6.01.2006

Rat Problem in Pawtucket

There seems to be an awful lot of renewed, "artistic" interest in Pawtucket. I understand that they're trying to "revitalize" (I hate that word) Pawtucket's downtown... but it's mildly insulting when non-natives are slinking around, taking pictures and talking about "potential" in some of Pawtucket's "glorious old buildings".

Why should I care? Technically, I don't even live in Pawtucket. But I'm uneasy about the impending flossiness of the real estate down by the Mill. And the new kids are all, "Pawtucket's ugly... let's work together and change everything!"

I have a link to The Bucket Blog, which was the only Pawtucket-style blog I could find that didn't involve kittens. It's an informative and well-written outsider perspective on Pawtucket and all its flaws, problems, and soiled/sullied architecture. I can't say I align myself with the author's beliefs 100% of the time, though. It's usually not a good idea to insult an entire city's population, even if it is to make a point.

Look, I'm all for renovation and change... I'm not one of those farty purists who want everything to remain as it was during the Henry Ford Era. But come on. Pawtucket is, for the most part, a moderate to low-income city. Don't get too crazy downtown, Newbie.

And by the way, Woneffe, I've been taking the same photos for years now! Get your hands off my Feldman Furniture sign!

2 comments:

Phlip said...

Ha! I was one of those "mildly insulting ... non-natives ... slinking around, taking pictures and talking about "potential" in some of Pawtucket's "glorious old buildings".

:P

Jenks said...

Ha, no, I wasn't talking about you.

There's nothing dishonest about your pictures : )