Speak now or forever.......

During the past few years, I have been extremely vocal about my feelings regarding the possible Main Street makeover.  As we stand on the precipice of the very real chance that our community will be forever changed, and not in a way many people want it to be, some final comments deserve to be put forth.

I love Concord, having grown up here, having worked on Main Street for more than a quarter century, and having gotten to know and love a great many people and enterprises, and sharing enough moments during those years to help me understand my reasoning behind calling Concord, "A shining jewel on the banks of the Merrimack".

Each week on WKXL, I attempt to share with listeners the many reasons why our city is a unique and valued place in which to live, work and play. I get paid nothing to do the show and view it as a way to give back to a city that has been very good to me. Sharing the mic with a mix of politicians, public figures, business owners, non-profits and others whose names may fly under the radar but who work unselfishly on behalf of others, only reinforces in me all of the reason that I treasure every instant of my life in Concord.

Concord Patch has meticulously laid out all of the various particulars of the possible changes coming our way. They've presented a balanced forum of pros and cons, ultimately allowing the reader to make their own determination based upon these facts.

On Monday evening there will be a final public hearing prior to the City Council casting a vote on whether to move forward or not. It is a defining evening in our city's history and the changes that could be wrought will "gut" many of the reasons that visitors to Concord have fallen in love with our city.

Concord is unique unto itself.  We are the Capital City and a place rich with history going back hundreds of years. We are not nor should we ever aspire to be a bustling, modern metropolis. We should revel in our history and what happened here and carefully balance that history with a recognition of how major change can forever eradicate that which makes us unique.

From the beginning this project has divided people, partly because of the way in which it seemed to be rammed forward without complete transparency or input from everyone. I've spoken to more than 150 people - everyone from business owners to students to longtime residents, to lawyers, doctors and occasional visitors to our downtown. Only 14 of those I chatted with fully support the project, while more than 100 are vehemently opposed and others have genuine concerns but little faith in having their voice heard because they've lost their belief in our government truly reflecting the will of the people.

In my own opinion, the money should be returned to the government with thanks and as a city we should begin to focus on problems that are only increasing here and that undercut our value as a society.

That's not what the powers to be wish to hear but the Council could most definitely set a new standard of public trust and belief if they voted down this wasteful expenditure and made one of the following decisions or a combination of these points:

1.  Form a committee made up of concerned citizens, business owns and professionals to find out specifically what our citizens want or feel our community needs, including our downtown;

2.  Wait until they receive the results from the planned Parking Study, which won't come until next year. At that time take those recommendations and see how they fit in with any proposed downtown changes. Proceeding on the downtown re-do at this point, without the results of that study, is foolish, illogical and could prove to be costly if said study makes recommendations that will then need to be added to construction already in progress;

3.  Put the entire matter to a public vote this fall and truly listen to the people, allowing them to make the decision, thereby showing them the respect they deserve as voters.

Monday evening is the final opportunity for voices to be heard - in favor of or opposed to the project. I am hoping that those who have an opinion will not allow apathy to keep them from expressing their feelings.

At the least they'll not regret, later on, not making their voices heard.  Regrets are a terrible thing to deal with - just ask those who regret the loss of our beautiful railway station more than fifty years ago as well as those who had envisioned Eagle Square as being our own Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

Whatever you believe should be the future of Main Street, let your voice ring out!