Seniors: Give New Candidates a Chance10-16-2009
To the Editor:
To all my senior citizen friends, a group to which I proudly belong, I feel it is time to talk about fixing some things in North Adams that we all know will make it a better place to call home.
Most of us remember the days when Main Street was full of life. Going to Anes, Rice's Candyland for coffee or ice cream to meet up with our friends. Our city is so much different today. I hear you all complain that you wish there were more stores and a reason to go downtown. I completely sympathize with you.
As you all know, I was in business with my husband for over 40 years. The last 25 have been very trying and discouraging for small-business owners. When someone considers opening a business in our town, something we should encourage and welcome with open arms, they are instead told everything is controlled by the mayor. He must approve your business, your hours, your store front etc. Needless to say, this turns off a lot of potential business people from locating in North Adams, particularly as the mayor does not greet them with a smile and encouragement. This is fact, not fiction.
There wasn't anyone I knew that wanted North Adams to succeed more than my husband. He spent much of his lifetime working for this city. But when he would go the corner office with new ideas he was told, and I quote, "as long as I get to announce it, and I get the credit." Jack never cared who got the credit, he just wanted it done. He and a group of downtown businessmen created Downtown Development. They put in their own money. They hired a company to come up with ideas for making downtown more attractive for business. That report was called the Hyatt Palmer Report, of which I still have a copy.
Everything you see in downtown North Adams that everyone admires and gives credit to the mayor for was in that report. The Mayor's Downtown Celebration was the idea of the Downtown Development. They put it together, paid what was necessary, and were successful in bringing the local people downtown. The mayor asked Jack to change the name to the Mayor's Downtown Celebration. He said no. But soon after Jack had his first stroke, the rest of the group became frustrated with dealing with the corner office. So, the mayor took over the celebration.
It is time for a change. For younger people to be voted on the council and new leadership in the corner office, with fresh ideas and a commitment to making North Adams a fun place to live again. My son David is running for the council. I hope he wins because he loves this city as much as his father did. David, along with several of the new council candidates, have exciting ideas for making the city friendlier and more attractive to new businesses and to help those already here to grow and be strong.
So I say to my senior citizen friends, let's move on and give someone else a chance to improve our city.
Gabriella Mancini Bond
North Adams
Oct. 16, 2009 |
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