You, Yes - You - Are In The Way Of Fall River's Progress | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

You, Yes - You - Are In The Way Of Fall River's Progress

The Massachusetts city's motto is "We'll Try." Not so much, actually.

107
You, Yes - You - Are In The Way Of Fall River's Progress
Asergeev

USA Today recently came out with an article that cited Fall River, Massachusetts as being the fifth worst city in the United States.

24/7 Wall Street did this study in determining America’s 50 worst cities to live in by reviewing the data on the 550 U.S. cities with populations of 65,000 or more, as measured by the U.S. Census Bureau. They based it on variables such as crime rates, employment growth and decline, access to restaurants and attractions, educational attainment, and housing affordability.

By using this data, they identified America’s 50 worst cities to live in.

Now if you notice, they used the census data. How many of you have filled one of those out? The vast majority of Fall River residents see that survey and toss it in the trash. It's extra work; who has time to fill that out, right?

Secondly, I would like to point out the education median. Only 13.1 percent of Fall River residents have a Bachelor's degree or higher. I'd be willing to bet that this fact is pretty accurate, otherwise these statistics would be much higher. Perhaps more companies would come into Fall River if we valued education a bit more. That includes help to pay for said education. Violent crime wouldn't be a regular occurrence either. We wouldn't have time for it; we would be too busy studying, or working...

On the flip-side of things, Fall river's aesthetics are a regular complaint among its citizens.

It's about 100 degrees today, although it feels as if it is 150 degrees with camels walking up my street, making a pit stop at the package store on the way.

There are volunteers out from an organization cleaning up East Main Street (which happens to be the neighborhood I am moving into) called Citizens For A Cleaner Fall River (CCFR). This is one of the groups that I'm happy exists. This group moves Fall River forward in such a positive manner, and it's done with just a few generous city residents. At the same time, we had a group out called Angel's Anonymous, which decided to clean up the Quarry /Bedford/ Pleasant Street area (my current neighborhood).

If I was not working, I would have joined them, and offered them some ice cold water. I'd be willing to bet, that other than who was there, no one else really showed up or cared that these people were out cleaning in this heat.

That's one of Fall River's many problems, and arguably its biggest.We get in the way of our own progress by shrugging off the good that people do, or congratulating them and maybe taking a picture with them but never being free enough to give up some of our precious time to help out. If they get too much credit, we unfriend them on Facebook and begrudge them when they are out making positive changes in the community.

There are also the lovely Fall River citizens who know how to work social media, but don't know how to spell. They can't seem to comprehend what is actually going on around them in the city, and take pure pleasure in name calling and telling everyone that no one cares about our houses or our parks, and that Fall River is a cess pool anyway, so why bother?

You aren't happy that something has been accomplished; you would only be happy if someone catered to you.

Now, what you don't tell people is that your park and your street have been cleaned by one of us by now....but you mindlessly litter your space with scratch tickets, cigarette butts and Dunkin' Donuts cups. You let your kid run out to stone the swans or draw graffiti all over the boardwalk. And when it's time for someone to take the blame, there you are on social media, saying, "See? Fall River sucks! That's why I'm going to get the hell out of here," after you win the lottery, of course.

So my question to you: Are we your hired maid?

And, futhermore, why aren't you out doing your part?

I know, you can't right? It's too hot, it's not your job, it's too complicated.

If you don't kiss ass, you won't get credit for it,etc -- I have heard just about every excuse since I chose to get involved and do my part six years ago. Suck it up, buttercup! Get out there and start doing something for your city, for your yard, your driveway, your street...anything.

Doing anything other than sitting on your ass and complaining that someone isn't doing something for you would represent a huge improvement of what has become the Fall River norm. Fall River's motto is "We'll Try." It is sewn into our Fall River Police officer's uniforms, a uniform they wear every day, and I have to say, they do try.

They try to do as much as they can, and the salary they receive? Not so great. They dodge bullets and rocks being pelted at them. They are out riding their bikes in 100 degree weather and watching everyone walking and driving by so the area is safe for us to walk and live. Most nights, they barely get to eat supper or take a break. And, they are also out on their days off, helping us clean up the parks or a parking lot in our neighborhood. Right on the side of us, sweeping up trash and grabbing supplies. The Fall River Fire Department is out cleaning up too. They supervise our movie nights in the park and bring us generators. They attend our block parties and let the neighborhood kids check out one of their trucks. Both the Fall River Police and Fall River Fire Department come to our neighborhood meetings and inform us of what is going in the city every month.

We try.

Yet, there is still a good sized portion of our city that are about as apathetic as they come. So much so, I bet none of them will read this.

You people are the reason we can only try and do so much after awhile. That weight is on top of us all the time, continuously picking up someone else's slack, whether it is an absentee landlord, a careless tenant, a kid the parents are too lazy to watch, or a keyboard warrior who tells everyone else to move but him/herself.

We are over it!

How many more lists are we going to end up on?

Get up off your ass and help out! Fall River will never remove itself from these lists if people like you keep holding us back.

Sincerely,

A Pissed Off Volunteer Who Works Too Hard Like Many Others To See You Bitch.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

1019
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

20 Thoughts While Studying For Finals

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1961
Thoughts While Studying For Finals
StableDiffusion


That time of the semester has arrived once again, finals. The worst week ever. Who thought it was a good idea for all your classes to have exams all in the same week? Definitely not me. Here's 20 thoughts you may have studying for finals.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

6815
Disney magic kingdom castle on new years
StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

40 Gift Ideas for the Indecisive

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

121028
Christmas gifts around a tree
StableDiffusion

It's officially December. There is less than a month of 2024, and I still feel like yesterday was summer. Now comes the merriest time of the year, the Christmas season.

Everyone has been waiting for this time of year since mid-October (which is way too early, in my opinion) or before. It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. A lot of times when I ask friends and family what they want, I get a lot of "I don't know" or "I don't care."

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments