicians have important roles to play in the climate crisis because they deal with the health impacts of climate change. We surveyed physicians in Maine about climate change and health, and of the 108 respondents, 84 (78 percent) believe that climate change poses a threat to the health of their patients, particularly for asthma, vector-borne diseases, heat-related illnesses, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and mental health problems. Most reported that these conditions are becoming more prevalent, and they identified children, older adults, and patients with chronic health conditions as those most at risk. Despite this awareness, most respondents did not discuss climate change as a health determinant with their patients, although they identified communicating with patients and the public as a role for physicians.
  PubDate: Wed, 22 May 2024 08:39:12 PDT
State Housing-Choice Vouchers as a Solution to the Housing Crisis:
Potential Vulnerabilities and Possible Alternatives
- Authors: River Dufour
  Abstract: Considering the inadequacies of the federal housing choice voucher program, and the dire conditions in which eligible families are living, legislators have argued that Maine should supplement the federal voucher program with a state-run housing- choice voucher program (hereafter referred to as State 8). This year, multiple bills were introduced with this intention, the broadest being LD 1710— An Act to Establish the Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee Program and Amend the Laws Regarding Tenants and the Municipal General Assistance Program. Despite all being carried over into the next legislative session, this kind of program has significant support and will likely continue to be championed by some legislators in the coming years. In this commentary the author explores the potential viability of such a program and consider the vulnerabilities of this strategy for addressing the housing crisis in Maine.
  PubDate: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:45:51 PDT
An Extraordinary Pardon
- Authors: Derek P. Langhauser
  Abstract: The author of this commentary describes the theory, origin, purpose, and process of the pardon power generally. He then discusses the story behind the pardon of Donald Gellers by Maine Governor Janet T. Mills. And finally, the author explains how this pardon helped advance subsequent policy actions in Maine.
  PubDate: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 11:45:50 PDT
Good Fences Make Good Governments
- Authors: John K. Veroneau
  Abstract: In this issue's Margaret Chase Smith Essay, Ambassador John K. Veroneau describes a new paradigm that he believes is needed to rejuvenate our society, rebuild trust in our government, and renew pride in our country. Whatever its contours, this new paradigm will create a new equilibrium and establish for another long period of time what Americans should expect from government and from each other.
  PubDate: Mon, 01 Apr 2024 12:05:09 PDT
Thanks to MPR Volume 32 Reviewers
- Abstract: A list of reviewers for MPR, volume 32, nos. 1 and 2.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:29 PST
Thanks to MPR Donors
- Abstract: List of supporters for this issue of Maine Policy Review.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:28 PST
MPR Special Issue Letter from Editors
- Authors: Linda Silka et al.
  Abstract: About this special issue on Our Shared Ocean.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:27 PST
Voices from Maine Fishing Communities, a Selection of Oral History
Interviews
- Authors: Natalie Springuel
  Abstract: Maine’s commercial fisheries have long been considered a backbone of the state’s coastal economy and culture. Mainers are proud of that fisheries heritage, sharing stories around the kitchen table and on the docks for generations. Since the 1970’s and earlier, ever-evolving technology has allowed us to record some of these stories for posterity. Oral history interview tapes are hidden away in dozens of archives, libraries, historical societies, institutions, and attics throughout Maine and beyond. It is our hope that the snippets presented here will open a window into the lives of people who live and have lived in Maine’s fishing communities and make their living on the ocean.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:26 PST
Citizen and Community Science Approaches to Understanding Changes in
Coastal Habitats Using Anecdata.org
- Authors: Alexis Garretson et al.
  Abstract: Coastal ecosystems are facing increasing threats from human activities and environmental changes. Climate change, in particular, presents challenges for policymaking as it is causing significant changes to the oceans and coastlines, with social, economic, and environmental impacts on coastal communities. However, there is often a lack of data at the appropriate scales to address these concerns. Online tools that support the collection of citizen science and community science data can provide stakeholders and policymakers with a wealth of information and data on ocean-related topics, such as water quality, marine biodiversity, and ocean health. Citizen science platforms, like Anecdata.org, can facilitate data collection, raise public awareness, and encourage the engagement of stakeholders in ocean policymaking. Anecdata.org is a citizen science platform developed in Maine that supports data collection and project management for coastal conservation efforts worldwide. This community-driven platform promotes effective, open, and democratized science, hosting numerous active projects with users who are helping to address critical coastal issues. Here, we review Maine coastal projects on the Anecdata platform, examine the environmental trends highlighted in these projects, and discuss how citizen science data can play a role in coastal decision-making. These case studies will demonstrate the utility of citizen and community science approaches to monitoring Maine coastal ecosystems, understanding and predicting the impacts of climate change, and informing policymaking for coastal conservation. Taken together, these projects provide diverse, critically important data as well as a meaningful way for individuals and communities to engage in protecting and preserving Maine’s iconic coastal resources.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:25 PST
Community Science’s Contributions to Fostering Relational Values to
Overcome Coastal Ecosystems Challenges
- Authors: Kanae Tokunaga et al.
  Abstract: This paper applies the emerging concept of ‘relational values’ – values people hold toward their relationships with nature and with each other – and brings attention to the role of community science in enhancing relational ecosystem values. We feature Gouldsboro Shore, Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s (GMRI) coastal flood monitoring, and river herring monitoring and restoration efforts as focal examples. Gouldsboro Shore activates community volunteers and high school students to support the management and resilience of their clam fishery in Gouldsboro, ME. GMRI’s flood monitoring provides a platform for coastal residents to report, monitor, and map coastal flooding in participating municipalities. In multiple towns, biologists and community members have worked together to restore aquatic habitat and connectivity to support river herring populations while also deepening their connection to their local ecosystems. In each case, community science contributed to enhancing both people-nature and people-people relationships in the community to overcome coastal ecosystem challenges. Coastal decision-makers need to move beyond the antiquated Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework to recognize a wider set of values that people hold towards coastal and marine natural environments. Community science programs have the potential to foster relational values and activate sustainability-aligned values into action to overcome ecosystem and other societal challenges.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:23 PST
Community Science in Support of Ecosystem-Based Management: A Case Study
from the Damariscotta River Estuary, Maine, USA
- Authors: Sarah C. Risley et al.
  Abstract: Coastal marine ecosystems are dynamic social-ecological systems (SESs) that support diverse ecosystem services and human activities. The complexity of SESs means that ecosystem-based approaches are increasingly used to support coastal marine ecosystem stewardship. We report how a community science program in Maine, USA offers a model of organizational innovation to expand capacities for shellfish research and management. Since 2019, we have collaborated with local students, shellfish harvesters, and others in data collection, interpretation, and application, contributing to local shellfish management and ecosystem sustainability. We demonstrate how community-based social and ecological research can build adaptive capacities by centering local knowledge; generating long-term and fine-scale datasets; supporting community-led management and civic engagement; and contributing to field methods that people with varied lived experiences and training can implement in a sustainable fashion. Our approach can be adapted to other contexts, particularly in data-limited SESs that are experiencing observable social and ecological change.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:22 PST
Riding the Real Estate Wave Along Maine's Coast
- Authors: Ryan Swanson
  Abstract: A review of Maine's coastal real estate market that explores the reason why the area is so appealing, to whom, and what that means.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:21 PST
Small Town Government with Big World Challenges
- Authors: Valerie Peacock
  Abstract: Bar Harbor's relationship with tourism is shifting from a focus on attracting visitors to the need to balance economic interests with the quality of life for residents. As a coastal community, cruise ship tourism is at the center of the debate about the appropriate scale of visitation. This article focuses on the challenges and recommendations for how a small town with a Town Meeting-Town Council form of government might manage cruise ship tourism over changing times.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:20 PST
Coastal Tourism in Maine
- Authors: Steve Lyons
  Abstract: Tourism is an important industry in Maine. Its heritage stretches back nearly 200 years and it continues to be an economic driver today. This commentary describes the economic impact of tourism on Maine's coastal regions.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:20 PST
The Role of Aquatourism in Sustaining Maine’s Working Waterfronts
- Authors: Caroline Paras et al.
  Abstract: Maine tourism relies heavily on the iconic imagery of working waterfronts, including harbors bobbing with lobster boats surrounded by shingled shacks in a rainbow of buoys. Adapted from agritourism, aquatourism is an experience that engages visitors with the landscape and stories of those who fish. According to the literature on the Experience Economy, the emotions generated by such experiences can translate into sales in real time as well as behavioral intentions to purchase in the future. What role can aquatourism play in sustaining working waterfronts' Using a mixed methods approach, this research study utilizes interviews from both producers and consumers to understand the value that aquatourism can generate for the Maine fishing industry. This research shows that with a design that incorporates Participation, People, Product, and Place, the fishing industry and its partners can engage visitors in memorable experiences that could transform them into loyal consumers of Maine fishery products.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:19 PST
Workforce Sustainability in Maine’s Coastal Industries: Strategies to
Diversify, Train, and Bolster the Workforce
- Authors: Jessica L. Picard
  Abstract: People living in Maine have been working the oceans and related industries for hundreds of years. It is crucial to ensure that jobs along the coast are sustainable for years to come. This article examines the importance of job quality, including wages, safe working conditions, and opportunities to advance, along with the ways that some industries are utilizing programs with these ideas in mind - such as the country’s first registered apprenticeship program in aquaculture, which is now underway in Maine.
  PubDate: Thu, 01 Feb 2024 12:53:18 PST

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