Issues on the South Side of Waltham

I have been a resident of Waltham for over twenty years. I am a third generation resident here of the South Side. Every year, it seems to be deteriorating more and more with nothing bringing it back. Here are the first ten issues in Waltham which are problematic in which many have complained about, and are quite well-known.

1. What did over 100 people stand around City Hall in favor of last year? A cat shelter. For those who care about animals, people like the Cat Connection and other residents of Waltham have been trying to get an animal shelter going for years. Yet roadblocks, legal loopholes, and other issues keep this from happening.

2. Coyotes have been reported to hunt small animals, such as cats. This has increased by the graveyard areas at night. Hence why many also supported the cat shelter, which has yet to be passed.

3. The fact the old Waltham Animal Shelter has been there for years abandoned, its property value going down because the building is deteriorating. Police have warned people to, "not walk around there at night alone." It is an abandoned alleyway after dark.

4. Stolen bikes in the vicinity by the nearby commuter rail/bus station. They are usually found later abandoned tossed by the river area, or in the water.

5. Tons of garbage by the River Walk, also behind the Waltham Car Wash station that goes for months, years without being cleaned. This includes old car seats, clothing, boxes, and garbage bags all tossed behind the car wash. People must throw the stuff out of their cars and toss it over the wall.

6. Same graffiti down by the river path and the Mary T. Early bridge area has been there for about two years now. It might get painted over with tan paint, which is light, and it just makes the graffiti come back again. A different kind of paint might be helpful to combat the issue.

7. Garbage accumulating by dumpsters on Moody/Taylor in which skunks, possums, and raccoons feast at night. Especially in the summer. Walking down there at night, there is a likelihood of coming across some sort of wildlife creature on this part of Moody.

8. More abandoned buildings on Moody, which are not being filled with new businesses.

9. Thompson Park needs a complete renovation. Located on Charles St, it is quite a popular park which should have the equipment replaced. It is over ten years old, the faded Sharpie graffiti that says "Ashley Luvs Jose '04" can attest to that, for example.

10. This park (Thompson) was found to have lots of intravenous needles under the mats in which children are supposed to walk on. This was over the summer. Beer bottles, made of glass, and evidence of other drug use was present. This was also while other children were playing in the park.

11. Intravenous needles, in general, are getting to be a citywide problem. Between the commuter rail station to the Hall St. area, there are many littered in the parking lots and on the side streets.

12. Potholes all between Newton and the Calvary Street cemetery. Street crumbled in certain areas.

13. Some sewer covers clink in the vicinity of Newton/River/Calvary when cars drive over them.

14. Reckless drivers are becoming a reoccurring problem. Most of the drivers who do not let people cross at the crosswalk are on their phones, distracted. Texting was banned while operating a motor vehicle, but people don't care. They think if no one sees them, they can do it.

15. No matter what, cars still park in areas they are not supposed to. This includes people actually knocking down the "do not park" signs to get their way. After the sign was knocked down enough times, the city finally gave up enforcing it. There was a reason why that sign was there, and it was for the safety of the school children waiting by that corner at the bus stop.

There are other issues, but these are the top fifteen in which keep tagging along in Waltham.