I have been talking to people of different backgrounds as to what is it that they see when they look at Front Street and here are few answers:
--Empty buildings plastered with irrelevant information
--Need for more Police on Foot Patrolling
--Uneven sidewalks
--Traffic Congestion
--Day Workers that remain on the street a good part of the day
--Public Drinking
--Lack of a cohesive business image
--Untapped potential
--Lack of merchandise that appeals to non-Latino or middle to high income shoppers
Care to add your own? You know what to do via the comments' box.
6 comments:
When I came here in 1983, he downtown hAd several banks, a stockbroker's office, art galleries, a bookstore, a well-known department store, a milliner and a corset shop, stationery stores, clothing and shoe stores and professional offices. Suburban Jewelers is one of the few remaining examples of that kind of merchandising. I wish I could spend more money downtown, but I can't find many things I want to buy.
I have spent years training adults for better jobs in Newark and Elizabeth and have worked with students from some of the worst areas in the city. I'm sorry to say that downtown Plainfield looks like one of the seedier shopping districts in Newark and Irvington. I don't care for the music blasting out of store fronts or the poor quality and seedy merchandise offered. I used to shop for some of my Christmas presents downtown, but refuse to give such garbage to friends and family now. This administration gets an F for their inability to make Plainfield's downtown an attractive place to shop with shops that will attract customers with quality merchandise.
I, too, must agree about the deterioration of the downtown shopping district. I came to Plainfield in 1975, and did almost all of my shopping downtown. Little by little, the businesses I frequented left, and what businesses do remain have nothing of appeal to me. The noise, the atmosphere,and the poor quality of merchandise serve to keep me away from an area I once enjoyed tremendously.
Bob:
Plainfield looks NOTHING like the "seedier" districts in Irvington or Newark. And your constant hyperbole adds NOTHING to the city's well being.
It is what it is and nothing you can say, not matter how "Anonymous" can change the fact that our down town is nothing to be proud of. Or maybe you have your nose too far up in the air or some place else to notice.
It is the people of Plainfield who are to blame. Who is putting this filth on the ground and on the buildings. When you have a population of people who do not have skin in the game, there is no pride or caring about the surroundings. Who would come here to dump their junk - Fanwood? Westfield? Would people from Elizabth or Neward travel here? No - it is us. And as soon as we stop being afraid to talk about it, the sooner we can have a solution.
My solution? Get rid of the handouts, stop enabeling people. Start enforcing inspections and give out fines. Open your mouth when you see something wrong - see someone drop junk on the ground - pick it up, or let them know you live here and do not appreciate them littering.
Plainfield is pathetic when it comes to having self esteem. Keep them down - that is what has been going on - that is what continues to go on until people want it to stop.
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