The People Speak
John Moberly, Emporia
Saturday, February 7, 2009
I HAVE LIVED in Emporia for many years. Grew up here, in fact.
Recently, one of my sons and I were out to do a little bit of shopping. I began to look at Emporia through my son’s eyes and compared it to the Emporia that I grew up in when I was his age. Well, I began to apologize for what my town has become. Before Walmart, we had a T.G&Y, Montgomery Wards, Gibson’s, Alco, Woolworth, KMart and the countless smaller dime stores I enjoyed, like Harold’s and Kress downtown.
Later that evening, I showed my distaste as I flipped through the TV channels. What do I find? We have lost two more local TV stations, 19 and 6. I also see we have gained two infomercial channels that are exactly the same all the time! What’s that about?
Now the cost of living here is certainly not decreasing. My family doesn’t “live” through our TV and we don’t shop all that much, but people ... do you think the price of cable will go down?
I pay over $100 every month to CableOne. The signal is so bad I have to put a signal booster ($20 each) on every TV in my house. Oh sure , they have come out each time I have called for this matter, but I am getting tired of seeing the commercials on TV all the time where cable is bragging about being sooooo goood. Truth in advertising it’s not.
When I lived outside of town, I had DirectTV. I think I am going back.
Come on Emporia, I want my kids to love it here and feel like when they grow up that an option might be to stay here.
We have “Shop Emporia First.” Why not widen the scope a little like, “Try us on and stay ... Bring your friends, bring your business.”
We need to work on this while we can still fix it. Save it before it’s gone.
Don Moberly
Emporia
daniellaughs (anonymous) says...
Mr. Moberly has a valid point. While I only recall a fraction of the stores he listed, I do remember when shopping in Emporia provided more choices than Wal-Mart alone.
I think everyone can agree change is inevitable, but is this the change Emporia wanted? Bigger is not always better, especially when Mom & Pop retailers become the victims.
And, look at the Wal-Mart culture. Take a look from the eyes of someone like me who left Emporia for NYC years ago. When I visit Emporia and walk into Wal-Mart, I see a sea of overweight persons waddling around in dingy clothing (sweatshirts and pants, an attempt to hide the weight?), unkept appearances, children running wild, grocery carts filled to the rim with items in bulk of the unnecessary and unhealthy.
I remember when Emporians took more pride in themselves and the town. Am I alone?
February 7, 2009 at 11:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daniellaughs (anonymous) says...
As for television, most programs can be found online. And, is it truly necessary to have 848 channels? Television has gone from being a form of entertainment utilized from time to time, to a 24-hour waste of time that does nothing more than create couch potatoes.
About ten years ago, I turned off my cable. I get the basics (dare I say the originals?): NBC, CBS, ABC and PBS. Anything more can be found online. I found that I had much more time to dedicate to going to the gym, selecting books to read from the library, involving myself in volunteer activities for the community, entertaining my interests with community theatre, going to the coffee shop to chat with friends, going dancing, bowling, etc. In turn, I was a healthier and happier person.
Give it a try. Turn off your cable. The Emporia community and yourself will benefit more from your dollars than the cable company.
February 7, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
We live out in the county and just have an antenna. We survive. If nothing is on, we turn the tv off or put a dvd in the player. When the weather is nice we're outside anyway.
I came to Emporia in 1990 and think it has gone downhill since then. I'm glad we don't live in town and prefer not to be caught out alone in Emporia after dark. I've never felt safe in Emporia and have had several very scary incidents over the years.
To be honest, if I can't find what I want in town, I'll buy it online. Shipping is often cheaper than my time and gas to drive elsewhere. I support the local business when I can (Walmart doesn't really count since their money is going to Arkansas and most of their crap is from China anyway) but the selection is getting worse every year.
February 7, 2009 at 11:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Mr. Moberly, I am so glad you mentioned those two infomercial channels that never change. The fact that Cable One adds those to the basic cable line up to make it look like your getting a deal is cheating. What's that all about, Cable One?
Hey Daniellaughs, tell us how to get those programs on our computer, would you? TNX.
February 7, 2009 at 12:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
djdiablo (anonymous) says...
I sympathize with the nostalgia on display here and, to be something of the devil’s advocate, I think things are always better after the haze of a few years has mellowed them out.
Frankly I don’t think that there’s much Wal-Mart can do about how the people that shop there dress…or how they eat, for that matter. Secondly, I too like mom & pop…until they try to gouge me which I’ve had happen time and time again over the years. Once I bought a product from mom and pop, a small container of enamel paint, for $4. When I got home I noticed the price tag was peeling. Underneath mom & pops price tag was another label…this one was marked “Wal-Mart, $1.25.”
So much for mom and pop.
We would all do well to remember that when any “big” store opens, in relation the existing businesses, someone will suffer. In the early 1900’s when F. W. Woolworth™ came to town they were the bane of many a mom & pop store, many closed because they could not compete with this giant of its day. The same is true of K-Mart™
As to the local cable I firmly believe it is an out and out rip-off, overpriced and under serviced. Turn off the television. It’s pretty simple really. More than any other medium television has convinced our children that there is something magical and special about entertainers, athletes, and corrupt politicians. The more they can get away with the cooler they are…who doesn’t want to be the next American Idol?
One response mentions the safety factor. Emporia has an excellent police department, but unfortunately there is rarely a significant police presence downtown. People know this. That’s why they burn rubber at the intersections, paint graffiti on walls, speed as a matter of habit, pull J-turns and U-turns right on Commercial impunity. They know that the odds are tremendously in their favor that they’re not going to get caught doing it. recently larger cities have gone retro and put foot cops back on the beat…as to my research it has been successful EVERY time and place…petty crimes and vandalism in particular diminish measurably and in a very short length of time…scofflaws have no idea where a patrolling policeman may pop up, and they behave accordingly.
And the litter! Emporia is filthy and no one seems to mind. When was the last time you heard or read about anyone getting a ticket for littering? I can’t recall that I ever have.
But most of these things are “fixable” if the citizens insist on it, by that I mean letters to editors, store owners/managers, and local government. It is easy to pine for the good old days; it is much harder being part of the solution…
February 7, 2009 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
white64 (anonymous) says...
I used to live in Emporia, I grew up there. I moved to Nebraska a few years ago, And I love it. I do come back to visit my family and Emporia has changed so much in the last few years. The town I live in does have a Target and Kmat and many other stores. The town is about the same size as Emporia and we don't have the crime rate that Emporia has. MY home town has gone down over the years and it is getting worse why is that?
February 7, 2009 at 11:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
How many jobs has this city lost in the last 4-5 years? Between Modine, Tyson, and Lenza, just to name a few, not to mention all of the cut-backs others have done. Dolly, the Menu scare a year or two ago, it just keeps snowballing. Hills will be a great thing, but we need a LOT more jobs.
College kids won't stay here like they used, because there is no place for them to work. Since there is no place for them to work when they graduate, they will look somewhere else to go to school. The school will lose money with lower enrollment, the city's retail businesses will slowly start to close (see photo caption on Gazette home page), and it all just starts a nasty downward spiral. Hopefully the Lowe's plan, with its retail package, will encourage manufacturing places to look at Emporia if they want to expand. I'm not holding my breath right now, though. I don't think anyone's expanding anything.
Also, if Lowe's pulls out, I'm not going to be surprised. If you want my honest opinion, this city has dealt with WAY to much of the good-ole-boy plan.
February 8, 2009 at 2:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
momus (anonymous) says...
Home Depot is cutting stores, and Lowes (according to Snopes) is following suit. CNN Money reported that we are in the midst of a retail correction that some analysts anticipate will take three to five years for larger publicly traded entities. This could give smaller retailers an advantage after the economy recovers, but it will probably mean that diversity in local retail will come from entrepreneurs and not by recruiting chains to the area.
We continue to overestimate the current size of Emporia's trade area and then ask "why don't we have some of the stores city X has?" Like the poster above (and I'm not trying to pick on anyone) the smallest trade area in Nebraska that has a Target has a trade area population of 105,000 (Kearney, followed by the trade area at Scottsbluff- 125,000 and Norfolk- 168,000), which is just about double the trade area population of Emporia (55,000). A trade area over 100,000 seems to be the trigger for larger retailers, and we have a LONG way to go if we are going to get to that level. Add that to the fact that we are surrounded by larger population centers and it becomes clear that we must pursue a measured (smart) growth philosophy. Encouraging the expansion of existing companies, plus addition of industrial jobs, plus entrepreneurship equals our only real opportunity for sustained growth.
We keep wanting to take shortcuts and swing for the fences in our developments, but it's time to concentrate on hitting some singles and trying to provide jobs that fit our higher education institutions (hint: college grads don't want to stock shelves at Lowes). City development isn't a sprint. We are not in a high growth area. Slow and steady wins the development race, but are we patient enough to wait and do things the right way?
February 8, 2009 at 9:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dalelinn (Dale Linn) says...
It seems to me that Emporia is a sign of the times. People as a whole don't have the family values that older families had. These values and sense of self worth have eroded. My son brought this up when I asked him what he thought of the eroding world economy. My son said that what is happening is a necessary change. We have to fall to realize what is important. I do not believe that Emporia is "worse" than other towns.
February 8, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
momus,
Great post (as usual). I've heard it from SO many college students... "This Town "Stinks", (or other such verbiage not appropriate on here)" Go ask a student from out of town if they plan on staying, and they'll laugh at you. I remember 5 or six years ago, running into groups of students from Washburn at Bruff's. We asked them why they were in Emporia, and they told us Topeka "stinks". You don't see that anymore, and its too bad. I'm not saying its anyone's fault per se, but I really do feel that this town has gone down hill, and done so with a quickness.
February 8, 2009 at 11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daniellaughs (anonymous) says...
I'll be happy to. Quite simple, really:
1.) Run a Google search of the specific television program you are seeking. For example, I like 30 Rock on NBC and American Experience on PBS.
2.) Usually, the first listing of the search results will be the program you are seeking. If the search result doesn't provide a category of "Full Episodes," then open the primary link and certainly you will find a similar option there.
The great thing about watching programs via the web is:
1.) No commercials.
2.) You can watch whenever you want.
3.) You are not tempted to watch the program that follows.
Happy watching! Don't forget to turn off the TV from time to time. It rots your brain. :)
February 8, 2009 at 4:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
momus (anonymous) says...
To continue the college student discussion... I've heard some of the same comments, Matt. I guess I divide the comments I hear from students into three groups: some students can't wait to move on and they associate moving to the next phase of their life with moving away from the area they currently reside in. We can't do much about that. The second group is "the grass is always greener" crowd. No matter how good this particular group has it, there is always someplace better. It's the third group that concerns me. This group of students develops an afinity for Emporia, but they can't stay because we don't have jobs in their field of study.
I've heard several students talk about their love of "E-Town", and those are the people we need to work to retain. Given our size and resource constraints, we are not the community for everybody, but we should work hard to accomodate those who love us for who and what we are.
February 8, 2009 at 5:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
momus,
If you use facebook, here's a link for you. (check it out even if you don't)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid...
February 8, 2009 at 10:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Tnx daniellaughs. Will try that out and hope not to become a chair potato.
February 9, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daniellaughs (anonymous) says...
http://www.trashyourtv.com/alternatives
February 9, 2009 at 11:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Happiness09 (anonymous) says...
I have lived in Emporia for 20 years and do remember when this town had choices. I find it very depressing that we are so limited locally for merchandise. This isn't a 3rd world country for God sake. I was in Walmart recently and couldn't even find an electric blanket, or even a decent blanket for that matter. I think it is hard for people to look and live like "upper crust" when Emporia clearly is not.
February 9, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Is it such a bad thing that Emporia isn't "upper crust"? The corrupt politicians, bankers, and CEOs that spearheaded the financial mess we are in are certainly "upper crust". So is being "upper crust" necessarily what we want to be? What about those who want to be like the "upper crust"? Are they not also to blame? Buying things they can't afford to try to emulate the "upper crust" and then not being able to pay for it. Perhaps trying to be all "upper crust"y isn't the solution or even a good idea.
February 9, 2009 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
I think the ideal that Don is remembering and I remember a bit of too, is the time when there were many small business owners around to balance the industry numbers. It was a great way to have a variety of statuses that were not economically far apart from each other. Being a business owner doesn't guarantee more money than you need to pay bills, but it makes a huge difference in the local mentality. The incoming of small, regionally based franchises did a bit of damage, but locally owned business could still survive. As soon as we had more than one corporately owned retailer, the competition moved to a whole new and hurtful level. Sadly, as a way to try to survive, some local businesses got "creative" (read dishonest) in their desperation. It didn't help them, and it was not a dignified way to go. The grads from ESU that like the town have either chosen professions that don't have a market here or are already saturated. We need more of them to have a humble approach. Business degrees do not need to start out making $40,000+ a year. If they would work toward the goal of setting up some small businesses and run them with skill and scruples, it would pay off. But we live in an age of looking out for #1. We do not look at our college degrees as a way to better the world--not really. If we did, we wouldn't think we deserve a certain salary amount to use it for the community or a 2,500 sq. ft. starter home, fully furnished. We need more citizens to look at their talents--college degree or none--and figure out how to pair themselves with others and other resources to make their four-block radius better and maybe earn enough to survive in doing so. People lived with a lot better grasp of reality when being "upper-crust" wasn't the goal. And to be fair, I may be using that term in a way that Happiness09 didn't mean it so this is not a rebuttal or an attack. I would just like to see people making honest efforts to maintain their homes and yards, taking their neighbors into account and, yes, spending a little time becoming familiar with local businesses so they know what is available there. If we were to hold the smallest stores in the highest esteem and the biggest stores in the lowest esteem, we might be surprised how quickly a shift could occur and opportunities open up.
Can someone verify something for me? It is my understanding that shopping online brings sales tax to our town--it is calculated for our local percentage. Is that correct, and should we ideally be shopping online before driving to Topeka?
February 9, 2009 at 3:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I've paid local sales tax at a couple of places online, one was a quilt shop in Paducah, Kentucky. But other online merchants have not charged local sales tax. I don't know what the policy is. While I don't do a lot of online shopping, I do shop online for things I can't find locally, not many I might add, but I do like Lands End or Eddie Bauer and a place called Footsmart. With gas prices, I can't see driving to Topeka or further just to buy a couple of things. Also, I have found that shipping is often free because many places are trying to capture business; if not, shipping never costs more than a trip out of town would.
Also oh4theluvof, I like your idea of "people making honest efforts to maintain their homes and yards, taking their neighbors into account and, yes, spending a little time becoming familiar with local businesses so they know what is available there." It relates to getting back to basics and having a good value system instead of gotta-have-it-all-gotta-have-it-now attitudes. I spent my "small kid time" in the 50's, the June and Ward Cleaver era, and it was wonderful.
February 9, 2009 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
vankamp (anonymous) says...
Can someone explain to me why we can only have CableOne? I'm sure there is a reason, but don't know what it is? I have lived in cities that had Cox Cable and it was cheaper and I liked the variety better.
February 9, 2009 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
roger (anonymous) says...
When you replace a large part of your population with people from a third world country, your city starts to seem like a third world city. Some parts of Emporia now remind me of filthy border towns. You don't need to go to Tiajuana for vacation, just drive around your city. You all allowed it to happen with the influx of illegal immigrants so you might as well live with it. I was driving down fifth avenue the other day and it is way different from my childhood. Cars parked up on the lawns and I even saw one propped up on a pile of rocks on one corner of the car with the doors and windows missing.
February 9, 2009 at 6:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Well, thank you, Roger. That was neither constructive nor helpful. I am getting sick of people blaming everything on a different nationality. I am not in favor of the current illegal immigration problems and would like a solution, but isn't it up to us citizens (immigrated or not) to set the example? I see more "white skinned" children bouncing around cars, not in seat belts, much less required boosters. I see more "white trash" in this town than any other color and I hear more defeatism and cynicism from "white hicks" who didn't graduate from college, who don't care a fig to contribute. I would like to confront those people with their responsibility and encourage them to care and to make a difference--not blame it all on "illegals."
And, by the way, I know of lots of junk car collectors of German heritage that think of themselves as mechanics. On the other hand, I see a lot of small businesses in smaller store spaces around town, started by entrepreneurs of Latin and Mexican heritage.
February 9, 2009 at 6:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
studentmom (anonymous) says...
I moved here almost 8 years ago from a smaller town in southeast KS....what I have seen from the beginning and is still true to this day. Emporia school district is better than most...we have some of the best teachers! However, the elementary schools are not equal and like housing, there is a difference in education depending on what side of town your at. But thats typical of most towns I guess. There has been and continues to be a division in living standards, although it is very nice to see some newer apartments near the college and for senior living. However, low-income housing in this town is horrible and is getting worse...some property owners don't seem to care about the shape their property is in. I have been a homeowner in this town but sadly am now a renter (again) and the options for a singlemom with kids is very poor. My current landlord seems to have too many properties and too little caring maintenance staff...fix it cheap and as cosmetic as possible does not equal correct...but I stay...to be in the "better" school...closer to the "better" side of town....for now...because its all I can afford. (I am really trying to not be negative here so I have to refocus.) The only thing I can say has seemed to improve has been community support and access/marketing of ESU events and involvement. It is a huge resource for this town...Emporia needs to improve the relationship/involvment.
I definately agree with "buy local"...and have first hand experience in price-gouging business downtown. In my job, I am always asked...is this the best price? It never hurts to ask. Buy local also means to me I will get an experience of developing a possible friendship or familiarity as well as experiencing character...something you don't get from walmart. I can find anything I need in this town and if a local business is fair about mark-up on a special order, I'll order it from them versus the internet because I belive in community...even though I wasn't born here.
February 10, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
studentmom (anonymous) says...
I don't have any family ties to this community but have declared it my home to raise my chrildren because of what it has to offer. Lets be optomistic...how can we start today on making our comunity a better place to live? How about instead of complaining about the trash...just pick it up and throw it away..if its really bad...there are several girl scout and boy scout troops needing service hours...contact the local council and let them know which areas could use some assistance. Let the probation office know there are areas of our town that need assistance...there are numerous people on probation that are court-appointed community service hours. Like President Obama's credo seems to cry...there is a solution...it may not be the popular one...and it make take some work...but it can be done.
Teaching is leading by example...what are our leaders in Emporia doing to lead this community? Sitting in the same spot of the bleachers on game night with their select group of "friends" or mingling in the public they serve? Driving around all of the neighboorhoods of the city or just their "side" of town? Lets ALL open our eyes and see what WE can do.
February 10, 2009 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )