Your Opinion: Responses focus on community's qualities

Helen M Schanzmeyer, Jefferson City, writes:

Dear Editor:

In response to the Oct. 13 letter from a former resident of Jefferson City.

I'm so sorry Ms. Torres that you have such an empty life that you have to depend on amusement parks, night clubs and beaches to feel fulfilled.

You can be thankful you had a town like Jefferson City to grow up in - a safe, clean environment, schools second to none.

You are correct about Jefferson City being good for old people. I am an old person and I find there is so much to do in Jefferson City. I hope I live long enough to take advantage of all there is. Learning in Retirement helps keep those brain cells active. Numerous theaters - you can't believe the great plays we enjoy. There is so much talent here, who needs New York. And who told you we don't have great restaurants. What a variety.

I doubt your major metro city can beat our top-rated hospitals and medical facilities we enjoy. Granted we don't have a major airline, but not everyone is that anxious to make the fast get-away such as yourself.

Maybe when you finish growing up and have enjoyed your amusement parks and night clubs and you start a family and find that maybe the school systems there is not the best and the crime that goes with those big metro cities, that you will think back to when you were growing up that this boring, worthless place was not such a terrible place after all.

As far as you never moving back, Jefferson City is better off for it and you know the old saying," One Bad Apple would Spoil the Barrel."


Cindy Collins, Jefferson City, writes:

Dear Editor:

This is in response to the Oct. 13 letter of Jefferson City being "worthless." I, too, was born here and grew up here. After graduating from college, I moved to New York City. Even though I agree that big cities have more to offer - more museums, more restaurants, more shops, volunteer opportunities, and concerts - I do not feel that Jefferson City is "worthless."

If this is a community of only "welfare recipients and retirees," then why are several homes here selling for close to $1 million? Some even top that amount. Why are there so many doctors here? I don't mean just medical doctors, but doctors of history, music, art, philosophy, etc.? If this town has nothing to offer, then why do so many people visit here from other states? As far as shopping, this community has some of the very same chain stores that are in New York. Both communities have locally owned stores, too.

One interesting similarity that exists between Jefferson City and New York City is that they both brought in sand to create a beach-like atmosphere during the summer where no beaches exist. New York created beaches along the bustling New York Harbor waterfront. Jefferson City's beach was downtown.

One stark difference is that New York really plays up its maritime history with tour boats going out into the harbor with narrators telling the story of New York as seen from the water. Maybe someday, there will be tour boats going up and down the Missouri River, telling the story of Jefferson City and the surrounding area.

Whether a city has 8 million people or 40,000 does not automatically make it a good or bad place to live. It is up to the people of each community to make the difference.

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