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Former Maine GOP Chair Demi Kouzounas hopes to be Maine’s next senator [Video]
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Former Maine GOP Chair Demi Kouzounas hopes to be Maine’s next senator [Video]

Former chair of the Maine GOP, Demi Kouzounas, says she was called on to challenge Sen. Angus King.I got a phone call from Senator Susan Collins, who asked me to consider running,” she said. “I thought, you know, I’ve always advocated to be involved, to get involved. If you want to make change, you have to have a seat at the table.”The daughter of Greek immigrants, Kouzounas was brought up in Saco, the town she still lives in today.”I’m the oldest daughter born in Maine to legal immigrants,” she specified. “Not speaking English until the age of 6, where my mom and I went to classes to learn English so my mother could be naturalized.” However, illegal immigration is a major issue she hopes to address.”Illegal immigration, I think, burdens the system,” she said.”The other problem I have is with fentanyl. Fentanyl is killing our addicted. Our veterans are homeless … It needs to stop. We need to secure that border.”Kouzounas served in the military from 1981 to 1984 in Germany and then opened two dental practices in Maine with her husband. She is a mother and now a grandmother, and she says Maine has become a very difficult state to live in.”I think the cost of living and the expenses and inflation has really caused a problem for Mainers,” she said.She said running her businesses and training dental students showed her these problems as well.”The problem is I couldn’t keep all my students here in Maine,” she said. “We’ve made it very expensive for people that have huge school loans to stay in the state … I think we haven’t got enough people in the state of Maine now to work. They can’t find housing, and the taxes are high.”The Republican described herself as “pro-choice,” and she shared personal experiences that shaped her view.”I personally went through an assault in college, which I didn’t even tell my mom and dad about because it would have pulled me away from college,” she said. “At the same time, I struggle with infertility. That’s when my kids are seven years apart in age, and thank God to modern medicine that I was able to have a second child.”She did place some limits on abortion, but she also hopes to help those who want to start a family by improving the economy.”I do not believe in ‘late-term abortion,’ if the baby is viable,” she said. “So I would like to strengthen the adoption laws. I am also for true choice for women by improving the economic situation in the state of Maine … I believe in also offering free birth control, definitely IVF. I support that 100%.”She also says she is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, and when addressing mass shootings, Kouzounas believes we should focus on mental health.”It’s a mental health problem,” she said. “Adding more laws and more mandates, something else, is not going to solve the problem. We need to truly treat these people, treat the mentally ill … How about we follow our laws instead of just adding more laws to the books? All of these people should never have had their guns to do what they did.”Kouzounas thanked incumbent Sen. King for his work, but she believes it’s time for a new voice in office.”I think that it’s time for him to retire,” she said. “We thank him for his service. I know he was governor for two terms and now senator for two terms, and we thank him, but that doesn’t mean because you’ve done all this work there, you should continue. No more than I should continue being a dentist at 95 with a shaky hand. The time has come for him to move on and let younger people come in with fresh ideas and maybe, hopefully, make change that will help Mainers. Which is why I’m running.”

Volunteers team up with state leaders to build house for family in need in Worcester [Video]
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Volunteers team up with state leaders to build house for family in need in Worcester [Video]

TO THE BUILD SERVING AS A MODEL FOR OTHERS. ON HOLLY STREET IN THE ELM PARK NEIGHBORHOOD OF WORCESTER, THIS BRAND NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOME IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. JUST ABOUT A 1500 SQUARE FOOT HOME. ITS FOUR BEDROOMS AND TWO BATHS. WE STARTED CONSTRUCTION IN JULY AND IT WILL BE ABOUT 12 TO 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE IT. AMONG THE VOLUNTEERS TODAY, STATE SENATOR ROBIN KENNEDY AND HER STAFF. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IS HOSTING GOVERNMENT BUILD DAY IN CELEBRATION OF THE AFFORDABLE HOMES ACT, SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR HEALEY BACK IN AUGUST. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BILL AND WHAT WERE GOING TO SEE IN THE FUNDING THAT COMES IN THROUGH THIS BILL, IS THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE NEW UNITS AT A MULTIPLE AT MULTIPLE LEVELS OF INCOME FOR FAMILIES. WHILE THIS HOME IS NOT BEING FUNDED BY THE NEW HOUSING LAW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES SAY IT SYMBOLIZES THE KIND OF HIGH QUALITY, HIGH EFFICIENCY HOUSING THAT CAN AND WILL BE BUILT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AS MORE THAN $5 BILLION FLOWS INTO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING SHORTAGE. ITS GOING TO BE ALL ELECTRIC, SO WERE GOING TO HAVE HOT WATER THATS GOING TO BE A HYBRID HOT WATER TANK DOWN IN THE BASEMENT, AND THE HEATING SYSTEM WILL BE MINI SPLITS. THIS IS WHAT THE HOUSE ON HOLLY STREET WILL LOOK LIKE. THESE TWO MODELS ON SUNDERLAND ROAD ARE FURTHER ALONG. THEYRE ALSO BEING BUILT BY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. ALL OF THESE HOMES WILL BE AVAILABLE BY LOTTERY TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES. IN TOTAL, THE HEALEY, DRISCOLL ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE AFFORDABLE HOMES ACT WILL PRODUCE, PRESERVE OR REHABILITATE MORE THAN 65,000 HOMES OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. REPORTING IN WORCESTER TODD KAZAKIEWICH WC

New Orleans Calliope homeless encampment cleared [Video]
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New Orleans Calliope homeless encampment cleared [Video]

New Orleans city leaders are upset over a state-ordered cleanup of homeless encampments under the Pontchartrain Expressway ahead of Taylor Swift’s concerts this weekend. Gov. Jeff Landry authorized Troop NOLA to remove tents and tarps, displacing about 75 people living under the bridge on Calliope Street. City officials said the cleanup disrupts their planned timeline and could push the homeless population into neighboring communities, exacerbating the issue. Despite requests from city leaders to delay the cleanup, the governor’s office proceeded, clearing the site on Wednesday. The cleanup was originally scheduled for Thursday. WDSU reached out to Landry’s office on Tuesday for a response to the Office of Homeless Services and Strategy plea.Kate Kelly of Landry’s office responded, stating, “Governor Landry understands the number one issue facing the city of New Orleans right now is the homelessness crisis, and he is working with LSP and local officials to fix this problem. As we prepare for the city to host Taylor Swift and Super Bowl LIX, we are committed to ensuring New Orleans puts its best foot forward when on the world stage.”WDSU also reached out to Troop NOLA, and they responded as well, stating, “Louisiana State Police understands the adversity faced by the unhoused community in New Orleans. As part of the Troop NOLA initiative, Troopers are working to speak with the unhoused community, learn about their deficits, and work to acquire attainable resources to help them overcome these challenges. Additionally, it is important to note that residing on state property is illegal. Troopers are addressing safety concerns to ensure both the well-being of the unhoused community and the integrity of public infrastructure.”New Orleans Council President Helena Moreno has asked Gov. Landry for more state funding to help the city with its rehoming efforts. She issued the following statement regarding the request, suggesting two recommendations to achieve the request: 1. Establishment of a Coordinated Working Group: I recommend the formation of a collaborative working group involving both state and city agencies to enhance our approach to managing homeless encampments in New Orleans. Recent actions by State Police and other agencies to relocate encampments have disrupted the efforts of Homeless Director Nate Fields to transition individuals into permanent housing. This working group should include representatives from City agencies, the State Police, the Department of Transportation and Development, the Governors Office, a City Council member, Travelers Aid, and Unity of Greater New Orleans. Together, we can address partnerships in services and funding, ensuring a unified response to this pressing issue.2. Creation of a Cabinet Position Focused on Homelessness: As previously stated in my letter to your New Orleans Transition Council in November of 2023, I urge the establishment of a dedicated cabinet position within the Governors Office tasked specifically with combating homelessness. This role would focus on enhancing rapid rehousing initiatives and providing wrap-around services to support stabilization. The position would work closely with legislators, the Housing Corporation, and parish leaders to develop effective and sustainable strategies.Council President Moreno also recognizes the relentless efforts by Homeless Services Director Nathaniel Fields and Councilmember Lesli Harris to find permanent housing for people living in encampments.Councilmember Harris and Director Fields have been at the forefront of this issue, said Council President Moreno. “With State coordination and true collaboration to end homelessness, everyone could be on the same page and achieve the same goal of providing improved quality of life, permanent housing, and wrap-around services. I hope that the Governor gives strong consideration to my recommendations and we can work to move forward together.Read her full letter to Governor Landry here.