Dying? Declining? A place where young families don’t want to settle? Is that Haines’ prognosis? Well, I think Haines is, at core, a wonderful place, but let’s be proactive and stem this disease that seems to want to infect.
Here’s my prescription:
Habits to quit:
– Yelling ugliness at each other, whether in person or online
– Ranking your virtual bubble over your real-life neighbors
– Allowing the borough government rancor and revolving door to continue
– Being OK with broken windows, junk vehicles and peeling paint
Habits to reinforce:
– Talking calmly to each other
– Petting your neighbor’s dog
– Stepping up to serve in local government, or at least thanking and respecting those who do
– Supporting what makes Haines attractive: the pool, library, youth programs, health/safety/social services, culture, churches, clubs, and so much more.
Jim Green