SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Opinion

Discussion

The Salem News has a real-name policy for commenting. Users may sign in using the Facebook Connect tool above the comments field. Once your first comment is posted by a moderator, all future comments will post automatically. If you prefer not to use Facebook, send an e-mail with your comments user name (which must be the same as your real name), city or town, street address and daytime phone number to comments@salemnews.com. A staff member will contact you directly to confirm your identity. It may take a day or two before you can post comments. Only your user name will be public. All users are required to follow our rules for commenting, which can be found here.

comments powered by Disqus
November 21, 2009

Thanks: Much to be gained by working together

To the editor:

On behalf of the Greater Endicott Street Neighborhood Association (GESNA), we thank The Salem News for providing a voice to the neighborhood over the past months. For a neighborhood that had been mute for a while, it is nice to see that it has a voice.

Sometimes it may appear that this neighborhood is against everything. This is not true. Actually, we are for a better city. We are working with other community neighborhood associations and the Salem Mission to find common ground to solve problems.

Recently, we brought up constructive ways to improve the appearance, sanitation and security of the High Street playground. We are excited about Salem's commitment to renovate the playground and address sanitation and security issues. Things work in Salem when people are willing to come to the table.

Regarding Level 3 sex offenders, we want to thank Mark Cote and the Salem Mission for acknowledging the neighbors' concerns. We believe we need to work to both ensure the safety of the community and protect the civil rights of those who are listed.

It may be easy and popular to simply boot sex offenders and questionable individuals from shelters, but where do they go? What greater impact would a ban have on our communities and neighborhoods and the chances that they would be unsupervised and reoffend?

We hope that we can continue to discuss these issues and find resolutions that address the needs of the various individuals and groups. A good place to start is the Salem City Council and its recent discussion around homelessness.

By having the Salem Mission, neighborhood leaders, advocates and affected individuals discussing together, we believe the outcome will be better for Salem.

Kevin Beckwith

Jeffrey M. Cox

Co-chairs, Greater Endicott Street Neighborhood Association

Salem

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Opinion

Nelson Benton Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
Salem News Opinion Poll
AP Video
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion' 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Comments Tracker
Roll Call
Helium debate
Helium