Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Correct vt hardly has any gun laws or crime. But the fact of the matter is drug user
" I can't think of another like city in New England, where the surrounding area is so quick to disown the main city of its respective region."
Bridgeport and Lawrence. I'm not putting either down but I don't hear them spoken in terms. Lawrence needs help and the current mayor is done a much better job then they last one. They just got out of the financial board. Heck why is there Young Professionals of Springfield? I know half the staff there. https://springfieldyps.com/about-yps/
"Yes I happen to live in one of them. Leave my keys in the ignition. Rarely lock my front door. There isn't a single place in town I would hesitate to walk around at 2am with headphones on. Guy at work got stuck in the woods while he was hunting, nobody to come get him at the time so he hitchhiked. First passerby picked him up, this was all while he had a rifle slung over his shoulder. Would you do this stuff in Springfield? Heck even the town I lived in MA I would not recommend most of those things, and it has a MUCH lower crime rate than Springfield. Security is a GOOD thing."
That's just being remote that has nothing with security. I've had my car parked downtown down the street and nothing happened. Car unlocked, again nothing happened. Cameras and security are everywhere.
It isn't just mgm but union Station and the clubs.
Private property owners aren't afraid to enforce security and frankly it adds up in any area.
I'll gladly extend a tour of areas if you'd like me to show you around.
Bridgeport and Lawrence. I'm not putting either down but I don't hear them spoken in terms. Lawrence needs help and the current mayor is done a much better job then they last one. They just got out of the financial board.
Lawrence sure, but it's not the same caliber of city as Springfield though. Much smaller. Overshadowed by neighboring Lowell and also near to similar sized Haverhill. It's by no means the prime city of its region the way Springfield or Boston (or Providence, Hartford, Portland) is. Bridgeport, maybe? Not really sure there. That is close to a lot of other similar sized cities as well right, and also in the shadow of NYC.
Half of what all six of them? Wouldn't be difficult, I would think anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdovell
That's just being remote that has nothing with security. I've had my car parked downtown down the street and nothing happened. Car unlocked, again nothing happened. Cameras and security are everywhere.
It isn't just mgm but union Station and the clubs.
You (and another poster) made it seem as though ME, NH and VT are more dangerous than urban Mass. I was pointing out the absurdity of that statement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdovell
I'll gladly extend a tour of areas if you'd like me to show you around.
And the last tour you posted was much appreciated, but let's not get too far off the thread here.
Correct vt hardly has any gun laws or crime. But the fact of the matter is drug user
" I can't think of another like city in New England, where the surrounding area is so quick to disown the main city of its respective region."
Bridgeport and Lawrence. I'm not putting either down but I don't hear them spoken in terms. Lawrence needs help and the current mayor is done a much better job then they last one. They just got out of the financial board. Heck why is there Young Professionals of Springfield? I know half the staff there. https://springfieldyps.com/about-yps/
"Yes I happen to live in one of them. Leave my keys in the ignition. Rarely lock my front door. There isn't a single place in town I would hesitate to walk around at 2am with headphones on. Guy at work got stuck in the woods while he was hunting, nobody to come get him at the time so he hitchhiked. First passerby picked him up, this was all while he had a rifle slung over his shoulder. Would you do this stuff in Springfield? Heck even the town I lived in MA I would not recommend most of those things, and it has a MUCH lower crime rate than Springfield. Security is a GOOD thing."
That's just being remote that has nothing with security. I've had my car parked downtown down the street and nothing happened. Car unlocked, again nothing happened. Cameras and security are everywhere.
It isn't just mgm but union Station and the clubs.
Private property owners aren't afraid to enforce security and frankly it adds up in any area.
I'll gladly extend a tour of areas if you'd like me to show you around.
This is straight deflection. Springfield is the worst of any of the failed Massachusetts cities. It’s at the bottom in all the related categories. Violent crime. Poverty rate. Children in single parent households. School system rating. It’s an economic wasteland.
This is straight deflection. Springfield is the worst of any of the failed Massachusetts cities. It’s at the bottom in all the related categories. Violent crime. Poverty rate. Children in single parent households. School system rating. It’s an economic wasteland.
There were three main cities in MA: Boston, Worcester, and Springfield. One thing Springfield was known for was its beautiful mansions. "The City of Homes" it was called. Besides all the other good things it had to offer. What killed it, I don't know. Here's something--it had such a good school system that when I moved from Springfield to Longmeadow, the Longmeadow school principal called me (and another kid who had moved from Springfield) into her office to find out why WE COULD READ and the Longmeadow kids couldn't.
That's just one example of how far the place has fallen. And since the 1970s they've been saying Springfield is coming back. Well, it isn't. I still wouldn't go there. If I want to see my childhood home, I go on Google Earth. It was a big beautiful city. It was fun, shopping there was fun, eating there was fun. Matoon St was supposed to herald a come back. It didn't and that was around 1975 or so. Nothing they do makes any difference.
I do think maybe the state could have stepped in somewhere along the way. I see cities and towns in EMass getting help but not Springfield. No comparison with Lawrence--Lawrence was factories and canals. Springfield was like an aristocratic city compared with a place like Lawrence. You'd think the state would want to do something to resurrect one of the three formerly great cities--Springfield is a part of Massachusetts, after all. It was such a great and beautiful city.
It shouldn't be this way. Beautiful location on a main river, Boston to the east, NY to the west, back when they still had RR service, people could hop on a train and go to NYC and back for the day. Beautiful public library, still some nice buildings downtown, pleasant suburbs, superb park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. At one time it was the perfect place to live and work and shop.
I don't think it's ever going to change. It's like Hartford, they keep saying it's getting better. Maybe Hartford is getting gradually better but it's the state capitol so it should definitely be a decent place.
Springfield has some things going for it but this part of the state was hung out to dry a long time ago. A gambling casino is not a sign of improvement or a means to improvement.
You are right, growing up there we enjoyed that river, the lakes, streams, ponds, forests, history and overall camaraderie and neighborly feeling. The economy was decent and being situated between N.Y. and Boston was a plus. Not sure what happened to the city I called home, but it has changed. There's still lots of potential for it to remake itself.
That's just one example of how far the place has fallen. And since the 1970s they've been saying Springfield is coming back. Well, it isn't. I still wouldn't go there. If I want to see my childhood home, I go on Google Earth. It was a big beautiful city. It was fun, shopping there was fun, eating there was fun. Matoon St was supposed to herald a come back. It didn't and that was around 1975 or so. Nothing they do makes any difference.
I do think maybe the state could have stepped in somewhere along the way. I see cities and towns in EMass getting help but not Springfield. No comparison with Lawrence--Lawrence was factories and canals. Springfield was like an aristocratic city compared with a place like Lawrence. You'd think the state would want to do something to resurrect one of the three formerly great cities--Springfield is a part of Massachusetts, after all. It was such a great and beautiful city.
small cities like Springfield, and Hartford etc were all victims of past decades of mega trends, car and highways, white flight destroyed all the city urban virility and jobs, and therefore huge down fall.
It is now in reverse trend, suburb has been in down fall over past 10 years and cities like New Haven and Stamford are up. I think if Mass invests more rails into Springfield, yes, it would recover too like New Haven or Stamford.
Not every city can recover. my understanding is that Springfield/Worcester are considered top three cities in MA, correct me if I am wrong. That top three of a state may deserve a change of trend and investment dollar from state. when I say top, I really mean "influential" economically, culturally, and overall every thing, not just mere population. As comparison, the top three in CT are New Haven, Hartford, and Stamford. The recent CT governor talked about jobs, economics, all these top three cities names mentioned in his words many times. If I am correct, Springfield/Worcester are top three, then there is chance to rise again with the infrastructure dollar from government.
BTW, I visited Springfield downtown three times, first one was free ride for the first two days of CTrail, just for curiosity of Springfield. Second time was BigE trip recently. Both were pleasantly pleased with experience in Downtown Springfield. It is not as dangerously as some people in MA want to paint it to be. They probably have not visited harlem 125 street neighborhood in Manhattan.
My comments:
Bridgeport is a city with almost 24 hours Metro North trains to NYC/Stamford and New Haven at two directions. It is so sad that it has fallen so hard in the recent decades. It is all the mega trends of small cities down fall.
Bridgeport in my opinion is not on the top three list of cities in CT, not even top three on metro north new haven line, There are Stamford/New Haven two big dogs, and Norwalk is more important for its influence and economics in CT than Bridgeport.
It's hard not to see hidden racism in some of the comments that criticize Springfield. I mean, what really changed? There are lots of black and brown people around. I will say again that I have worked in and around there, commuting from Northampton, for fifteen years, and I like it there. All cities have problems.
It's hard not to see hidden racism in some of the comments that criticize Springfield. I mean, what really changed? There are lots of black and brown people around. I will say again that I have worked in and around there, commuting from Northampton, for fifteen years, and I like it there. All cities have problems.
That's what much of it comes down to. There are people that actively bash cities, usually because they are financially attached to suburbs.
Who wants to block rail expansion? Peter pan at first but not as much now. Years ago I got into some fiesty arguments with a real estate agent. Later I found out he has no degree and worked in fast food for 25 years. No not as an owner or manager but rather a cashier or fry cook. So he bought a cheap suit and spent three hours getting his license and he thinks he's a real estate agent. He's selling homes in one of the whitest towns in the state.
Anyways the baby boomer filter wasn't Facebook but local media. Real estate agents pressure papers to not publish bad news as long as they continue to advertise to the paper. Gradually there is no reporting and consolidation becomes the new normal. Suburbs get sensitive about being asked anything because the lack has been nomalialized.
As for Bridgeport I wish them the best. The other issue there is high end homes in FFC (1+m)are dropping significantly. Too bad Sneaky Pete wasn't filmed there
"BTW, I visited Springfield downtown three times, first one was free ride for the first two days of CTrail, just for curiosity of Springfield. Second time was BigE trip recently. Both were pleasantly pleased with experience in Downtown Springfield. It is not as dangerously as some people in MA want to paint it to be. They probably have not visited harlem 125 street neighborhood in Manhattan"
It was very packed that day. I'm looking forward to the brewery but the bakery seems interesting. As I mentioned there was a landlord that did significant neglect. Most of his properties were foreclosed and the bank is planning reinvestment. Some owners wait for offers on speculation rather then actual plans.
"Half of what all six of them? Wouldn't be difficult, I would think anyway."
Actually there's dozens and dozens but thanks for trying.
small cities like Springfield, and Hartford etc were all victims of past decades of mega trends, car and highways, white flight destroyed all the city urban virility and jobs, and therefore huge down fall.
It is now in reverse trend, suburb has been in down fall over past 10 years and cities like New Haven and Stamford are up. I think if Mass invests more rails into Springfield, yes, it would recover too like New Haven or Stamford.
Not every city can recover. my understanding is that Springfield/Worcester are considered top three cities in MA, correct me if I am wrong. That top three of a state may deserve a change of trend and investment dollar from state. when I say top, I really mean "influential" economically, culturally, and overall every thing, not just mere population. As comparison, the top three in CT are New Haven, Hartford, and Stamford. The recent CT governor talked about jobs, economics, all these top three cities names mentioned in his words many times. If I am correct, Springfield/Worcester are top three, then there is chance to rise again with the infrastructure dollar from government.
BTW, I visited Springfield downtown three times, first one was free ride for the first two days of CTrail, just for curiosity of Springfield. Second time was BigE trip recently. Both were pleasantly pleased with experience in Downtown Springfield. It is not as dangerously as some people in MA want to paint it to be. They probably have not visited harlem 125 street neighborhood in Manhattan.
FUnny thing is that area is probably much safer than Springfield. Harlem is so gentrified it unbelievable, im there on occassion and always impressed.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
? Wouldn't be difficult, I would think anyway. 
