[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6505381,"mediaKeyId","5681262-ce2120c4d25d87c421b08bb9dc25ad64","parentId",5681262,"title","Pride outreach survey finds transportation, free communal space and housing cited as top barriers to inclusion in Bangor","audioSeconds",385,"startMs",3445000,"endMs",3830000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681262-ce2120c4d25d87c421b08bb9dc25ad64&start=3445&end=3830","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681262-ce2120c4d25d87c421b08bb9dc25ad64/thumbnail_3445000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6505381/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Pride-outreach-survey-finds-transportation-free-communal-space-and-housing-cited-as-top-barriers-to-inclusion-in-Bangor","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505381-0c6365f47acff7ca1ab306859e45a622/orig.mp4?Expires=1770824266&Signature=K0KAc1SZL-7znAV8rW6c0JSPvmOk5tr-jkN05FwvMCd26vkO2wLDXOH4sKENshdyOqe1cbtjqJJGozGt8MaCUgBjSXLx0RS7WHhxsCCdXcXq1iLBKJPaM76rP3Pm9btjMYA-BDk4bA3eLClXW6vzcpG7eZDfDwboDlHo~4d5z4Ot6nVguh2d~Jp-lknYdnzAxKPU0YXelOHeX0Kts-njwj2-Ht8BYyEzsZWmKilpQ5tMq-tbyXM9rPRnGHTU-GrMGnd-sAuKVMbcjJE3-i~caSCNcL6aW4wzg8fY02PVSbG3RAhNuRXepPHSHXt7P88ZVviToV38fypA2Jr60epTXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bangor Maine","date","2025-08-27T12:21:52Z","article","City staff presented findings from a short survey administered at the recent Pride events and summarized open comments collected at the advisory committee’s booth.

The survey asked attendees whether Bangor feels inclusive and which barriers residents face. Staff reported that most respondents answered “yes” or “sometimes” when asked if Bangor is inclusive and that zero respondents selected “no” on that particular question in the Pride survey sample. When asked about barriers to inclusion, the most frequently selected items were lack of accessible transportation, financial cost and lack of free spaces for communal gathering. Housing affordability and language access also appeared among the top concerns.

Committee members and staff discussed next steps for follow-up. Staff outlined plans for a community postcard and electronic survey with a QR code, student-led surveys in local schools, targeted neighborhood meetings and follow-up short surveys at future events. The committee suggested running a short, in-person five-to-seven-question instrument at future Pride activities and urged staff to work with community partners to refine questions about what “financial cost” means in different contexts.

Staff noted additional qualitative feedback included requests for more autism-friendly shopping opportunities, safe spaces for transgender residents and improved outreach to Native communities. Committee members volunteered to coordinate further outreach and to discuss how survey questions can be aligned with the broader CDBG community-engagement effort.

Separately, committee members also received updates on MLK breakfast planning and suggested ways the advisory committee could support transportation and youth engagement for that January event.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion & Human Rights 8.26.25","oneSentenceSummary","A short survey conducted at Bangor Pride and related outreach returned responses that flagged lack of accessible transportation, need for free communal gathering space and housing as top priorities to improve inclusivity, city staff told the advisory committee.","taxTitle","Bangor City, Penobscot County, Maine","taxId",2586,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505385,"City of Bangor to resubmit CDBG annual action plan after HUD flagged language; new grants platform launched",373,2689000,3062000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681262-ce2120c4d25d87c421b08bb9dc25ad64&start=2689&end=3062","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681262-ce2120c4d25d87c421b08bb9dc25ad64/thumbnail_2689000.jpg","/articles/6505385/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/City-of-Bangor-to-resubmit-CDBG-annual-action-plan-after-HUD-flagged-language-new-grants-platform-launched","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505385-685eef28abf696e6e3b0808c86a4c60d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770824266&Signature=S2aG1chONjNe3yRqmXpt3UNPcH6aX3adEI2Gy6L-W0dyS-4H5uVjGwqsAg6gAr62SMnz26mjk~pw9wjHplsN3oOuYUTvht6h~6GS4ccGUhkNmN3EG7-4jXwqvl5JzdJiNfyhKWi548EV0IWIFXmPCq0wWNEuRFgWanNPjMXQ4nRTeENUpRXxYOuEAP8xvYSzAQtZxCyyznI6aFtl2axSnw1bpLhw6PrQLh~uG1bInjIwn9oq3V7VmBh0j6FdCTYaXf-cErrzh0slnfh0NBbR3frt2d29rwJn3XKaW1o48B8Poo4ftLCpuJ3~Hm6CtSCfe6APwBLn3pfJGNJPD1k91A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City community-development staff told the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights on Aug. 26 that the city must resubmit its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan after HUD flagged specific wording that named the committee in the document.

Robin Saniki, the city’s community development officer, said HUD rejected the July submission because the plan used the committee name; staff will remove or replace the specific committee name and resubmit, which staff estimated would be a short delay (staff said they expected to correct and resubmit within a few days). Saniki said some project activities tied to the action plan may be put on a short pause while the resubmission is processed.

Saniki also briefed the committee on a new online grants-management platform launched July 1 (the “neighborly” platform). The platform will host subrecipient applications and allow staff to accept and score proposals more efficiently. Saniki said the city posted a request-for-proposals for housing, health and education services and will invite a small panel of citizen reviewers (including committee volunteers) to score applicant proposals on merit and capacity.

Staff described planned community engagement for the action-plan year: a mailed postcard survey with a QR code and a community-wide online survey (staff estimated an expected electronic response of roughly 1,500 people), plus neighborhood meetings and a student-led survey administered at local middle and high schools. Staff also reported that a homebuyer-assistance posting on the platform drew 140 online applications in one week after launch.

Committee members asked whether federal funds are paused while HUD reviews the resubmitted action plan; staff answered that the pause would be short and that staff were working to meet HUD’s requested edits quickly.

Committee members were invited to volunteer as proposal reviewers and to coordinate with staff on outreach and neighborhood-engagement questions to avoid duplicating existing data collection efforts.","City staff said the Community Development Block Grant annual action plan must be resubmitted after HUD flagged committee-name language; staff also briefed the committee on a new digital grants platform, an upcoming community survey and a request-for-proposals process for subrecipients.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505390,"Bangor public health officials outline collaborative response to local HIV outbreak",635,1038000,1673000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681262-ce2120c4d25d87c421b08bb9dc25ad64&start=1038&end=1673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681262-ce2120c4d25d87c421b08bb9dc25ad64/thumbnail_1038000.jpg","/articles/6505390/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Bangor-public-health-officials-outline-collaborative-response-to-local-HIV-outbreak","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505390-a219c1b8e959ed2a315928b2dc721abe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770824266&Signature=CI53BAo8hc~i3xS83fkoWyfPIqm~gQQ0FjZSm3rSQkBs87WBK5665IGY0XthZCEPGUdcicgMvfZTwDbXuP8tIVbBJqJOT~DquQAGJNo2Npdi~6RWZSzW2iDY2xLxBACSFCMoiexJFAoJlhF99kpq3HnJ5Ihs9c47NOUTkNaLybXixMx440GE-NsZSL5n3xyMnB2VoHdzvt0GBKlb2P1JvpRMPingcu194LAvB2zJ4hNFUFiwXkXJkuZhdkcJynCzlaru3boQbmg8Ff5z8jFz2Bwq-ukFsEqdx7HVjOtDC4ig9NvxDbVYgenIbUNViUtHjc9ztQzv~c1EdXeq~SJoZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City public health staff briefed the Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights on Aug. 26 about an ongoing HIV outbreak and a coordinated, multi-agency response.

Jen Vanderman, who provided the committee with a written memo and an oral update, said 28 cases have been reported to the Maine CDC; she cautioned that number likely undercounts the total because home tests and unreported positive tests are excluded from that tally. Vanderman said local modeling suggests the true number of infections could be substantially higher.

Vanderman described a rapid expansion of services and partnerships since the outbreak began: syringe-service providers including Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness and Needlepoint Sanctuary expanded outreach; Penobscot Community Health Center (PCHC) became the field HIV treatment provider through a street-medicine model; and hospital partners including Northern Light EMMC and St. Joseph’s Hospital contributed screening and treatment pathways. Staff said the site-based encampment that had been an outreach locus has closed, complicating access to some people, but the agencies have been intensifying outreach and street-based services.

Vanderman said the city has received funds designated for “intensive case management” from the Oakland Fund and a City Council appropriation, and that the public-health department posted two case-manager positions with interviews beginning immediately. She described the intended caseload as roughly 15–17 clients per case manager, based on research and program guidance, and said funding also covers transportation support including leasing a vehicle for two years, to help clients reach appointments and services.

Vanderman noted that the public-health response has involved ad hoc collaborations among organizations that previously did not deliver HIV care in field settings, and she said the outbreak has strengthened coordination among providers. She also reported concern about recent state-level developments affecting family planning providers: a recent reconciliation-bill provision was interpreted by a court to bar Medicaid reimbursement for some organizations that provide abortion services, and that ruling could reduce capacity for related services including PrEP provision.

Committee members asked about operational details, service coverage and measures of success. Vanderman said the team is working to build a durable “HIV medical case management” model that can continue after the current designated funding ends and will emphasize individualized goals rather than single outcome metrics. She also said a University of Maine master-of-public-health team will begin a stigma-reduction project involving literature review, interviews and focus groups to guide future messaging and outreach.

No formal committee action was taken on the outbreak update; members invited the health department back for future updates and asked for partner representation at a future meeting.","City public-health staff reported 28 reported cases tied to a local outbreak and described a multi-agency response that includes street medicine, syringe-service providers, expanded case management funding and plans to hire two intensive case managers.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505395,"Bangor advisory committee votes to ask City Council to oppose 287(g) immigration agreements",3466,328000,3794000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681262-ce2120c4d25d87c421b08bb9dc25ad64&start=328&end=3794","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681262-ce2120c4d25d87c421b08bb9dc25ad64/thumbnail_328000.jpg","/articles/6505395/Bangor-City/Penobscot-County/Maine/Bangor-advisory-committee-votes-to-ask-City-Council-to-oppose-287g-immigration-agreements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505395-ac34d0bafb3b1cc6d812e63ae4e3ae49/orig.mp4?Expires=1770824266&Signature=LKefmZz5lfcHk6dzQzYI~D38nfoMw~clcZ~GZd1fv2EXRGGaYANWFObkF7b58hksr~4srVIrFoouvYvGGZS5b57UYOge~ixmvKptnux6G2ijgvn5RbpSj1iI0y977XAxqPLesLcw7LNfB~aXIOKIPLjTgZbfaBSBZ6N-bNhIVmvwKI8WnIsBaJYGhYIimH7kW49EUTkgR~z7yKTvFRJlpBiGddokzwzgfEInTm7IpuocgQbeJusk~z1QMpSL70yxDCTLdzJo5aROV2lIJHg2Ahocp0Sc-RIU0emNVzNTjU0nbJENnwJwEmEOVGwXTL4PU5gBOlg3lAO3EfFehS2xcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights on Aug. 26 voted 6-0 to recommend that Bangor City Council adopt a resolution opposing any local participation in federal 287(g) immigration agreements.

The committee said the recommendation reflects concerns that deputizing local officers to enforce federal immigration laws undermines public trust and discourages immigrant community cooperation with police, which national research and examples cited in the committee packet say can reduce public safety.

Committee facilitator Katie Bridal began the evening’s discussion after a public-comment period in which several residents urged the committee to act. Public commenters described recent federal immigration-enforcement activity and urged the committee to adopt a clear, local stance. Joshua Faieh, who identified himself as a Bangor resident, told the panel, “Immigrants are welcome, integral members of our community” and urged the committee to recommend a local ban on 287(g)-style agreements.

Committee members reviewed draft language from other municipalities and discussed whether to send a detailed draft resolution to City Council or a shorter recommendation stating only that Bangor should not enter 287(g) agreements. Some members urged keeping the committee’s name out of the draft submitted to Council to avoid a procedural delay flagged earlier in the meeting related to grant paperwork language.

The committee chair (identified on the record as Katie Bridal) called for a roll call; the committee recorded the recommendation as passing 6-0 and indicated it would present the draft to the City Council’s Government Operations committee for consideration.

The committee packet and discussion cited research and local examples that the presenters said link law-enforcement cooperation with federal immigration agencies to reduced reporting by immigrant victims and, in some cases, racial-profiling allegations. Committee members said the vote is a recommendation to Council and that Council will determine final language and any legal review. The committee also said it plans to help present the issue before Council and to continue outreach to community members who spoke at the meeting.

The committee’s action will be transmitted to Council for the next steps in the municipal review process; a staff member said the item may go to the Government Operations committee at the next available meeting.

The committee also approved two routine items earlier in the meeting, including minutes from May 6 and May 27, by recorded voice/roll-call votes that were noted in the minutes.","The Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, Inclusion and Human Rights voted unanimously to recommend that Bangor City Council adopt a resolution opposing local participation in Section 287(g) agreements that deputize municipal police to enforce federal immigration law.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pride outreach survey finds transportation, free communal space and housing cited as top barriers to inclusion in Bangor

City of Bangor to resubmit CDBG annual action plan after HUD flagged language; new grants platform launched

Bangor public health officials outline collaborative response to local HIV outbreak

Bangor advisory committee votes to ask City Council to oppose 287(g) immigration agreements