When I moved to Gloucester 16 years ago, I was drawn by the raw beauty and deep sense of history of the island. This quaint New England fishing town has unique charm, which is part of the appeal for the tourists who help sustain its economy.
However, in the years since I first moved here, I have noticed cracks in the infrastructure. The roads cannot handle the traffic of the thousands of cars that clog its streets - some of which have years old potholes. There’s not enough parking for residents in most parts of town - many of whom work off the island and need the use of a vehicle. The lawlessness of drivers has reached such a level that it is dangerous to be on the roads. Rent is so high that anyone looking for an affordable place to live has to pay thousands of dollars a month and choose between necessary expenses such as utilities, groceries, vehicle payments and repairs, etc. - not to mention insurance rates, which continue to climb.
In short, it has become difficult and unaffordable to live here, even on a decent budget. I haven’t even
mentioned the increasing number of power outages, the ancient sewer system, the drug epidemic, or the
homeless population. It seems to me that the city should be focused on dealing with these things before
considering adding thousands more to the population.
The MBTA/3A amendment would exacerbate these issues if implemented. I urge all residents and business owners of this beautiful historic city to consider the results of adding thousands more residents to this population. It is unsustainable, inconsiderate of the citizens who already live here, and is it not good stewardship of the land.
Sincerely,
Jen Brinton
Gloucester
