The infrastructure in Schuylkill County is improving, but still requires more work. We’ve driven the parts of Rt. 61 and 183 that have been repaved, the bridges in Cressona and Schuylkill Haven, and my goodness are they nice. We need someone who will be an advocate for our area. Our tax dollars should go to things that literally keep us moving like roads and bridges. Our infrastructure is of the utmost importance.
Flooding has become an issue in recent years in the 123rd.Investing tax dollars into improving sewer systems for our area could help prevent future devastation.
A detail that some people may forget is that climate change directly impacts our infrastructure. Our summers in the 123rd have become the equivalent of Seattle summers; it rains at the same time every day in the afternoon. As a result of the changing weather, we’ve seen an uptick in flooding and our buckling infrastructure. We cannot afford to sit back and wait for catastrophes to happen and slap on a Band-Aid to fix the symptoms, we need to invest in our infrastructure and change to cleaner energy sources.
Community Pride
Schuylkill County was founded in 1811. This area, specifically the 123rd, is home to countless landmarks like the oldest brewery in America, Vraj Mandir a major landmark for Hindu pilgrimage, and the Appalachian trail. As a historian, Mike believes that we need to preserve and celebrate our past. We need to remember our past, we need to know our history.
Community pride is important, and when we have community pride, it serves as a large player in revitalization.
Blight
Blight Happens for a reason and it tends to happen when there are economic troubles. What the 123rd does not need to see is gentrification – corporations coming in and buying those blighted areas, putting up houses that people cannot afford to live in. We do not need to see it be easier for private businesses taking that property from people who own it and don’t have the financial means to fix it up. These properties belong to the families who have them, not for the government to continue making more money for rich politicians.
What we do need to see is funding going towards helping people to fix their blighted properties so they can continue to live there. Investing in programming to address the blight by helping people to have livable conditions. We need to address blight in a constructive way that helps people.
We need to take care of each other. We need to take care of people. Everyone should have a roof over their head.
Housing
Where there are low income areas, there should be more low income housing. That is one solution we can invest in for the 123rdto tackle blight. By offering more affordable housing, we can avoid settling into situations where blight could even occur. And, if we are going to revitalize this area, we are going to need more dwellings.
Another resource for low-income housing are the shuttered businesses in our communities. Revitalizing these into affordable apartment buildings would make an incredible impact for young families in the 123rd.
Walkable communities
Take a look at areas like Ashland and Pottsville, what makes those areas unique to the 123rd are that they are walkable communities. Increasing access to resources by creating more walkable communities will have a tremendous effect on our well-being in the 123rd. And, where could we find some space for these walkable communities? Blighted properties.
Combining our efforts to revitalize the area and bring people into walkable communities, will bring new kinds of businesses and opportunities. Imagine the future we could create for the 123rd, for our children and our families. Revitalizing the 123rd means a better, safer, and healthier life for all of us.
