My town needs *THIS*...!

Do you have suggestions on how your town can improve?

My town needs less tourists, higher pay, lower rent, and more smoothie joints.

Better public transportation!

I really need a car to live here, but I would much rather take public transportation if it was available.

I grew up and then later lived in two touristy towns, as well. Having tourists is certainly a blessing and a curse. Strangely, the quietest times were during the covid lockdown. The local newspaper took a photo of a fox walking straight down the quiet main street that is usually full of traffic. Anyway, I hope you can find a couple places where mostly only locals hang out. There are usually some.

I now live in Europe in a country whose language I barely speak. It's my issue, not theirs. I do wish we knew more people here. As for other complaints, I'm not fond of the fact that people burn a lot on their properties and drive many diesel engine cars. They cause pollution, making the air unpleasant, sometimes. Sorry, but I really do prefer clean air.

I moved in May and I havent really explored much but a better grocery store selection would be nice. Before I had everything you could think of and a great international market selection. Now its just the basic chain stores and one cool Mexican grocery store.

Nicer grocery store selections. Only main stream stores by us.

Public transportation. I don’t need it but others do do it would be nice. We have none.

Having visited my town's shopping centre yesterday, my opinion hasn't changed. It needs bulldozing and starting again. Something I put in survey last year that was sent out by mayor and local MP.

1960s concrete. Over half of the shops are closed. Having said that, I got everything I wanted. Some people are never satisfied, lol!

More restaurants that do contactless deliveries, including Japanese and Chinese restaurants (which are non-existent out here).

The best pizza place down the street to have their own delivery person doing contactless deliveries.

Mask mandates.

Many anti-discriminatory rules (they lack it here).

More renters' rights (they are nonexistent here).

The removal of the racist statement that remains on all HOA contracts in Idaho Being that I'm Asian, I wouldn't feel comfortable using my Veterans Home Loan to buy a home here, or at least an HOA-based home here (the contracts for HOAs in Idaho reads, "'No persons other than persons of the White race...'").

My town needs new restaurants, more ethnic less American and Mexican. More stores, public transportation and a mall. I remember the first mall, everyone was so excited cause you could shop during the winter without your coat. Then they built a bigger mall, then it died and people realized how much they missed it. A public space to meet in the winter a place for walking and talking. And oh the theater closed too, we need a movie theater!

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Originally Posted by SprinkL3 ... The removal of the racist statement that remains on all HOA contracts in Idaho Being that I'm Asian, I wouldn't feel comfortable using my Veterans Home Loan to buy a home here, or at least an HOA-based home here (the contracts for HOAs in Idaho reads, "'No persons other than persons of the White race...'").

That is SHOCKING. Egregious.

We need a coffee house that has long hours and plenty of seating. And espresso that is quality, not chain crap. A place to do school work (there's a large university not far away), read, do whatever...just hang out.

I was just as shocked as you when I first discovered this in 2020, when I was considering buying a house in Idaho. No way would I now! I had no idea they allowed these contracts to continue!

It is totally disgusting, SprinkL3, and majorly disappointing in this day and age (that’s an understatement, of course).
My town… well, this is an exaggeration, but my former friend used to joke that it needed burning down and starting again! In my opinion, we need less/no “professional beggars” (people who pretend to be homeless in order to collect money, but actually aren’t. I’m not looking down on homeless people at all, I’ve given money/food before, but I’d rather know I’m helping someone who genuinely needs it? It’s not always easy to tell)
Better public transport. I don’t take it now, as I drive (petrol car but I’d love an electric one day), but the times I’ve had to take the bus haven’t always been pleasant or convenient.
Some areas need clearer road markings/layouts. You don’t always end up where you expect while following the road arrows near the industrial estate, for example.
Slightly more upmarket shops.
Nicer people? There are some genuine lovelies here, but too many other people who just don’t give a crap about others.

Thank you!

BTW, I used to be homeless, but I was never a panhandler or beggar. Some of them are mentally ill, with a dual diagnosis of substance use disorder. I used to hear about them taking their money to buy drugs or go to the local dive bar. The rest of us would just follow the homeless program and then get out of that system as soon as possible - either by getting housing, finding a roommate, or finding a job. For those of us like me who were disabled, it was just a matter of time before I found either a roommate or had housing again. Thankfully, I'm in a better place today.

There are some panhandlers who are truly desperate and looking to raise money to find a place to live, especially for those who are homeless and want to establish themselves well enough to get visits with their children in foster care, etc. My heart breaks for the ones who truly struggle because they can't work (due to mental or physical disabilities) and have to wait for Social Security or some other program before they can even afford housing. I've seen so many different types of homeless, too, such as the ones who are escaping intimate partner violence/domestic violence or those who have lost their life savings and/or careers due to disabilities or otherwise. I also saw some very young people in homeless shelters because they aged out of the foster care system. It was truly sad for many people who lacked social capital, health, skills, education, and family. There were a few veterans in there as well, some who had traumatic experiences like me.

I do agree that we need better public transportation, which cuts down on emissions and helps the environment. We also need better programs and ways to truly reach out to many areas that seem lacking, like the ones you mentioned.

I never give money to the homeless. I've given food if they ask for it but not money.

We have homeless people who write positive messages like "Smile" and just sit there waving at people. I always smile and wave. I wave at the homeless people a lot while driving.

I never give money to the homeless either. Like you, I'd give food. I'd also give clothing, including winter and work attire. Sometimes I'd offer some resources and my time to help them find those resources. More often than not, I'd donate to the homeless shelters and other related programs for the homeless, rather than to homeless persons directly.

There are programs out there, but sometimes those programs get filled and there's a waiting list (such as in California and other relatively warm states). For those states, many people have no other place to go but their vehicles or sidewalks, since the shelters are often filled to capacity. They could also be bussed to a neighboring state or a state with more room. In colder states, like Illinois, there are homeless shelters available to everyone, since being on the streets during wintertime or very hot summer days could be fatal.

It's sad that there's not enough homes for everyone. But there are people who simply cannot abide by the rules at homeless shelters or other programs. Some wind up recidivating (going in and out of the criminal justice system/jails) before winding up in prison for life. Others purposely commit nonviolent crimes just to get arrested and have a place to sleep and eat in jail. It's really sad how some people's mental illnesses and otherwise prevent them from benefitting from most homeless programs. If a person is neurologically or physically disabled, they are sent to expensive nursing homes, which take nearly the entire Social Security check for "rent." But for those who don't even qualify for SSDI or SSI, they are stuck in a system that easily rejects them, especially if they have certain personality disorders, unresolved substance use disorders, impulsivity issues, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, unresolved schizophrenia, etc. Those with undiagnosed chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis - which one psychologist stated that a great majority of homeless persons have - really have trouble with homeless shelters and other programs because they often require work, cleaning, chores, etc. So they wind up sleeping on the streets and in tents instead. They often have a lifespan of only 40 to 45 years, or longer if they are in better shape and able to live inside a shelter (as opposed to the streets). They age super fast due to their skin being sunburnt all the time and lack of healthcare. Many lack identification, proper paperwork, etc., even though they are U.S. citizens. Many also distrust the government.

Let's redirect to the purpose of the thread...What does your town need?

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Originally Posted by SprinkL3 I was just as shocked as you when I first discovered this in 2020, when I was considering buying a house in Idaho. No way would I now! I had no idea they allowed these contracts to continue!

I'm seriously astounded. That's the dark ages.

My city needs more public access to the lakes. We are surrounded by lakes on every corner and every street you turn. Some are tiny and some are huge. Of course people with lake property own lake access and it is understandable but I feel that it would be nice to see the lake more than in a car window! Some bigger lakes have state or county or city parks by the shore so you do get some access but it’s so limited and parks get crowded.

I don’t think this issue is solvable but it would be nice!

I'm shocked about that HOA thing! This is almost 2022, not 1942!!! That's too horrible to be true! No!

We need more renters' rights and protections here too, not just from corporate landlords but private homes. In the latter they can throw you out in just 30 days which is nothing. Then you have more homeless.

More BENCHES at the bus stops. Most don't have them, and if they want people to take the bus they need to realize some people can't stand that long! The bus is always late. And COVER the stop to shield people from that relentless sun OR rain, depending on the season.

More trees and greenery, more parks, more open space.

Less gentrification, more bike lanes, more retailers for low or middle income people. It's like this is becoming a city for rich people.

An Fing target where the gigantic abandoned old "Bradlees"(Bradlees Christmas Commercial 1984 - YouTube) is. There is a tiny old shoprite and empty dept store, empty blockbuster, empty beauty school and empty fashion bug.