They also need to sand a lot better than they have been. I've noticed that when the small sander passes over the sidewalks they only spray down a 1/2 inch line of sand that is NOT spread out. Then it freezes in place and never spreads out or simply gets covered by more snow. Are we supposed to walk heal to toe to stay on the very thin line of dirt? ha ha Also I wish they would use something better than the usual sidewalk plows because when they plow the sidewalk turns into a flat skating rink. Not only should they plow but they should use suing that is going to leave tread marks (much like the wheels do on either side) to create traction for pedestrians. And like I said they need to make the sand "spread out" and not just throw down a tiny 1/2 inch wide line down the center of the sidewalk that never spreads out. It's more less an insult as I'm slipping and sliding down the sidewalk and see that silly excuse for what they call sanding. Then you have your long stretches of clear sidewalk but they have long patches of ICE that force pedestrians to walk in the streets. I understand it's Maine and we are going to have long winters but you'd think that this port of the USA would be far more focused on taking care of it's sidewalks than other places for that simple fact. See this is why people keep moving out of state to real cities like Boston or NY because they take care of their sidewalks. There are a ton of us that don't drive and use public transport. One reason why people move to the city in the first place. Also I'm very discouraged with the terrible way that some of the down town areas are kept. Like one corner near where the Grasshopper on Hammond Street is very dangerous. Also I saw a woman with a baby trying to walk on West Market Square 2 doors down from the Grasshopper shop and she nearly fell. There was NO sand NO salt and it looked like they hadn't even tried to break up the ice. And this is a "Downtown area" of a city, it's not like its some distant back side street of some small town. No wonder people move away.