Single issue voter

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Hello,

Can someone tell me who caters least to families, children, and "no turn between 7-9 a.m." signs in the upcoming election?

Thanks!

Comments

[masswich.livejournal.com]

I think we've entered a new era if Somerville (with traditionally lousy schools and parks) has any taint of "mollycoddling" breeders - I am a breeder so I can use the phrase ;<)...

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

How are the parks lousy?

And it's no surprise that public school is lukewarm.

[masswich.livejournal.com]

I said "traditionally lousy schools and parks" - in the past 20 years huge strides have been made in both. More families (like mine) decide to stay when their kids get to school age as a result. We like the mix of people (ages and backgrounds) and think that we add to the community as much as anyone, but that's obviously just my perception.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

Since you're not a breeder, you presumably don't frequent the Somerville parks or at least not the parts of the parks used by children (At least I hope not. Childless adults in the playgrounds can be creepy). All one needs to do is compare, if you will, Hodgkins park on Holland street with Reverend Williams park on Dudley street in Cambridge, about half a mile away.

The former has two sand pits with aging play structures, a few benches, five swings, and that's about it. There's also a large field which is currently being dug up and so is not really safe to run around in. Digging in the sand pits often reveals rather unsavory items (NB to smokers, it's not an ashtray people). One of the slides has been broken and boarded up for several weeks now, and the water fountain is hit or miss. There are no tables. There is a port-o-pot in the summer for which I am thankful. The other Somerville parks near Davis Square (Highland Ave and Grove, Highland street and the bike path) are in a similar state.

The Cambridge park, on the other hand, has a giant climbing dome, two play structures, a clean sandbox, picnic tables, basketball courts, and a fantastic water play area during the summer. It's just night and day in terms of facilities. There's another, larger park on Haskell and Pemberton with even better climbing structures, not to mention the great park in the Cambridge Common, Danehy, etc.

It's not that the Somerville parks are terrible, they're just not great, especially in comparison with what's available less then a mile away.

Mollycoddling? I think not.

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Do you really have to bring down the conversation by using the term breeder? I find it personally offensive.