The People Speak - Online
Thursday, August 20, 2009
On Brian Protheroe’s letter to the editor suggesting that Emporians who have moved away be asked their opinions for input on future goals.
Brian — you have chosen to live in San Francisco. Great! I promise not to criticize that city. Do the same for the city that I have chosen to live in.
— Observation
The guy is just asking the question because he actually cares about his hometown. Where he lives is largely irrelevant, perhaps he should just say screw Emporia, would that make you happy? Facts are Emporia HAS gone downhill very quickly in the past 10 years and instead of focusing on the things that could restore the town, the powers that be want to focus on unecessary projects and continue to make bad decisions.
— goodoleboy
The reasons people leave Emporia is higher education, military service or jobs.
If everyone who graduated from “club Emporia,” as Brian called it were to stay in Emporia it wouldn’t be Emporia. We would have a population in excess of 1 million and the hometown feel would be gone.
JOBS, that’s the key.
— Steve_Corbin
I see nothing wrong whatsoever with asking people who grew up in Emporia to explain why they left. In fact, the answers they provide would certainly provide a wider and deeper look into elements like housing, employment, taxation, infrastructure, etc. It’s an honest viewpoint, not a criticism.
— create
I’ve been to Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Atlanta. All of those cities have slums so large they could swallow Emporia in one bite. Emporia’s crime rate for an entire year is all in a days work in each of those places too.
— YY4U
Most are right when you say, Emporia sorely needs jobs in up and coming technoligy, such as alternative energy production. Which is why I have taken it upon myself to try and get wind power energy producers interested in locating manufacturing facilities in and around Emporia. Approximately a month ago I sent letters to four such wind powered energy producing companies, but have not heard from any of them.
— methusla
The job situation in Emporia is getting better, just look to the southeast and see the new building that is going up. Look to the northeast and see the new power plant that is generating electricity because the wind turbines are not running and saving the world.
We have a lot to be thankful for in these times, and I am sure the RDA is working to get other jobs in here as soon as the money becomes available, and the companies see some light at the end of the tunnel. We have gained back many of the Tyson jobs. Hopefully more companies and jobs to will come to Emporia.
— wirewatt
hottopics (anonymous) says...
Sadly enough, I believe that many more of Emporians would move away if they could afford to. Many feel trapped here. It costs a lot of money and a gamble to relocate their families and start over. Selling the home, finding new jobs etc. I think that members of our home town have no options but to ride it out and hope it gets better sooner than later.
August 21, 2009 at 12:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigRed (anonymous) says...
Emporia needs to decide what it wants to be. WAW fought to keep the railroads out, not wanting Emporia to turn into a blue-collar town. Emporia has lost one of its college campuses and now opens its arms to dog food plants.
Emporians relish their small-town atmosphere, yet let the local businesses die by embracing Walgreens, Walmart, etc. Emporia already has everything Home Depot carries, to bring one to town will only hurt/kill Waters, Mark II, Bluestem, Sutherlands, etc.
Do you want to be small-town or city?
Do you want to be blue collar or the Athens of the Plains?
Your inability to commit gives concern to potential employers and is also a reason why I left Emporia.
August 21, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Dog food plant, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!
August 21, 2009 at 12:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
deluvly1 (anonymous) says...
Funny...Emporia & Lawrence were once considered "sister" towns...one decided early on that their college was the most important thing. The other decided on railroads and slaughterhouses.
Now the railroads mean nothing more than constant, blaring intrusions into traffic and and a blight on downtown atmosphere...and the slaughterhouse is but a mere shadow of its former self.
I wonder if there is a lesson here, not about the past so much as about our future?
August 21, 2009 at 2:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
barefootin (anonymous) says...
Being a blue-collar town means jobs. I can remember when there was work for anyone who was willing to hold down a job. WAW may have despised the railroad, but sante fe provided jobs. Now that almost all the industry is gone from Emporia, I wouldn't blame the younger families from moving to where they can have incomes to support their families, buy their houses, and build for the future. Brian has a good interest in this towns well-being.
August 21, 2009 at 6:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )