From the Comment Section: Lynn School Watch

Lest there be too much positive sentiment about Lynn's trajectory in the wake of last night's Chronicle episode about the city, I found this comment on the local blog Lynn School Watch regarding the episode from an anonymous user:

"I am sick of paying the already high taxes in this deteriorating city due to the incompetence of the so-called leaders! Did anyone see Chronicle last night? What a joke and misrepresentation of Lynn! I didn't hear anything mentioned about the crime rate, rat problem and failing school system this city has!"

Given that the episode was only a half hour, was the Lynn special a total misrepresentation of the city? Did the producers gloss over some glaringly obvious areas that need to be improved?


Some negatives left out of the Lynn discussion:

• Trash/Rodent Problem
• School System (standardized test score performance, condition of school buildings, overcrowding, graduation rates)
• Unemployment Rate/Educational Attainment
• Criminal Activity
• Number of Abandoned Properties/Foreclosed Homes
• Neglect of Some Public Areas (sidewalks, parks)

One also has to consider the intent of the feature. Perhaps, Chronicle was not attempting to give a complete overview of the city and its current state but simply highlight many of the positive changes that are occurring in the city as a way to combat the belief that there is nothing good about the city.


There were also many positives left out of the episode as well:

• Easy Access to Public Transportation/Proximity to Boston
• Dedicated Community/Neighborhood Groups (ex. Lynn Community Association, Goldfish Pond Neighborhood Association, Downtown Lynn Neighborhood Association)
• Distinct Neighborhoods (Highlands, Diamond District, etc.)
• Youth-Related Organizations (LYSOA, Part of the Solution, No Ceilings Youth Group)
• The Ford Full-Service Community School 
• Multiple Ponds (Goldfish, Flax, Sluice, Breeds)
• High Rock Tower/Park
• Lifelong Multi-Generational Lynn Families

Thoughts on the Chronicle feature?

You may also be interested in:

• Positivity is adding up in Lynn (Revitalizing a Community)
• Positive Drips of Revitalization Adding up Daily (Revitalizing a Community)
• A Slum by Any Other Name (Lynn-side Edition)
• Lynn Education Attainment Data (An Education)
• 9 Inches of Rat (Lynn-side Edition) 
• Lynn Grads Post an Impressive List of Post-Secondary Achievements (An Education)
• Lynn Police Department 2011 Annual Report
• Neighborhood Upgrades - A New Series (Lynn-side Edition) 
• Lynn MCAS Results 2012: Part I (An Education)

From the Comment Section: Lynn School Watch

It's interesting to read some of the commentary left on local blogs or the itemlive.com about issues related to the city of Lynn. Some of the comments reveal common sentiments about the city while others are questionable or incoherent at best. The following is a comment left on the local blog Lynn School Watch in response to an anonymous poster who made a statement about potentially selling her house due to dissatisfaction with the management of the city's public school system:

Sound like a good idea, but good luck selling your house. What's the selling pitch going to be for potential buyers?

Lynn's a rat infested city

It's run poorly by politicians only looking out for themselves and a mayor who hasn't done anything to improve it

It has some of the worst schools in the state and one of the lowest school districts in the state which is also run by politicians only looking out for themselves and a mayor who has not done anything to improve it

The property taxes are extremely high and continue to increase while the assessment of your home continues to decrease. And your hard earned tax dollars go into the pockets of those politicians and not to improve the city or schools

There is a huge influx of immigrants (many illegal) that continue to come to the city because of all the subsidized housing this city provides and the endless benefits this state provides to them

The crime and gang activity is everywhere throughout the city, even in the 'good' areas (although some claim it has decreased)

It is because of these reasons and so many more that you will either not be able to sell your house, or you will not get what you want or need for it. This city is a cesspool!

Is this a common opinion among Lynners? Is Lynn really a 'cesspool'?


You may also be interested in:

• A Slum By Any Other Name (Lynn-side Edition)
• 9 Inches of Rat (Lynn-side Edition)
• Because We've Come So Far - A Little Public Shaming (Living in Lynn)
• Thinking About School Choice in the Context of the Lynn Public School System (An Education)
• It's Beautiful Out... Guess We Should Go to Salem? (Downtown Lynn)