Lawyer's boasting about hurting development was distasteful

July 15 — To the Editor:

I have purposely waited several weeks to respond to Duncan J. MacCallum’s editorial opinion dated June 10, 2019 entitled “Condolences for North End Portsmouth project’s demise”. My feeling haven’t changed so I am sending my thoughts.

I find it extremely distasteful that a licensed professional would engage in the juvenile acts of publicly displaying his belief and excitement that he was the sole cause of this project’s demise (using his terminology), When in fact, the developer had won all legal actions that were thrown at them.

They needed only to draw a foundation permit to extend all of the approvals received from the City of Portsmouth! The one and only thing you did do, was cost the developer time and money on all of the appeals you so proudly submitted in the name of your clients.

By not doing this project in Portsmouth, Mr. Thompson has been actively involved in some very successful projects in the Portland. And while he waited in Portsmouth, his open lot on Russell and Deer Streets has tripled in value, yes tripled!!!!! There is no other lot in the North End with that area, that frontage on two streets and with that address!

Another fact that needs attention is your comment “if I had the time and inclination I could have gotten ten times as many plaintiffs”, if that is the case then you should have gotten over 2,000 plus votes when you ran for City Council.

A professional boasting about his win is not appealing and somewhat distasteful to say the least

Richard Gamester

Portsmouth