As a resident of downtown Northampton for the last 21 years I’ve seen how over time downtown Northampton has deteriorated in many ways. Lots of empty storefronts, uneven sidewalks, roads with potholes — to name just a few. One of the most disturbing developments I have seen is the increase in the number of people panhandling on the sidewalks and taking over public spaces like Pulaski Park where they leave the grounds dirty, argue or fight, or use drugs.

I have friends or people tell me that they want downtown Northampton to be a welcoming, “inclusive” place. However, they don’t live or work downtown and don’t see the things that I see daily. Things have gotten out of hand. This summer, the Northampton police and ambulances had to be called to Pulaski Park almost every day.

I used to be able to walk through Pulaski Park and down Main Street feeling safe and relaxed whenever I walk my dog every morning and afternoon. Nowadays, I take my dog instead to Smith College so I would avoid meeting someone doing drugs or hassling me for money. I used to enjoy bringing friends from out-of-town to Main Street — eating at one of the restaurants, stopping by to eat ice cream at Herrell’s, visiting Thornes and its nice shops, dropping in one of the quaint shops selling arts and handicrafts, or strolling at Pulaski Park. (By the way, what happened to the chairs and tables that the city used to be place at the park during summer?) Sadly, that’s not the case anymore.  

That’s why I was surprised (as were other people who left comments) when the Gazette reported on a piece by CNN calling Northampton one of the best towns to visit (“Area briefs: CNN: Northampton 8th best to visit,” June 30). The CNN reporter must not have visited the city and instead relied on secondary source or old information. With the coming mayoral elections, I’ll be paying close attention to the candidates’ plan on what they intend to do with the increasing number of people in downtown Northampton who make it unpleasant or feel unsafe to walk and shop around. The candidates can talk about the pros and cons of Picture Main Street, of building more condominiums downtown, or the “revitalization” of the city but if they don’t address the issue of the increasing number of drug-users and panhandlers in the city, then they are choosing to ignore a situation that, if left unresolved, won’t bring in the foot traffic and the economic vibrancy that would restore downtown Northampton’s reputation as a destination spot and a great place to live in.  

Richard Chu

Northampton