Letter: Alcombright Recognizes Importance of Community Input
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To the Editor:
I have never really been interested in politics. So when the North Adams election started to surface, my friends will tell you that I was the last person they'd expect get this involved.
But there has been one aspect of this race that has gotten my heart tangled in knots. The most consistent remark I hear is how our downtown is empty. What about Berkshire Bank, Verizon Wireless, the Sushi House, The Hub, Gallery 51, Press, Maker's Mill, Berkshire Antiques, Oh Crepe, Mountain One, Cloud 85, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, The Family Place, The Elizabeth Freeman Center, Practicing Therapists, Habitat for Humanity, Public, Christo's, The Friendship Center Food Pantry, TD Bank, Radio Shack, Eagle Street Music, Persnickity Toys, Berkshire Cultural Resource Center, the Mohawk Tavern, Sheer Madness, Brew HaHa, Village Pizza, Berkshire Community Action Council, Jack's Hot Dogs, and the many other businesses that are operating?
What about DownStreet Art, which fills the few empty spaces for three months of the year in hopes of attracting more businesses? How many cities close down half of their main street 6-8 times a year for community celebrations? There are not many cities in the mountains that get beach parties.
This summer, I spent a significant amount of time in Common Folk's temporary gallery, which was located in the old North Adams Transcript. Thousands of people came in, especially during peak weekends like Fresh Grass and Solid Sound. Folks who came here couldn't believe what an amazing place North Adams is. They praised us for our beautiful mountains, our rich culture, and the pleasant people working on Main Street.
Sure. We have our challenges. We need to ensure that our system of health care is accessible to everyone. We need to work on strategies to prevent substance abuse. We need more young people to move here. Yes. We need all these things. And much more.
But, one man does not have the ability to be the solutions to all those needs.
We are the solutions. The community. All of us. Each of us play our a role in making our city a sustainable, enjoyable, and safe place to live. Mayor Alcombright is a champion of that model. He can see what individuals, organizations, or community groups can do together to share what an amazing place this is.
I'm a 26-year-old woman who wants to build my life here, start a business, buy a house and maybe have a family here. I moved back here because this city is resilient, collaborative, understanding, hard-working, open, inclusive, entertaining, educational, but most of all, because it is where I call home.
Good things are happening everywhere here. And we have done that together. I urge you to vote for Mayor Alcombright so we can continue to move forward together.
Jessica Sweeney
North Adams
Tags: election 2015, letters to the editor, NorthAdamsElection,
