From the Comment Section: The Daily Item

In the March 18th edition of The Daily Item an article about Lynn's potential for to turn the corner and become a thriving city sparked discussion in the comment section about the actual feasibility of this concept. In response to one commenter who noted that people from outside the city avoid Lynn in part because of its poor schools, user RyansTake left the following remark:

"When you're only asking people from out of town who aren't coming in, you're not asking the people from who *are* coming in... which means you're not getting the feedback on the stuff that actually works or is being done well. I'm interested in Lynn because it's a beautiful community with a lot of value, and has a real up-and-coming sense to it.

For a lot of people who 'aren't interested' in Lynn, it's because of things from the past and misconceptions, a lot of them dramatically divorced from reality. Trying to change their minds may be futile, so focus on the people who are interested... and maybe when so many of the convincible people find the great value of the things to do and places to live in Lynn, they'll convince their skeptical friends of its positives. If not, well... as long as Lynn's doing great, who cares what they think? There are always naysayers.

Speaking of misconceptions.... have you seen the schools in New Bedford, Fall River, Lawrence or even Salem? Lynn has plenty of room to improve with its schools, but any family willing and able to put the time into making sure their kid does their homework will have great success with the Lynn school system. I'm not sure the same can be said of, say, Lawrence or New Bedford.

Instead of drumming to the beat of "Lynn's schools suck," let's actually look at the facts.... It's 4 year graduation rate is 20 points higher than New Bedford's [Editor' Note: Lynn's 4 year graduation rate is 18.7 points higher than New Bedford's] and about 7 points lower than Beverly's [Editor's Note: This statement is accurate].

What's that say? There's room for improvement, but clearly Lynn is doing some things right. The bottom line: Families with parents involved in their child's education are graduating their students in Lynn, and a lot of those students are doing very well. It's the (unfortunately) broken families that Lynn isn't reaching, but no school in America is reaching them in great abundance -- not even charters, which force out underperforming students at unbelievably high rates, and unlike public schools, don't have to count them in their 4-year graduation rate.

Lynn just has a lot more of these families than, say, Lynnfield. Aside from that, Lynn's schools are in some ways doing better than they should, given what the socioeconomic data tells us.So, again, there's value here for many young professionals looking for a place to live, even if they have or are thinking of having kids who will need to go to schools."

Are people too quick to point to Lynn's so-called "poor schools" as the reason it remains undesirable to many outside the city? Are some of the perceptions surrounding LPS unwarranted?

From the Comment Section: The Daily Item

In a recent Daily Item article, there was discussion about Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy was looking to the federal government for assistance with the influx of unaccompanied minors moving into the city of Lynn and entering the school system. On the online version of the paper, what has come to be typical Item commenter remarks on this sort of topic were made including the following by user concerned56786:

Now Connery School is having a night for parents where they will tell these people about services in Lynn and where they get can get help. This will be at the cost of people who are required to pay taxes. We know these people are not paying anything. Teachers are required to be there to assist. Translator will be around as well. Come on, do we have to give these people all these services?

FACT CHECK: This remark, however, is not entirely accurate. Yes, the Connery School is hosting a resource fair for community members, but this fair is being sponsored by the Lynn Community Association (LCA), not the city or school system. Furthermore, teachers will be on site, not because they are required to assist with the fair, but because this event is being held the same night as Connery's parent-teacher night; if translators are present, it is likely for this reason as well. Additionally, this event is open to all in the community (even non-immigrants and those who pay taxes).

The 2012 LCA Resource Fair will be held at Connery Elementary (50 Elm St) on Tuesday, October 23 from 6 - 8pm. Admission is free for all. For more information, see: http://lynncommunity.org/?p=693

From the Comment Section: Lynn School Watch

Lest there be too much positive sentiment about Lynn's trajectory in the wake of last night's Chronicle episode about the city, I found this comment on the local blog Lynn School Watch regarding the episode from an anonymous user:

"I am sick of paying the already high taxes in this deteriorating city due to the incompetence of the so-called leaders! Did anyone see Chronicle last night? What a joke and misrepresentation of Lynn! I didn't hear anything mentioned about the crime rate, rat problem and failing school system this city has!"

Given that the episode was only a half hour, was the Lynn special a total misrepresentation of the city? Did the producers gloss over some glaringly obvious areas that need to be improved?


Some negatives left out of the Lynn discussion:

• Trash/Rodent Problem
• School System (standardized test score performance, condition of school buildings, overcrowding, graduation rates)
• Unemployment Rate/Educational Attainment
• Criminal Activity
• Number of Abandoned Properties/Foreclosed Homes
• Neglect of Some Public Areas (sidewalks, parks)

One also has to consider the intent of the feature. Perhaps, Chronicle was not attempting to give a complete overview of the city and its current state but simply highlight many of the positive changes that are occurring in the city as a way to combat the belief that there is nothing good about the city.


There were also many positives left out of the episode as well:

• Easy Access to Public Transportation/Proximity to Boston
• Dedicated Community/Neighborhood Groups (ex. Lynn Community Association, Goldfish Pond Neighborhood Association, Downtown Lynn Neighborhood Association)
• Distinct Neighborhoods (Highlands, Diamond District, etc.)
• Youth-Related Organizations (LYSOA, Part of the Solution, No Ceilings Youth Group)
• The Ford Full-Service Community School 
• Multiple Ponds (Goldfish, Flax, Sluice, Breeds)
• High Rock Tower/Park
• Lifelong Multi-Generational Lynn Families

Thoughts on the Chronicle feature?

You may also be interested in:

• Positivity is adding up in Lynn (Revitalizing a Community)
• Positive Drips of Revitalization Adding up Daily (Revitalizing a Community)
• A Slum by Any Other Name (Lynn-side Edition)
• Lynn Education Attainment Data (An Education)
• 9 Inches of Rat (Lynn-side Edition) 
• Lynn Grads Post an Impressive List of Post-Secondary Achievements (An Education)
• Lynn Police Department 2011 Annual Report
• Neighborhood Upgrades - A New Series (Lynn-side Edition) 
• Lynn MCAS Results 2012: Part I (An Education)

From the Comment Section: The Daily Item/The Daily Item Facebook Page

In the September 13 edition of The Daily Item, there was an article highlighting some of the developments in the works for the city of Lynn as presented by Lynn EDIC Executive Director Jim Cowdell.

Here is one comment left on the web version of the paper by user TamLee:

"Unfortunately, until this city cleans up it's major issues with gangs, drugs, prostitution and violent crimes?  Build it all you want - no one will come.  That thinking was proved wrong with the gorgeous artists lofts built...it didn't draw the urban city dweller as was originally thought.  Why? Because people are still afraid to buy here because of the above issues we have with crime.  Which is truly, truly sad.  Spend some money on more police presence throughout this city at all times in ALL areas.  Get ICE in here - we need a major clean up that way FIRST!!"

The Daily Item's Facebook page posed the following question in regard to the same article: Do you think Lynn will ever be redeveloped into a thriving destination city? Here's what some commenters said:

"Not unless you're cchanging [sic] the name to Little Puerto Rico....What's the point of patronizing the businesses if you can't speak the same language???"

 "I hope so, thay [sic] way someone will buy my house when it goes up for sale so I can get far far away from here"

 "Not in this lifetime!"

In a second article, also in the September 13 edition, Dr. Barry Bluestone, director of the Dukakis Center of Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University and founding dean of Northeastern's School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs laid out a strategy for successful growth in Lynn's economic development. This story sparked some debate as well with commenters saying the following:

"Uh .. right ! Not buying this at all ! Infrastructure Infrastructure Infrastructure ! Lynn is a dump site and not one person has turned it around ! Time to stop talking and start doing ! forget about this ferry stuff and extend rapid transit to Lynn ! Folks are not just paying high prices for their living quarters, but also quality of living ! LYNN LACKS JUST THAT .. QUALITY OF LIVING ! drugs .. prostitution .. trash .. no quality retail .. no upscale dining .. no upscale entertainment [tired of the Lynn Arts] .. etc ! Give me rapid transit in and out of Lynn to Boston and quality living and maybe I will spend my Boston earnings in Lynn ! Until then .. stop the jokes "

"Mr Bluestone misses some of the obvious reasons why Lynn is dying including not only high crime, bad schools and a waterfront that has not been developed for over 30 years. Here,s [sic] another rhetorical question. If the answer to improving Lynn is so obvious why has it taken so long to make these changes?"

"All very good points and kudos to Lynn area Chamber of Commerce for requesting this study, however what we need to do first is get rid of the crime,get rid of the drug dealers, get rid of the gang bangers, and get rid of people who throw their garbage all over our streets. I doubt that Mr Bluestone ever walked the streets  of downtown Lynn (alone) after dark. Make downtown Lynn safe to shop in (it was once) and people will return. As far as GE goes, most of the people making the top wages move out of Lynn, and don't shop here or have any interest here either. If you take a look at any photos or videos of parts of Detroit it looks like post WWII Germany with nothing but wreckage of it's proud past still standing. If we don't do something now, that's where Lynn is heading very rapidly."

Why all the negativity from Lynners about the city's prospects?

Defining Activism

ac-tiv-ism - (n.) the doctrine or practice of vigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political or other goals, sometimes by demonstrations, protests, etc

          (n.) The use of direct, often confrontational action, such as a demonstration or strike, in opposition to or support of a cause.

ac-tiv-ist  - (n.) an especially active,  vigorous advocate of a cause, especially a political cause; 

                (adj.) of or pertaining to activism  or activists; advocating or opposing a cause or issue vigorously, especially a political cause

How many real world people or groups of people, particularly in Lynn with all of its issues, would you consider to be true 'activists' as it is officially defined (as opposed to simply a complainer or concerned citizen)?

 Reference: dictionary.reference.com

                 www.thefreedictionary.com

Part of the Solution or Part of the Problem

In today's edition of the Daily Item, there was an editorial written in support of Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy's decision to spend nearly $20,000 on a TV promo for the city. While some news reports have questioned the Mayor's decision (see here and here), the writer of this editorial believes that there are plenty of good things to showcase about Lynn and that the funding allocated for the ad will be money well spent.

http://itemlive.com/articles/2012/08/10/updates/updates24.txt

Though the decision to spend that amount of money on an ad is debatable, there is one statement in the editorial I agree with:

It’s 2012 — high time for critics within city limits to become part of the solution, to tell or show someone who is not aware about Lynn what’s great about it. It’s time for all to work to shed the unflattering ditty that has been attached to the city for too long.

It seems that some of Lynn's biggest detractors live within the city's boundaries and too often resort to complaining (most notably under anonymous names on online forums) without ever taking any sort of positive action. At last week's school department budget hearing, there were just 6 speakers (a record high compared to previous years) and approximately 20 people in the room. Other types of public hearings as well as school committee and city council meetings in the city tend to see the same kind of turnout. Voter participation in the 2011 local election was just 23% overall and as low as 12% in a few ward precincts. In the face of all of the negative criticism about the schools or the crime or the untidy streets from a sizeable proportion of Lynn residents, where are all the people speaking out about issues that concern them in the appropriate venues? It is important imperative that more residents become involved in whatever manner they choose - whether it be through a community organization, with the school system, voter participation, city cleanliness, mentoring or some other Lynn-related cause in order to affect the kind of tangible change Lynners are seeking. While it is the city officials' jobs to manage the city, it is all of our responsibility to make Lynn the city that it could and should be.