From Meriden Pride to Meriden waste of land

[JenMann]

:mad: I will for one tell you I was most loyal to what I call this rubbish filled land today. ( to the point I dropped out of North Haven High after what the principal said to me after finding out I was from Meriden)
I was born and primarily raised here excluding the seven years I lived in Wallingford where I must say thank God I started my education off there as I tend to meet more people here now who if they had an educational thought in their head it would most likely kill them.
When my parents moved out to Vegas I decided to move back to Meriden from Virginia and rent out their condo and I must say how disgustingly sick of this city I am.
When I was a teen people were quite friendly now they have something shoved so far up where the sun will never shine that it has grown roots. It's the hey guess what I am better than you attitude that makes me sick. It's the jobs that are hiring who never intend on hiring anyone from this city. It's finding out that the homeless have to pay for the priviliage to spend the night at a homeless shelter someone needs to get a clue if they had money they wouldn't be in need of a shelter.
There seems to be no laws stating that sidewalks must be clear after a snow storm for children needing to go to school or the disabled in wheel chairs so you throw them all out into the streets with the cars good job you idiots. When I was married to my first husband who was from Hamden and that we lived there had such laws and that they were enforced.
Every little posh git on here complains of this and that but never complains enough about better school systems ( which for a Mayor who is or was a Assistant Principal thats disgraceful on many counts) the way laws for snow removal are enforced and if there isn't any then there should be. There are many children who come from Olive St to attend school at Isreal Putnam that have to walk in the streets because the side walks aren't safe. It is very appearent that no one in power in this waste land actually gives a toss about the real needs of the people here in Meriden. Open your eyes and atleast try to give a rats arse about us. Unlike you I see what happens in this town I don't have eyes that are blind and Meriden is more of a **** hole now then when the HUB was still open.
Bring back Mom and Pop shops , start giving back jobs to our residents, keep our libraries open longer, put more into education and make not only stricker laws enforcing snow removal but actually fine the people who are in violation of such laws.

[eds]

So now I know why you don't know what a comma is.

If you hate Meriden so much, get the F out and move back to VA (that's the abbreviation for Virginia). Lighten up. Meriden is not that bad. Every town needs improvement. Rhetoric like this is why we need a Sergeant At Arms at Council Meetings.

Do you feel better now that you have that off your chest?

[JenMann]

If you read the first few lines you would have seen I was BORN AND RAISED in Meriden. That huge building on Cook Ave that once was the hospital I was born in is now a vacant building ( which could be used as so many differant things to help homeless or drug and or alcoholics, could make a youth center etc), yet you seem to not really have touched base with any of the important issues at hand. Atleast when I reply to someone's thread I do touch base on the issues they have stated in their thread.

For example if you chose to reply again to this: do you find it fair that someone in need of shelter who has no money should have to pay a homeless shelter? Ask your beloved Shelter now and ask the man who sleeps in the doorway of the church on the corner of Broad ST and East Main ST yeah beautiful city who cares and tries to help our fellow neighbors. Cultural and Diverse what a complete bunch of rubbish. Brag about Cuture and Diversity but you are seriously in a dream land because Meriden is far from respecting others in this city and you are definately proof of it. Also thanks for showing your lack of education as to make your point you had to resort to swearing.

[eds]

Swearing? Perhaps you read too much into the F. Besides what's wrong with swearing? If you wrote your response correctly, as you now have done, perhaps I would have understood your points better and would not need to resort to that sort of thing if that is what you believe I have done. Education? I happen to have a master's degree. And you were saying...

My wife and generations of her family, now our family, have lived in Meriden as well. My wife and her brother we born in that same hospital as well. One member of my family has held a city position as well.

Fair to pay for a service for which you use? Hmmm... sounds fair to me. But say it were not fair. Who then pays for the shelter's electricity, heat, taxes, repairs, and other bills? Who has the money to donate to the shelter when so many are taking care of themselves so they don't wind up in financial trouble. Were the federal government to be reduced in size to what the founding fathers once envisioned, perhaps we would have more money to spend on our fellow neighbor instead of our congressmen.

Lack of respect? Try respecting yourself first. You come off as a whiner and a complainer without engaging in real debate. If you want a better response from others, try starting out on a better note rather than bashing the hell out of the town in which you were born.

It's not what you are saying, but how you are saying it that turned me off. Engaging in constructive dialog is something new you should try. It might get you the respect of which you so desperately seek.

[collie]

I called Shelter Now and they said they charge if you are working, they take something and that it has always been like that. If you are implying they are turning away people who don't have any income or charging working poor exhorbitantly, that would be something that needs media coverage, for sure. That would be illegal, I think.
While you were away from Meriden, someone did propose a drug rehab. going into the old hospital but the same folks who value culture and diversity, as you say, made sure THAT didn't happen. Really the same old battles that have been going on for years here. A Health Dept. worker also tried a few years ago to get another drug program up and running but the mayor ixnayed that big time and the worker moved on to another job. Perhaps your memories of Meriden are rose-colored. Get involved now that you're back; it's a town worth fighting for.

[eds]

Despite our difference of opinion, I must say, that collie does present her argument in a better light. We all fight for the same thing from a positive perspective.

Rude am I in my speech, And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace --Shakespeare, Othello.

[Golden Gooch]

Here is one bright spot coming into Meriden soon; The verve Club ! Yippeeee ! Kalwat ! For all of you musicians out there , you will soon have a place to jam . And from my stanpoint , that is good .

[eds]

Oh boy! I can't wait! :rolleyes:

[jma]

Oh boy! I can't wait! :rolleyes:

Yeah, not quite my thing either, but I guess if it brings some excitement to downtown, I gotta support it!

[neveragain]

http://forums.ctrecord.com/showthread.php?t=1632

JenMann...I couldn't agree more. As an out of state transplant, I don't understand the elitest attitude of people in this area. This is a community in free-fall. There is far more bad than good in this region.

I was admittedly naive when I relocated, for work, to CT. I expected a lot more out of the richest state in the country.

To me, this place is one big housing project with a few nice neighborhoods sprinkled in between. But those places are not within the average workers price range.

I never imagined the crime rate and lack of decency in this state to be what it is.

I will be moving out ASAP.

[Eastside Bill]

http://forums.ctrecord.com/showthread.php?t=1632

JenMann...I couldn't agree more. As an out of state transplant, I don't understand the elitest attitude of people in this area. This is a community in free-fall. There is far more bad than good in this region...

I will be moving out ASAP.

Since you are so sour about Meriden and Connecticut, you probably should move out ASAP. You sound very unhappy here.

[neveragain]

Since you are so sour about Meriden and Connecticut, you probably should move out ASAP. You sound very unhappy here.

I love my work...but CT is not what it's cracked up to be. In case you haven't noticed the economy isn't exactly very job or housing friendly right now.

If I could leave I would in a heartbeat.

Meriden and CT made me sour, I hoped for better, what I got were cities that look like they were nice not too long ago but have gone bad without much resistance from the residents who are being overrun.

[neveragain]

Let me know if you find that perfect place, I wont be far behind you;)

I was out of Scariden within two weeks of the robbery. I think I have found a nice place, but I'm keeping it to myself....sorry.

[eds]

Funny. I know people who moved to parts out west; Colorado, Arizona, California and they all miss Connecticut. Take a look around CT. There are plenty of nice places in CT that are affordable.

By affordable, I mean a minimum of $250,000. Not counting Fairfield County, median, which is not the average, home price ranges from $250,000 to $275,000. Mean, which is the average, home prices are $275,000 to $300,000 not counting Fairfield County. So $250,000 is very reasonable for Connecticut, not counting Fairfield County. Fairfield County is at least $150,000 higher on average, mainly because of the Gold Coast, southern Fairfield County. Northern Fairfield County, where I grew up, is more affordable. New Fairfield, Danbury, Ridgefield, Bethel, and Brookfield are affordable towns for that area. I was going to buy a house in one of those towns myself, but my wife wanted to live in S.Meriden because she grew up here and her entire family has lived here for a century. How can you argue with that? Two-hundred fifty thousand dollars gives a reasonable 20% down payment of $50,000. My advice is if you don't have 20% down payment, then don't buy a house.

If these numbers scare you, then yes, you really should move out of the state. Housing below these thresholds exists, in nice areas, but you need to be very, very careful where you buy and do your research. Bargains can be had, but you need to be really savvy.

There are the sore spots sure. But any state and any community will have them. I think S. Meriden is a very nice place to live. Have you tried there? It seems affordable.

[neveragain]

Funny. I know people who moved to parts out west; Colorado, Arizona, California and they all miss Connecticut. Take a look around CT. There are plenty of nice places in CT that are affordable.

By affordable, I mean a minimum of $250,000. Not counting Fairfield County, median, which is not the average, home price ranges from $250,000 to $275,000. Mean, which is the average, home prices are $275,000 to $300,000 not counting Fairfield County. So $250,000 is very reasonable for Connecticut, not counting Fairfield County. Fairfield County is at least $150,000 higher on average, mainly because of the Gold Coast, southern Fairfield County. Northern Fairfield County, where I grew up, is more affordable. New Fairfield, Danbury, Ridgefield, Bethel, and Brookfield are affordable towns for that area. I was going to buy a house in one of those towns myself, but my wife wanted to live in S.Meriden because she grew up here and her entire family has lived here for a century. How can you argue with that? Two-hundred fifty thousand dollars gives a reasonable 20% down payment of $50,000. My advice is if you don't have 20% down payment, then don't buy a house.

If these numbers scare you, then yes, you really should move out of the state. Housing below these thresholds exists, in nice areas, but you need to be very, very careful where you buy and do your research. Bargains can be had, but you need to be really savvy.

There are the sore spots sure. But any state and any community will have them. I think S. Meriden is a very nice place to live. Have you tried there? It seems affordable.

Everyone who says..every state has problems etc..etc.. is correct.

BUT...this is a very very small state with very very big economic and social issues. I have had more than one conversation with 50-somethings who were born and raised here in the Nutmeg state and they all go the same way.."It never used to be like this."...I had a conversation this morning with a woman who's spent her entire life in Southington....she assures me that "years ago" Meriden was a beautiful, safe town..but not any more.

And I can see that by just driving down some side streets and making my way around town. A microcosom of the entire region, the haves have abandoned the have nots, and the have nots have ruined neighborhoods and quality of life. There seems to be little to zero community rebuilding...how many pawn and package shops do you need in a 9 block radius.

You're losing your community....you can only be savy and careful for so long, the have nots will always outnumber the haves...and in a state this small the lines overlap to closely.

Do the people who've moved out west miss CT or do they miss their family. There's a difference.

[eds]

They miss both. They love the weather here. Some people like the season changes. CA has forest fires, mud slides, earth quakes. They were tired of that. Tired of hurricanes, tired of the desert, dirt and barren lands. We were looking at buying a ranch in Montana. Prices for 400+ acres, 3000 sq ft home, in the middle of nowhere are about the same as here for a 1/4 acre lot. But it's a hour into Bozeman, the nearest town, to get to any stores. I would shop once a month essentially.

Everything changes. Nothing we can do. Every generation thinks it was better in the past. We as humans tend to forget the bad things in the past and only remember the nostalgia of the good times. My aunt thinks things were better in the late 30s and 40s. She's 89. My parents think times were better in the 50s and 60s. And I think things were better in the 70s and early 80s. I'm 36. My parents in their early 60s. They think the 50s and 60s were great, but my aunt prefers the 1939. It's all about perspective.

I still think Meriden is not that bad, really.

[neveragain]

They miss both. They love the weather here. Some people like the season changes. CA has forest fires, mud slides, earth quakes. They were tired of that. Tired of hurricanes, tired of the desert, dirt and barren lands. We were looking at buying a ranch in Montana. Prices for 400+ acres, 3000 sq ft home, in the middle of nowhere are about the same as here for a 1/4 acre lot. But it's a hour into Bozeman, the nearest town, to get to any stores. I would shop once a month essentially.

Everything changes. Nothing we can do. Every generation thinks it was better in the past. We as humans tend to forget the bad things in the past and only remember the nostalgia of the good times. My aunt thinks things were better in the late 30s and 40s. She's 89. My parents think times were better in the 50s and 60s. And I think things were better in the 70s and early 80s. I'm 36. My parents in their early 60s. They think the 50s and 60s were great, but my aunt prefers the 1939. It's all about perspective.

I still think Meriden is not that bad, really.

I hear you, and this isn't just Meriden, but with home foreclosures, a mess in Iraq, and gas prices approaching $4 per gallon. I don't think we'll look back at 2000-2010 as "the good old days" EVER.

We may love our family and friends anf be making the best of things, but as far as our culture goes. It's a flat out mess.

[leherissierm]

[QUOTE=neveragain]I hear you, and this isn't just Meriden, but with home foreclosures, a mess in Iraq, and gas prices approaching $4 per gallon. I don't think we'll look back at 2000-2010 as "the good old days" EVER.QUOTE]

Hey, maybe if America elects a Democrat things may get better! I have hope!

Just a comment on foreclosures - I work in a law office that often handles foreclosures for the court. They may be bad for the owner, but for anyone looking to purchase a home, foreclosures are a great option. You can get incredible deals on houses at the auction. The only downside is that you have to make a sizeable down payment, which varies depending on the sale price. I know of a house near the vineyard in Wlfd that sold for less than 400,000 - houses in that area easilly go for 500,000 and above. Even condos go up for foreclosure, which are much more affordable. Anyone looking to buy property should check out the legal ads in the paper sometime - foreclosures really can be beneficial to some!