Dear Editor and Fellow Westfielders:
I believe the Leadership of Westfield requires some serious revision; the demographics, recent successes and myriad of treasures in Westfield, MA deserve greater attention and necessary accentuation. End the negativity. Please.
It has been interesting to hear and read of Westfield property/business owners’ objections to becoming mandatory members of Westfield’s Business Improvement District (WBID). Objections that I fully understand. However, I also live on the edge of that district and will honestly miss the buildings, the flowered planters at the intersections, the hanging baskets and attractive WBID logo designation flags that have welcomed visitors to Westfield in recent years.
I, therefore, am very sad to hear that Westfield’s “Clean Team” may, in the very near future, be dissolved entirely. They have done an amazing job and should be congratulated.
In the years since moving to Westfield, I have volunteered with many local organizations and have been appointed to both the Westfield Historic Commission and the Westfield Cultural Council. It has been a joy to work alongside the many other volunteers I’ve also met at the Westfield Athenaeum, the Westfield Historical Society, and Westfield on Weekends, the Westfield Kiwanis Club, the Woman’s Club Foundation and many other organizations. And I’ve come to recognize and respect Westfield for what it could be – other than merely “The Whip City.”
In a recent conversation with a few local business owners, all agreed that Westfield is, indeed, a very interesting community and comprised of at least four segments. Currently there seems to exist: 1) Residents of Munger Hill, Ridgecrest, Devon Manor, Shaker Heights, etc.; 2) the Downtown residents, property owners and business people; 3) the Westfield State University (staff and students), as well as those who live around the perimeter of that institution; and 4) those who dwell just outside the above three areas and/or in the hill towns on Rt. 20. Recognizing the basic generalization here, one should also understand that there are, of course, exceptions within each of these demographic groups.
The first group is primarily “sport-centric” suburbanites; young families with children going to local schools who spend most of their time anywhere but downtown. Both parents most likely work; at least one full-time. They are dropping off/picking up children to and from school and/or various sporting activities (baseball, hockey, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf) and/or enjoying these activities themselves when they can find the time. Should they visit the downtown, it would be at night for dinner on a special occasion or church on Sunday. While this group may have respectable incomes, they are saving for their children’s education and/or a once-a-year vacation. They tend to buy online and/or at the Mall where they are assured of a parking place for their SUVs and minivans.
The second group is the least financially secure, personally and/or professionally. Most rent from displaced landlords and eat most of their meals at home. Their concern may be a daily routine that will, hopefully, continue to keep their heads above water, while attending activities or appointments at the Samaritan House, The Carson Center and/or the Forum House. Others in this segment may have a business to support. Business expenses usually come first and/or a close second to family expenses and are usually very much intertwined. While some drive, many walk and/or take a bus to utilize the grocery stores, pharmacies, Farmers’ Markets, the Post Office, Noble Hospital, etc. Some property owners in this segment have begun recognizing the convenience of living in this area and are making improvements to the magnificent properties that exist in this area – without the support, encouragement and/or direction of any elected/appointed officials.
The third group is solely occupied with concerns at their University, which are considerable. Since the City of Westfield has only recently made any effort to accentuate the positive influence of this institution within our Community (not to mention within the “Education Corridor of New England”), students and staff are just beginning to become connected and/or concerned with the Downtown of Westfield. This is an upwardly-mobile segment of Westfield that has been all but disregarded until recently. Their contributions both creatively and monetarily are slowly being recognized/honored.
Our last group may have the deepest pockets; probably retired, or close to it. Their families are grown. They have achieved a success that allows them “get-away” homes at Otis for the summer and/or Florida for the winter. They define the stereotypical tight-fisted New Englanders who are just so pleased with what currently exists (i.e., their financial security: some earned, some inherited and a few that literally “hit the jackpot!”) that any suggested change whatsoever is met with understandable angst or extreme contention.
Again, there will always be exceptions within these generalized demographics, but it was interesting to hear this perspective from local business owners.
Having lived in Westfield’s community for the last eleven years, I would add a fifth segment: The Spanish and Russian communities, which are doing quietly very well in Westfield – perhaps because immigrants arrive with exceptional skills, educations and/or work ethics, are being paid little or no attention and expect nothing in return.
I was born and raised in the Midwest of the USA. The small towns of the Midwest were, perhaps, not as diverse as those of the East Coast but most mid-westerners originally hailed from the East, transplanting themselves for opportunities of a better life.
Growing up in the nineteen-fifties and sixties, it seemed to me that the entire middle of our nation was cloaked in a veil of fear that the next election (or the “Red Threat”) was going to corrupt their economies and erase their communities from the face of Mother Earth. However, along with that fear, the primary dynamic of any mid-western community was Collaboration. COLLABORATION: Something I have yet to see fully functional within the New England paradigm of Westfield, MA politics.
COMMITMENT and COMMUNICATION are two other significant “C” words for which I was taught great respect. I have come to believe that together those “Three Cs” can, indeed, accomplish just about anything – and ALL lead directly to a COMMUNITY that honors and respects the CONTRIBUTIONS of every segment. The aforementioned “Three Cs” can certainly accomplish more than conceit, contempt and combativeness which dominated my elementary school playground at recess almost as much as they seem to dominate our local City Council meetings. (In the words of one phenomenal Disco Diva: “Enough Is Enough,” boys and girls .)
Commitment, Collaboration and Communication make for a better life and a better Community. Midwesterners may have realized that as a result of their transplantation. Perhaps it is a lesson learned in travelling … it is, in fact, impossible to get anywhere in one’s personal life or physically on this planet without commitment, collaboration and communication.
Westfield is neither a school playground, nor is it a war zone. Then why has our local government become so combative? It is embarrassing. Elected by rarely more than 35 percent of all Westfield registered voters on a “good” election day, many counselors may believe they are representing a constituent majority. (Reality Check: Hardly.) Currently, a coalition of counselors seem particularly intent on bankrupting our Mayor. They are certainly committed and communicative, yet I find this particular coalition sadly miss-focused if they think their particular goal would be good, in any way, for Westfield. It is petty and unproductive and counterintuitive to why they were elected.
But, is there any other focus represented within our City Council other than reducing property taxes? Is there any focus for the Future of Westfield? Is there, in fact, any kind of business plan, or a Master Plan for Westfield’s Future? I would suspect that very little research on those two questions would quickly uncover a negative response to both. Then, what exactly are those of us minority registered voters electing our officials to do?
Messrs. James Boardman and Larry Smith (Westfield’s two former appointed Community Development Directors) both told me that they didn’t like the idea of a master plan for Westfield because getting changes through a contentious City Council would be futile, if not extraordinarily frustrating. It seems from the perspective of those two appointed officials that contention between our Mayor’s office and our City Council has been the norm for some time. A norm that continually gets re-elected. Is that truly in the best interest of OUR Community?
Change is another word beginning with “C”. Change is difficult, especially for the elderly who are becoming the largest segment of our societal structure. And yet it is so important that Change be tolerated because research has proven that when a collective consciousness makes a decision, it is for the betterment of ALL.
Also, please remember, that change can also be changed. Any system of organization, should it not allow for change, ultimately collapses in on itself.
Suggested change Number One: I personally believe that Mayoral term limits should be expanded to four years. Within any changing environment, which is as large as Westfield, it takes two years to simply learn the names of all those with whom one is expected to collaborate. Getting others to successfully commit and clearly communicate goals, objectives and deliverables within any changing environment takes longer than two years.
Westfield is on a proverbial “verge.” What that verge is could be anybody’s guess. But it will define Westfield’s Future to some extent – if not a great extent. As anyone in corporate America will tell you, and here’s another lesson of which all elected officials should be reminded: Failure to Plan IS Planning to Fail.
I worry that City Leadership will not continue the progressive movement of Westfield’s newly renovated Bridges and Park Square areas. Our Leadership needs a Future PLAN – other than simply reducing taxes. Dissolution of our WBID seems a step backwards rather than a step forward. Please, please step forward and PLAN for your children.
There remain a number of business people who participated faithfully for years in the BID and its efforts – for the betterment of Westfield. For this City’s government to disregard the efforts of these businesses (their time, money AND taxes) would not only be a slap in the face to our downtown business men and women but also be fatal to the continuation of so many positive achievements in that area. (Not to mention the recent achievements of many local not-for-profits.)
Westfield, MA is a Treasure Chest. It is possessed of an economic history that has significantly enhanced the growth of our nation; as well as having architecture on its Park Square from three consecutive centuries; cemeteries full of historic people; a four-year University that ranks as one of the best in the nation and has an incredibly rich history; Barnes Airport; Stanley Park; Amelia Park Skating Rink and Gardens; the Greater Westfield Boys & Girls Club; the Westfield YMCA; the Amelia Park Children’s Museums; our own Westfield Athenaeum. In addition, the excitement of possibly having Westfield’s own “highline” rail trail, as well as its own Westfield Museum, AND a Riverfront – all nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires. Most cities our size would weep with envy to have any of these treasures in their midst. As historic preservation research encourages urban revitalizationists: Investing in One’s Past Guarantees One’s Future. There are communities in our own Commonwealth that are prime examples of this.
There are incredible treasures within our wonderful community that deserve recognition, validation and commemoration. None of these will be possible without an elected Leadership with a VISION of Westfield as more than “The Whip City” and the continual reliance on dedicated volunteers, as Westfield has done for years. Dedicated volunteers burn out. It time for a local governmental leadership that is collaborative, committed and communicative for the purpose of sustaining the Treasures of Westfield for the FUTURE of Westfield?
Points of view will always differ; we are mere mortals. And especially for the elder segment of our community, the status quo will always be preferable. However, as Westfield begins planning for its 350 Anniversary in 2019, it should become even more essential that our elected Leadership terminate the present “Silo-style” of administration and recognize the Similarities among each segment – which first and foremost MUST BE the Future of Westfield, including its Treasures – and simultaneously respect, if not embrace, the Differences that each segment of our Community brings to the table.
Not an easy task.
Thank you.
James L Homan
