I’ve
finally figured it out. We who live and work here are why we can’t have nice
things. We don't think we deserve them. We are happiest when we are unhappy and
delirious when we can share our vitriol and displeasure with as many people as
possible, whether they ask or not.
We’re
vexed with newspapers that tell us things we don’t like (‘fake news’), and our
favorite radio station is WII-FM, whose call letters stand for What's In It For
Me? If some initiative, public or private, benefits anyone other than
ourselves, we're at best lukewarm in our support of it. More like room
temperature.
If
you don't think so just ask one of us, any of us, and we'll tell
you.
Submitted for your approval (Thank you, Mr. Serling), social media comments about
last Wednesday’s presentation on modifications to the traffic pattern, accessibility,
and (quite frankly) point and purpose of the downtown waterfront area. We
like to complain about how things are but when someone suggests a change, we’re
cool with the status quo.
We
prefer problems that are familiar to solutions that are not. We are still
talking about the same ‘problems in the city’ that we were talking about when I
arrived here in 1991. We are a city of discouraged experts who not only know
everything, we know everything better. We argue over the cost of
a project or initiative but have no idea (or interest?) in how to calculate its
value..
We
call ourselves 'The Rose of New England' but we behave more like thorns. Our
spirit animal should be Winnie the Pooh’s Eeyore who always expects the worst
and rarely is disappointed. It's sad and frustrating to encounter the same disheartening
reactions, no matter the topic, often from the same people (the movie is the same,
sometimes with different actors).
We do big things well; build bridges, roads, and schools,
make sure the lights come on and stay on and that the water flows (except when
there's a flood and then we have people who make it stop). The big things are
easy; the devil is too often in the details.
After we have new sidewalks, no one feels responsible
for sweeping up the dirt and detritus that so often covers them. We step over
trash rather than pick it up and put it in a bin usually a few places from
where we are and we're all good at the look-away when an unpleasant situation
would be defused with just a glance of interest or concern.
It's convenient to point fingers and blame others (and often
very satisfying) except three fingers on the hand point back at ourselves.
Blame is one thing-responsibility is another and when it comes to our
neighborhoods that is on every one of us.
Instead of shaking your head at the overgrown
grass near the Sweeney Bridge, helping make a lousy impression at a gateway to
the city, take some pictures with your cell phone and send them to the state highway
department yourself or, share them with the City Manager who'll forward them.
Government is NOT something done TO us, but rather FOR us.
That is why we strive to form a more perfect union. Everyone has a speaking
part and a responsibility to do and to do better.
We need engaged citizens and that takes practice. You don’t
have to be great to start but you can start to be great, so why not today?
-bill kenny
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