Anyone from New Bedford? (Boston, Bourne: sale, violent crime, Home Depot)

[capecodcathy]

I had a bad experience in another town which I "spoke" about earlier this week.
I just had another wonderful experience in another, thought-to-be similar town this evening and wanted to share it, as well. This is my email to the Greater New Bedford Voke Tech administrator:

"Dear Mr. Shea,
I've just arrived home from the JV & Varsity Volleyball games at Bourne. I am a mom of one of the Bourne varsity players.
I would like to compliment the Lady Bears on their performance this evening both on, but especially, off the court. While the outcome was not in their favor, these ladies displayed incredible class and dignity.
I generally try to approach at least a few opposing players in passing at the end of the game, regardless of the outcome, to congratulate them. I have never been met with such gracious smiles and "thank you's".
I was so impressed by their grace and exceptional sportsmanship I felt compelled to send you this email in the hope that you would pass it along to them and their coaches. My daughter has also said that she and her teammates enjoy playing GNBVT for these same reasons. No nastiness, cheap shots or vulgarity, just true competitors in it for the joy of the game.
I also wanted to let you, Mr. Shea, your district and student body know what an exceptional group of young women represent your school and the Greater New Bedford area.
Nice job, Lady Bears. You are winners on and off the court and will continue to be in life with your grace, dignity and wonderful, winning attitudes! Best of luck to you all (just not so much that you beat Bourne. Hey!........ I'm a little partial. Cut me some slack here!)
Cathy Clark"
While I never would have before, I would now consider New Bedford to be a place to consider.
A wonderfully diverse city with history and they teach their children right!
I was very impressed!

[EddieFknD]

GNBVT is a good school. You have to be accepted to get into that school. There are less punks there than New Bedford High.

Anyways, glad you had a good experience in New Bedford.

[lrfox]

It's wonderful to hear a positive story on New Bedford. The city truly gets a worse rap than it deserves.

I went to school at Apponequet, a rival school to both Bourne and GNB Voc (is "Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School" not the longest high school name EVER, btw?!) and had WONDERFUL experiences at both as a visiting athlete and spectator.

In fact, while swimming competetively for Apponequet, our pool was undergoing renovations and New Bedford High School allowed us to not only to use their pool, but to practice with them. The hosts at New Bedford High School were so welcoming and friendly, that kids from the Apponequet swim team and NBHS swim team asked the coaches if the two teams could join together as ONE team in the future to defeat common rivals (Stang and Feehan). Of course, MIAA would never allow such a thing, but the fact that New Bedford was so welcoming to us as visitors that we wanted to join forces was something I never expected to experience as a high school athlete.

Good letter, Cathy, I'm glad your experience was a good one and it's wonderful that you're sharing. I hope you get a good response back.

[zx9rgirl]

Originally Posted by EddieFknD

GNBVT is a good school. You have to be accepted to get into that school. There are less punks there than New Bedford High.

Anyways, glad you had a good experience in New Bedford.

It is a good school however it is nothing like a private school. Don't confuse the two. You have to get "accepted" but it is not like being accepted into a prestigious college or anything.

[zx9rgirl]

Originally Posted by lrfox

It's wonderful to hear a positive story on New Bedford. The city truly gets a worse rap than it deserves.

I went to school at Apponequet, a rival school to both Bourne and GNB Voc (is "Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School" not the longest high school name EVER, btw?!) and had WONDERFUL experiences at both as a visiting athlete and spectator.

In fact, while swimming competetively for Apponequet, our pool was undergoing renovations and New Bedford High School allowed us to not only to use their pool, but to practice with them. The hosts at New Bedford High School were so welcoming and friendly, that kids from the Apponequet swim team and NBHS swim team asked the coaches if the two teams could join together as ONE team in the future to defeat common rivals (Stang and Feehan). Of course, MIAA would never allow such a thing, but the fact that New Bedford was so welcoming to us as visitors that we wanted to join forces was something I never expected to experience as a high school athlete.

Good letter, Cathy, I'm glad your experience was a good one and it's wonderful that you're sharing. I hope you get a good response back.

I think that you didn't get to actually see the city for what it is really worth if you were just passing by for sports events and whatnot. You wouldn't have gotten a chance to appreciate all of the things that make it honestly a place that would give it a bad reputation. I suppose it is like any other city that is out there with the drugs violence and whatnot but it is something that you will understand when living there going to the grocery store at night after work and hoping not to get mugged by punk "gangster" high school teenagers.

Honestly if you are not worried about being in the city and all of the things that go along with it then this is the place to be. School system is not a good one though either if you choose on having kids. Always have the DOD on their but because they do not meet any educational standards. It's really sad to be honest.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by zx9rgirl

I think that you didn't get to actually see the city for what it is really worth if you were just passing by for sports events and whatnot. You wouldn't have gotten a chance to appreciate all of the things that make it honestly a place that would give it a bad reputation. I suppose it is like any other city that is out there with the drugs violence and whatnot but it is something that you will understand when living there going to the grocery store at night after work and hoping not to get mugged by punk "gangster" high school teenagers.

Honestly if you are not worried about being in the city and all of the things that go along with it then this is the place to be. School system is not a good one though either if you choose on having kids. Always have the DOD on their but because they do not meet any educational standards. It's really sad to be honest.

^I actually spent 3 months living in New Bedford, however I did go to high school in Lakeville which is why my sporting experiences are what they are. It was only a brief time, but I saw a lot of the city. I have a bunch of friends who still live in New Bedford to this day and I spend LOTS of time there. My mother works in the city and has for years. I love New Bedford. As someone who is working towards becoming a city planner, New Bedford oozes with potential.

My feeling on New Bedford is that it's a city that's BEGINNING a rebound. I know very well there are problems in the city... many problems in New Bedford are WORSE than other cities. However, it's a city with a lot of potential and some of it is just beginning to be realized.

Crime is an issue in New Bedford, but having lived in Providence and Washington DC, New Bedford's not as bad. Violent crimes in NB have decreased significantly in the past few years and are continuing to drop. While there are still tragic crimes (the double homicide two weeks ago for example), the city is seeing fewer and fewer. New Bedford isn't nearly as dangerous as it was even 5 years ago. Does that mean the crime problem is solved? Absolutely not.... there's still a long way to go. Gangs are still a problem and a big one. So are drugs (and given the size of the fishing fleet, they probably will be for a while).

New Bedford bottomed out in the 80s and early 90s after industry left. However, the past few years have been good for New Bedford economically with the Fishing industry being the highest grossing in the nation for the past 9 years and downtown completely revitalizing itself and becoming a destination. The sale of the Fairhaven Mills site recently for about 50x more than what Kalisz wanted to sell it for (and turn it into a freaking Home Depot), the conversion of Wamsutta Mills, and the influx of restaurants, artists and shops are ALL very good things. New Bedford has also gained key companies moving into the industrial park including one who just recieved a $20Million grant to expand operations which can mean hundeds of new jobs. The commuter rail bodes very well for the future of the city too. With Obama in the White House, funding may even be taken care of for that project. As Boston and Providence become more and more expensive, the business that get priced out find New Bedford to be a very attractive option given its proximity to both cities, infrastructure (nice airport, highway access and seaport with access to the Cape Cod Canal) and relatively low cost and ease of opening businesses.

Does New Bedford have a LOOOONG way to go? Absolutely. I wouldn't recommend sending any child to New Bedford Public Schools. They're terrible. They need significant improvement. Same with crime... while it's improving, it's far from perfect. Drugs too... still a problem.

But as Obama brings hope to the nation and the world, the Lang administration has given hope to New Bedford and actually started to deliver on his promises. The Regency tower is about to undergo redevelopment by a world renowned developer out of Boston (Trinity Co.) and there are talks about redeveloping some of the worst projects in the city such as United Front (a dangerous area). He has also made starting businesses and obtaining permits far easier than any of his predecessors has. He is almost single-handedly making New Bedford a place businesses want to be. More jobs equal less unemployment and less poverty.

I won't pretend New Bedford doesn't have problems... it certainly does. Howver, my experiences elsewhere have shown me places that are FAR worse than New Bedford. I can also see the potential upside that the city is just only starting to realize. If you want out of New Bedford, I don't blame you... just like I don't blame anyone who doesn't want to move there. But if this city keeps on the same path it is on right now and progresses at the same rate, I think you'll be surprised at the shape New Bedford is in come 10 years.

[ProvGuy]

New Bedford has a very cool downtown and a nice historic district. Its port is a huge economic generator and will only get better with the advent of short sea shipping and the like amongst the east coast ports. Plus it has No Problemo with the best burritos in Massachusetts!

[zx9rgirl]

Originally Posted by lrfox

^I actually spent 3 months living in New Bedford, however I did go to high school in Lakeville which is why my sporting experiences are what they are. It was only a brief time, but I saw a lot of the city. I have a bunch of friends who still live in New Bedford to this day and I spend LOTS of time there. My mother works in the city and has for years. I love New Bedford. As someone who is working towards becoming a city planner, New Bedford oozes with potential.

My feeling on New Bedford is that it's a city that's BEGINNING a rebound. I know very well there are problems in the city... many problems in New Bedford are WORSE than other cities. However, it's a city with a lot of potential and some of it is just beginning to be realized.

Crime is an issue in New Bedford, but having lived in Providence and Washington DC, New Bedford's not as bad. Violent crimes in NB have decreased significantly in the past few years and are continuing to drop. While there are still tragic crimes (the double homicide two weeks ago for example), the city is seeing fewer and fewer. New Bedford isn't nearly as dangerous as it was even 5 years ago. Does that mean the crime problem is solved? Absolutely not.... there's still a long way to go. Gangs are still a problem and a big one. So are drugs (and given the size of the fishing fleet, they probably will be for a while).

New Bedford bottomed out in the 80s and early 90s after industry left. However, the past few years have been good for New Bedford economically with the Fishing industry being the highest grossing in the nation for the past 9 years and downtown completely revitalizing itself and becoming a destination. The sale of the Fairhaven Mills site recently for about 50x more than what Kalisz wanted to sell it for (and turn it into a freaking Home Depot), the conversion of Wamsutta Mills, and the influx of restaurants, artists and shops are ALL very good things. New Bedford has also gained key companies moving into the industrial park including one who just recieved a $20Million grant to expand operations which can mean hundeds of new jobs. The commuter rail bodes very well for the future of the city too. With Obama in the White House, funding may even be taken care of for that project. As Boston and Providence become more and more expensive, the business that get priced out find New Bedford to be a very attractive option given its proximity to both cities, infrastructure (nice airport, highway access and seaport with access to the Cape Cod Canal) and relatively low cost and ease of opening businesses.

Does New Bedford have a LOOOONG way to go? Absolutely. I wouldn't recommend sending any child to New Bedford Public Schools. They're terrible. They need significant improvement. Same with crime... while it's improving, it's far from perfect. Drugs too... still a problem.

But as Obama brings hope to the nation and the world, the Lang administration has given hope to New Bedford and actually started to deliver on his promises. The Regency tower is about to undergo redevelopment by a world renowned developer out of Boston (Trinity Co.) and there are talks about redeveloping some of the worst projects in the city such as United Front (a dangerous area). He has also made starting businesses and obtaining permits far easier than any of his predecessors has. He is almost single-handedly making New Bedford a place businesses want to be. More jobs equal less unemployment and less poverty.

I won't pretend New Bedford doesn't have problems... it certainly does. Howver, my experiences elsewhere have shown me places that are FAR worse than New Bedford. I can also see the potential upside that the city is just only starting to realize. If you want out of New Bedford, I don't blame you... just like I don't blame anyone who doesn't want to move there. But if this city keeps on the same path it is on right now and progresses at the same rate, I think you'll be surprised at the shape New Bedford is in come 10 years.

I am sorry but I have about 17 years on you there in terms of living in New Bedford. Might not be as bad as some places but potential is just that. It has been TRYING to turn itself around for years and years now. . . people aren't willing to work hard enough there to make it the "great city" that it could be an a new president isn't going to change that much. . . trust me there.

[lrfox]

^We'll see. I think New Bedford has mad some significant improvements just recently. Again, it has a LOOONG way to go, but it's made progress. The city hit rock bottom a few years ago and has started to rebound. It takes YEARS to change, it doesn't happen overnight. New Bedford is on business's radar and companies are moving in. The Mayor and his staff seem to be pro-growth and are working had (and succeeding) in attracting business. I don't think New Bedford will be great tomorrow (no city is EVER perfect), or even next year, but it'll continue to improve I think. This is a city that has boomed and busted many times and each time it reinvents itself.... it's in the process of doing that again. Time will tell who's right, but you'd be surprised at how many outsiders have taken a keen interest in New Bedford.

[mercy7]

Well I was raised and born in New Bedford, and have not yet seen any Mall, Walmart, Taco Bell, etc.. here. I have to always go to Fairhaven, and North Dartmouth for certain stores. I have a car, but what about people who don't and can't afford to always bum a ride or take a bus. (I haven't forgotten where I came from.) Oh and also, the buses only run until 6:00 p.m. I believe that if New Bedford decides to build a mall, more stores for residents and not a casino or more bars, there will be a lot more jobs and less crime. It's very hard to find a job in new bedford for people that live here, Oh and don't forget maybe we also can have a lot more programs or activities for our teenagers, that way they don't hang in the streets and have positive remodels in their lives whom don't judge them and call them hoodlums. They are just a product of their environment.