Tuesday, May 3, 2011

We Have A Dream!!!

People of Delmarva, do you ever stop and wonder- why does Salisbury suck? It's a simple enough question....and yet, the people who should be asking it-Terry, Deb, Tim, and the Mayor-don't seem to care. Could it be because these elected officials are laboring under the delusion that Salisbury does not suck...that in fact, Salisbury is great? All signs point to yes.

Unfortunately for those of us who have managed to load up our horse and buggies to make the perilous voyage across the Chesapeake to the New World, it is glaringly apparent that in many arenas Salisbury is coming up disastrously short; night life, cultural diversity, job availability, and basic sense of community are just a few of the categories in which our little town- to put it delicately- fails.

But why are we failing? What's holding us back? The Other Salisbury News is of the opinion that Salisbury is suffering more from a lack of leadership and vision than from a lack of ability or resources. Thus, in an effort to alleviate this problem, we are going to introduce you to our Dream for Salisbury:

First of all, the river is clean. There are boats in it (their passengers are all smiling and waving to one another) and fish (without tumors) are jumping in the light of the setting sun. As children leap out of their crafts for a swim, a nearby heron takes flight and glides over the reflection of Downtown Salisbury floating on the water. Music fills the warm night air as college students and homeowners (who all live in the Camden Neighborhood and coexist peacefully) walk across the bridge toward Main St...

Main St. is all a bustle. Delis, ice-cream parlors, coffee shops, art galleries, record stores, and even a local butcher open their doors to the public. Families (who vary in background and ethnicity) stop to chat with friends and neighbors who are dining outside at their favorite restaurants, while the college crowds mingle and socialize in the doorways of bars (there's an irish pub, a sports bar, a cocktail lounge, and even a grown up arcade- the clubs don't open til 10). People set up blankets and lawn chairs in the parking lot outside Sperry Van Ness where an outdoor film is about to begin. Others make their way towards the front of the City Government Building where a Chalk-Art competition is underway (lots of famous artists from over the bridge have come to participate). Meanwhile, a Bordeleau wine tasting is going on at the Old Synagogue (which was sold to a young couple who converted it into an organic grocer) while children lick lollipops outside the corner candy-store.
...Did we mention this was a normal Wednesday night of no particular importance? Ah, well it is.

Delmarva, Salisbury has amazing potential, but it isn't going to fix itself. We need businesses. We need community outreach. We need market creativity. We need a stronger police force. We need to stop focusing on what fiscally divides us so we can start focusing on what socially unites us. But we can't do any of it if the people in charge of our money and our city continue to do what they've always done. The close-mindedness and lack of sympathy and imaginative scope that plagues Salisbury is literally killing it. If we do not see a change in the budgetary priorities and political perspectives that have become characteristic of our Mayor and Council then the vision of Salisbury that we all share will soon be lost. We'd all love for Salisbury to be a home we can be proud of...let's stop letting the pride of a few stand in our way.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Muir and Julie gave you my number, waiting to hear from you.

Archie

Anonymous said...

When you graduate will you be staying here?

A.Adams said...

It will depend on the job market and whether or not Salisbury looks like its moving in a positive direction.

Anonymous said...

You will be gone like Flynn.

Anonymous said...

Don't be too sure. Salisbury needs a swift kick in the butt and these kids might be the enterprising young individuals that are at the forefront of that movement.

And considering how well these guys have done so far, they'll probably figure out a way to make a profit off of it too. Can you say 'Cha Ching"

Anonymous said...

You should run for Mayor - I love Salisbury as well. We do need professional leadership. The ass-clowns we have now do not serve us very well. What do you expect with 10% voter tun out. We get what we deserve.

Anonymous said...

This article brought a tear to my eye. Positives beget positives. Criticism need only be constructive not the continual and mindless blame game which is the current administrative and legislative mindset. I hope you guys stay. Your positive attitude refuels the rest of us who have become tired of running on the government treadmill.

A.Adams said...

Thank you all so much for the support! We love Salisbury and really hope it will improve soon. We really don't have enough world experience yet to run for public office, but we do believe that the 30s crowd could really make a difference; they are young enough not to have let life beat them down yet and old enough to have a clue but still be open minded. Successful and upwardly mobile 30s group- please come out of the hiding and run for office so that we can support you!!

A.Adams said...

Also- can somebody tell us who Flynn is so we can understand that insult properly?

Blog Editor said...

Nothing personal but if you are looking to buy a house, start a family and pay off your student loans, and don't have a friend/relative doing the hiring..well, you won't be writing from the Eastern Shore soon anymore either. Sad, but true. 11:39, unfortunately, is correct. That town died a generation ago when jobs at places like Cambell Soup, Dresser Wayne and many electronic component manufacturers in the industrial park bailed for greener pastures/were downsized. The reason you have such a low voter turn-out is because a majority there is now illegal/transient/has a warrant/doesn't want to piss off the landlord. The real damage occured between 1993-ish and the present-and there is plenty of blame to go around regarding political ignorance...or worse. If it is of comfort, the people who shitted up that city to line their own pockets now have to retire within it. You reap what you sow.

Anonymous said...

I didnt mean it that way. Its just when you get your degree from this little school would you want to stay here and make 45K or move and make 80K? I was born here and so were the people in my family but they are leaving as fast as they can for a place with a brighter future and more money. I suppose I will have to one day as well. Breaks my heart.

A.Adams said...

Ok, gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up Anon 1:44! We will say this- Salisbury is our home. The writers of this blog have grown up here- we will do everything we can to help improve it whether we move or not.

Bill- Giving up never got anybody anywhere. Salisbury may be a bleak city, but there is still hope. Thank you for the history, keep giving input!

Blog Editor said...

Part of me still clings to hope because I have some remaining great friends and family there. I have been in this game for a lot of years now, and fought leaving until the bitter end...but jobs/unsafe schools/no cool pubs. I never understood that 'unwise sprawl' concept until later, but easy loans to build McMansions where the deer played, and still do, made Salisbury and downtown a dead zone. If I could pass it on-get degrees in nursing, radiology, eldercare, even stuff through the local community college. Jobs are hard to come by {especially liberal arts}, and the federal government and credit card folks come first for the little people just trying to get started on a life of their own 6 months after graduation. Whatever happens-downtown is going to be the pivot point for getting small business and a possible non-franchise pub/restaurant scene. Hey, fight the good fight-and good luck to all of you if you are graduating soon. I have two degrees from SU myself!

Anonymous said...

I see the downtown area as a perfect place for the college crowd. Tear down feldmans and put up a parking garage and then promote the first floor of the buildings for restaurants,pubs,and any other business that is for the college crowd and the rest of the floors in the buildings are apartments for rent and the city needs to give the property owners some incentive to work toward this goal. The plaza needs some undecorating to create more parking and room for SU buses.

Hadley V. Baxendale said...

Ah, you mean just like Greenville, SC, a town that revitalized itself by cleaning up the river that runs through downtown and attracting businesses with tax breaks? Sounds radical.

Anonymous said...
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