In the two years that I’ve lived here, I have met so many great neighbors, those who’ve lived in the area 20 years and those who just moved in. In fact, it seems like I’m seeing new faces about every month, on my and nearby streets. Within sight of my house there’ve been these fresh faces in just the last year or so: Dan, Henry, Sara and her husband, Mariah and Nicole (the most recent), Jim and Denise, Derek and Karina, Ama and Patrick. I feel lucky to be in such a warm community.
Meanwhile more and more I’m hearing about muggings or assaults on our streets. At dinner a few nights ago – a resident near the unit block of Bates described her own mugging encounter. Where she once felt our warm community, she’s now suspicious of people she passes on the streets. She suffered a head injury and a stolen purse with $15 cash, but more than anything she’s most angry that she feels afraid when she never had before. Mary Ann, also from Bates St., told us of her mugging a few months ago and how it made her feel the same. And Jennifer, just recently also had a terrifying encounter with some men who were on the street.
Many of us feel very lucky to live here and we must look out for each other so that we do not have to live in fear. What should our community do to support one another?
Bates Area Civic Association 