In My Opinion: Downtown Should be the Lifeblood of a City, Not the Dirty Little Secret.

A Couple of weeks ago, I went downtown around 5 p.m. and encountered 85 people. Only two of those people were from Bangor, and they were rushing to get home. While I'm happy to see folks coming from other towns, why don't citizens from Bangor go?

I started my journey at the plaza in front of Mexicali Blues. It's a beautiful square, with plenty of benches, and part of the plaza serves as outdoor seating for a couple of restaurants. Several organizations have donated their time and resources to ensure that the flowerpots are brimming with color and that beautiful murals adorn downtown.

Now the reality check…..

By 5:30, all the benches were filled with people toting shopping carts, garbage bags, and the like. Two individuals were fighting but were too stoned to really do any harm. One individual was aggressively approaching people, screaming and cussing, while another man was in such a bad state that I thought I was going to have to grab my Narcan.

Of the 85 people I unofficially polled, roughly half said they would never come back. Although I didn't ask, the couple trying to enjoy their dinner on the plaza is most likely another two.

We need to do better for our downtown businesses. Imagine the increase in capital if Bangorians WANTED to go downtown. However, concerns about crime and safety have kept us all away.

Next, I went to visit the restroom at Washington and Broad, and it was what you might expect. The toilet seat was covered with excrement, and the floor was littered with rubber gloves and feces-covered toilet paper. Had I been able to take the smell, I might have discovered additional nastiness. However, I opted to close the door and walk away.

Why are we killing our tourism? Why are we driving locals from enjoying the many wonderful businesses and eateries?

The city leaders and their failed policies have created this mess. While I appreciate the beautification efforts, until things change, it's nothing more than putting lipstick on a pig!