When we moved here to the "little house in the parking lot" our daughter expressed concern about "the neighborhood". It is downtown and has a reputation of being a "bad" section of town. At first I was a little cautious. When I went for walks I checked things out. After living here now for a few months I can say that the people who live here "all the time" are very nice people. Many are new immigrants or second generation families working hard to have a better life in a new country. They are friendly and polite. The evenings are quiet in fact this is one of the most quiet neighborhoods I have ever lived in.
MOST OF THE TIME
The other element that comes into play living in this neighborhood is that there are many rental properties. Most of them are rented to spoiled college students who are attending Westfield State University. When the college students return the neighborhood changes. The nights are noisy, filled with yelling and fights. These young people are rowdy, drunks who roam the streets trashing the area with broken bottles, vomit, over turned trash cans and much more.
The college President came on a local news show a week or so back..stating that the university wanted to partner with Westfield to make downtown more vibrant. Maybe he should show up down here at around 11:30 some Saturday night and see how vibrant it is. These young thugs have threatened our parish priest..they have refused to disperse when neighbors ask them to leave.. It takes the police to move them and they really just send them to another bar for a few hours so that they can get more drunk and then make their way back into our neighborhood.
Last night we got home at about 11:30 there were almost 200 people in the street in front of the church. College kids everywhere..the parking lot was filled with cars. Cops showed up along with a bus from Westfield State..it took about 15 mins. for them to all leave. I can guarantee that nothing will be put into the local news about it ..
So this neighborhood is not a bad place to live EXCEPT when it is filled with spoiled, disrespectful 20 year old drunks. I remember being that age, I remember parties, I hope that I didn't scare anyone I hope that I didn't disrespect anyone. I do not remember police dispersing us, I do not remember neighbors asking us to quite down. I know we didn't trash neighborhoods like these scumbags do. I know we would not have disrespected a priest. Think about it..these jerks in a few years will graduate from college and take on jobs where they will make decisions about the lives of others..Makes you realize why things are such a mess in this country. Self serving people, spoiled disrespectful, self serving people. They smugly walk the walk, and talk the talk and could give a hoot about anyone except themselves. Sadly I cannot see any change coming. These young people are glorified among their peers..they are the good old boys and the popular girls. They are the campus leaders who will go on being the people to know and the people to hang with. Sickening as it is..just look around.
There is thankfully a group of people young and old, who still want to serve society without taking. There are still people out there that give without expecting to get. There are people with character who do not need booze to have fun. But they are the minority and that is sad.
So my friends..when you drive into my "hood" remember that for much of the time it is a happy place to live..A place where young families struggle to raise their kids. Where families try hard to keep their property neat and clean. A place where you can go for a walk at night and not be afraid. Just stay inside when the well to do college thugs come back to school.
Have a nice Sunday..watch out for pirates and remember to
BREATHE and smile for me
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