If You Were In Charge of Waltham, What Would You Change?
Have you ever dreamed of running Waltham? Here is your chance to do that. Sort of.
Hate the condition of the roads? Tired of waiting for that proposed business to open?
New Englanders are famously good at complaining and never being satisfied with how their city government runs its community. Well, if you you were in charge of running Waltham, what would you change?
I know I would change at least a few things in Waltham.
To start, I would hold city council meetings earlier in the day. While it would be difficult to schedule them to fit everybody’s needs, the regular 8 p.m. start time is problematic. The meetings often run long and have been known to go past midnight. Such a late start time discourages residents from attending, especially when key issues are being discussed. The meetings, however, are broadcast live on cable access. Also, late-night meetings may tempt councilors to wait and vote on key issues when few or no residents are present-and-watching.
Now your turn. In the comments box below, tell us: in you were in charge, what you would change about your community?
moe howard
6:55 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
I would eliminate pay raises for the city council
Jahmmy
11:47 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Term limits for the elected officials.
CP
1:30 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Require landlords on main street to update facades. They look pretty dumpy in some cases.
NWBL
1:00 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Glad you said this. I was going to say something similar but I figured I'd get jumped on for the negativity. A lot of Waltham could definitely use a facelift.
Nick Low
2:52 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
Do something with the huge blank face of Hannaford's on Main Street.
Kathleen Keegan
12:59 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013
Have some places for families to go to that is fun for the whole family . Bring back places like bowling, miniature golf,and roller skating . Kids these days especially those with older teens and kids that are in their twentys need a place need a safe non bullying and anti gang related places that they can hang out and have fun. Because they are too old for the teen centers and the boys and girls club. Plus we deserve to have a place that is reasonable priced that we can take our families to and have fun like I said don't we pay enough with taxes from our pay checks
priyarulez
8:55 am on Sunday, February 3, 2013
Change the look of Moody Street … Moody Street is known for its restaurants... This may be a great way to attract a crowd from neighboring towns and bring more businesses to the city.
Nick Low
4:19 pm on Sunday, February 3, 2013
I like Moody St the way it is. What would you change?
I think people from neighboring towns are already coming here. The vacant block just across the river is pretty bad though, but it's a lousy location for parking.
Jimi
10:39 am on Sunday, February 3, 2013
I would completely redesign the traffic flow of Main St. and the surrounding streets (or rather, hire someone competent to do it) so as to no longer encourage aggressive and competitive driving.
Top priorities:
Main St. eastbound at Prospect St. - right lane should be right turn only. As it stands now, people try to go straight in both lanes, which, like so many other intersections in the city, leads to a single lane and cause people to get aggressive and vie for position.
Carter St. eastbound at Moody St. - same as above.
People line up in the center lane to go straight, and then some jerk inevitably pulls up in the right lane to cut ahead of the line. Not prohibited, because the right lane is not right turn only, but certainly inconsiderate and road-rage inducing.
Main St. westbound, between Church and Lexington Streets - this one is so messed up. I think the best solution would be to have the left lane be left turn only (at Moody St.). As it stands now, no matter which lane you are in, someone will try to pass you in the other one. If you are in the right lane going straight, and someone is in the left lane going straight, the person in the right lane is forced into the parked cars in front of In A Pickle. What sense does that make???
There are many more like these in this city. I dread any time I have to drive Main St. through Waltham.
Jimi
10:41 am on Sunday, February 3, 2013
Sorry, meant Carter St. *westbound* at Moody.