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Showing posts from October, 2022

Calm but Powerful: Enfield’s ‘No Kings’ Protest — People Are Flowing In

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No Kings Protest Enfield What may be most striking about Enfield’s No Kings protest is how peaceful and calm it is. People are carrying homemade signs, some with dogs in tow, hugging people they know, and many waving small American flags. Drivers are blowing their horns in appreciation and support, which enlivens the crowd. Enfield’s No Kings protest began at noon. People were here well before the start, and many are still flowing in. It’s hard to say how many, but it’s in the hundreds and rising. It might top July’s protest, which reportedly drew about 700. I’ve never seen this level of political engagement and activism in Enfield. This is a classic suburban town, not prone to drama except on Facebook, but in normal life focused on school sports and things for kids to do. What are the implications of this? From a national perspective, it adds something to the conversation; from a local perspective, Democrats are hoping the anti-Trump backlash will translate into a local victory on ...

Enfield's economic decline and how to fix it

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  Enfield Planning and Zoning Commission, September meeting to discuss town's overall plan. Enfield is facing several significant problems. Our population is declining, our commercial shopping area is in trouble, and we don't have enough multifamily housing, the type that appeals to young people and empty nesters. I graduated from EHS in 1972 and have lived most of my adult life in other cities. But I've been back here for some years and worry about the town's future. Here's a fast breakdown of this history, the problems, and potential fixes. The once happening town From 1950 to 1970, Enfield's population increased from 15,500 to 46,000, its high point. The completion of I-91 and houses priced low enough for a factory worker's wage encouraged this growth. The town needed to build schools faster to keep up with demand. My class was on double sessions at EHS while the town raced to finish Fermi. As it built schools, Enfield was also planning for the future. Fo...