One of the
problems of living in a small city is the lack of people networking. Sharing
appears to be a protected behavior pattern. Being open to new ideas is regarded
as a loss of control or power. Businesses and people somehow feel it is safer
to keep the binders on and the plan is a repeated daily ritual.
What better
way to thwart progress than to refuse to ask questions, share and listen?
How can you
expect change when the community is being managed like it’s the Cold War?
We lost the
ability to compete by keeping competition out. The grand effort to control
financial personal interests and creating wealth among the few kept us locked in a time capsule. Instead of growth
we have decay, poverty and crime. Our negative reputation precedes us in all we
do. Is it any wonder we are unable to attract new businesses?
“Do it in Mansfield”
Our city is
an eyesore of slum landlords and boarded up homes. We average an arson case every 3.2 days in downtown Mansfield, Ohio. As of today, we’ve had 42 arsons committed since June. A $5,000.00 reward has been offered, however; not one tip or lead has surfaced.
Why has no
one reported or unveiled any information? Why isn’t the city working to have
town meetings with the residents to increase surveillance and attract
information?
Many people feel it is part of an inside job
or are some of these vacant houses, drug houses and the neighbors are tired
of dealing with the threat? Superstition is on the rise. The likelyhood of several arsonists is probable.
Is a new
safety tax ballot levy in the works next year? It does beg the question.
New Development
Area?
One of the
areas of several fires has been designated for some new community development.
Grant money has recently been donated by the State of Ohio to tear down old
debilitated structures and demolition has finally begun. Is someone speeding up
the process by torching those vacant homes and buildings?
The lack of seeking
Federal assistance in investigating the arsons has many people scratching their
heads. The situation is clearly out of hand!
Perhaps we
can add a new moniker to our name. Our nickname is “The Fun Center of Ohio.” Sadly, we are becoming known as”The Arson Center of Ohio?”
It might be wise to beef up the investigative
process before a firefighter, squatter or innocent family is killed. It’s
shocking someone hasn’t lost their life.
Party Like it’s
1959
We live in a
world connected by the Internet. Yet we continue to act like its 1959.
The problem
we suffer began decades ago, our businessmen locked competition out, politicians
serenaded themselves by taking trips to merry old England and ignored the need
to grow and replace the loss of manufacturing and jobs.
Instead of fining slum landlords and earning
considerable income, the homes and property were allowed to deteriorate. The
city of Mansfield nearly went broke and the few, proud and unconnected
prospered. There has to be a better way!
Heck, even
stumbling upon something to bring hope could accidentally happen.
But the law of averages doesn’t live in this town. It checked out decades ago.
Who will Step-Up?
Isn’t it
time we do something promising to change the future?
Do we stand
back and watch it burn?
It’s tough
to connect the dots when you live in an unconnected environment.
Or is it?
Until
We Meet Again,
Jim Carver
Author: The Legacy of David A. Wells- The Lexington High School
“Band of Gold”
Something Meaningful that Matters!
www.successthroughmusic.com
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