The Outsider's View And Why Southbridge Is Not My Home

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JavierMelendez

Javier Melendez

I do not usually voice my frustrations. However Ifeel it is important to inform Southbridge of why I chose not to make it myhome. There are many things I love about Southbridge and it makes me sad to seewhere Southbridge is now. From the fights to the finger pointing and the adultbabies. Southbridge way back when was a great community where people took prideand were proud to say that they came from Southbridge. Now many people my agecan’t wait to get out of Southbridge. Being almost 21, I have worked 5 jobs, 2of which were in Southbridge. When I was 17 I worked during the summer alongsidethe DPW under the stimulus package which provided a summer job for youngerpeople  and we helped beautifySouthbridge, and it was a job which you could take pride in at the end of theday.

Now if I drive through, we have holiday decorationsup 2 weeks BEFORE THANKSGIVING. That seems a bit ridiculous. I read about howthe school Superintendent is placed on leave, (always a great situation). Wehave a great new school but there are still issues with the administration, theprices and taxes are rising so fast, I would not be surprised if in a few yearsthe amount of taxes and water and sewer are more than 90% of what people payfor mortgage. And to top it all off even the police department is havingissues. I mean if the people you call in an emergency have issues what doesthat mean for the rest of us. Call me dumb, naive or ignorant if you want butyou can’t deny what I am saying.

Even when I was graduating High School theSouthbridge kids were happy to go to college, not for the education, but to getout of Southbridge. Personally I had to leave Southbridge. My professionoffered me no opportunity and the town would definitely not offer me any chanceat being successful. The only chance it seems I would have had to have abusiness in this town is by starting a restaurant or bar. Sad but true.
Now as I once heard a local Chairperson say “All Ihear is griping but no one is offering solutions" Well here’s a few.First, why not actually call some of the franchise businesses that people oh sowant and tell them and show them some of the primo business locations that areavailable (including the old Friendly's). Why not offer programs like “If youset up a business in Southbridge, you can get half of the fees you paid thetown back after 1 year." Or something like that. Why not partner withQuinsigamond to offer deals to local businesses when the college kids shopthere. Hell they’re college kids, give them a buy one get one slice of Pizza,(It goes a long way trust me).
The last thing I want to say is "stop actinglike babies".  The finger pointing,the personal agendas, the he said she said. Most of the people who can make adifference act like kids and the rest just keep voting the kids back in ordon’t care. GROW UP, GET A PAIR, AND WORK TOGETHER!