Sunday, February 17, 2013

HEARTBEAT & HOUSES IN NORWOOD 4 SALE

Norwood News and Views would like to share a story. I stopped to speak with a neighbor I had not seen in a couple of weeks. I informed her of the Norwood Tax Levy that was on the ballot in November 2013. She told me she was putting her house up for sale and moving out of Norwood. This is a white lady that has lived in Norwood for years and years.  She and her now deceased husband raised their children in Norwood.  Soon as they were adults they moved out of Norwood.  Now she wants out too.  Due to health reasons, due to high property taxes and the decline in the quality of life in Norwood.  She has lost her passion for Norwood, Ohio, a community that she once loved to call home.  Her children left long ago.  Her grandchildren are not near.  Her husband is deceased, and so is her spirit.   

I'm sad for her and myself.  We both want out.  We want out of a City that does not appreciate its' homeowners.  Don't appreciate the folks that are footing the bill.  If you notice the for sale signs in Norwood you would agree that alot of folks are getting out.  There are hundreds of homes up for sale.  Most are for sale at a reduced price. Homeowners are willing to take a  lost just to get out.  I'm willing to take a lost.  My neighbor will take a lost.  She is not happy with the community of Norwood and neither is a lot of folks, me included. 
 
When you watch year after year your community go down it wears on your soul.  It tugs at your heart as well as your wallet.  Why should we care?  If the Mayor of Norwood, Ohio and its City Council do not have the intelligence to make this City have a heart beat again it will flat line. 
 
What it takes to make Norwood, Ohio have a heartbeat again is something the Mayor(Tom Williams) and the Norwood City Council is not willing to do. It's  simple it's basic. Yet, the Mayor and City Council do not have the nerves or foresight to say it let alone act on it.  The City of Norwood has a terrible reputation when it comes to diversity.  Norwood, Ohio is not open to  outsiders, the powers that be will not  listen to  new opinions, they are not interested in any inclusion. They want to keep Norwood,the Mayor, and City Council Members lilly white. They will not entertain the thought of diversity.  The Mayor will never appoint a black to anything for any reason.  Norwoods' Police Department and Fire Department will never have a black person on their staff.  No black person will ever be considered for appointment in the Political Parties. Nor will any black be hired to work in the City of Norwood(except the water metor reader).  Norwood has a Mayor that removes him-self when a black person speaks at City Council meetings.  That is so inconsiderate.
 
Year after year the Norwood community, tax payers, and homeowners see this happening and it is starting to wear on them.  All kinds of people make up the Norwood community.  All kinds of things should be happening.  All kinds of people should be welcomed to buy, rent, or own homes.  Yet, people are fleeing.  They are not willing to wait till the  WHITES ONLY sign is taken down, nope they want out.  Next time you drive around notice the for sales signs, notice the for rent signs.  Then take a look at the people you see.  Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Blacks, Bi-racial, whites, young, poor, middle class, seniors, gay, straight, and everything in between. That is what the Norwood leadership should look like. 
 
 It's too bad that my white elderly neighbor does not feel good about Norwood. This city has lost a faithful resident. They should have done everything they could to keep her here. Keep her happy. Bend over backwards for her.  Bend over backward for our seniors. Give them all they need and want.  Nope she is gone, the for sale sign went up the next day. I'm going to miss her. I'm going to miss seeing her smiling face, her warm smile, her kind wave. If only I could wave a magic wand and place myself as the Mayor of Norwood, Ohio I know she would have stayed. I know the City would have a beating heart where there would be very few for sale signs. A place that is moving to a different beat. Awwwww its nice to imagine in between packing up the boxes to move out.    
 

  

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