Editorial
Opinion: Fall River is a city on the rise and here are the reasons why
Here is an opinion piece previously submitted to Fall River Reporter.
Bittersweet Symphony
This op-ed is dedicated to a dear friend, Jordan D’Amaral, the kindest soul I’ve ever known.
“Learn from our past, plan for the future, live in neither.”
In our city
We live here, we shop local, buy local. Sometimes we listen, other times we speak. The rest of the time, we see, and get the job done. We built this city – the citizens of Fall River. The mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, veterans and first responders. The community built Fall River. We should also remember that our successes are tied to a degree to other parts of the South Coast.
A close friend reminded me of what John F. Kennedy once said, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” I believe we are on the rise. Please allow me to explain.
In the state capital
Governor Charlie Baker, the MBTA, and countless others have helped our community to realize the long-awaited 50-year dream of a South Coast Rail system connecting our community to metropolitan Boston. I did not think this would come to fruition in my lifetime.
Just the Route 79 infrastructure project has solely redefined the future of our waterfront. My apology for saying this, but an old saying comes to mind, “Nowhere to go but up.”
In the community
We saw the design and construction of the new BMC Durfee High School, a one half million square foot, $263 million, state of the art high school designed by Ai3 architects.
Our community is also embarking on a mission to construct the new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School. This collaboration comes to the tune of approximately $300 million, nearly $150 million allocated by the state with the remainder paid for by four cities and towns.
We are investing locally, building residential homes, refabricating and updating multi-family homes. Small businesses are springing up and growing, and existing businesses are expanding. Local eateries and establishments also reap the benefits of all this growth. Manufacturers are coming to Fall River.
If we, as a city, dare to dream of a better community, a greater city, it will start with the attitude of its citizens. There are only two camps in life. You’re part of the solution or part of the problem. I love my city. I choose to live here. Thank you for your time.
Truly,
Marc Nathaniel Mollicone
Fed Up
May 22, 2023 at 7:35 pm
The only thing on the rise in Fall River is violent crime. https://thisweekinworcester.com/fbi-2021-most-dangerous-cities-in-mass/ congrats second most violent city in the entire state. The other thing on the rise is fake homeless people ( drug addicts ) on every off ramp begging for money to feed their habit and trash just tossed everywhere, And also on the rise is these kids on dirt bikes wreaking havoc on every street breaking every traffic law known to man.
Loo
May 22, 2023 at 10:34 pm
Having an Amazon Warehouse in the Industrial Park and a Super Walmart in the middle of the city doesn’t constitute buying local.
HuntersCrackPipe
May 23, 2023 at 5:07 pm
China!!! I have a deal with the CCP, 10% for the Big Guy
Shea
May 23, 2023 at 10:32 am
I share the feelings of Mr Mollicone. I believe Fall River is experiencing a renaissance. I’ve lived in the city my whole life and there’s definitely a positive vibe that’s been growing towards the city along with new projects and businesses opening up.
It’s the type of attitude displayed in the two previous comments that will keep this city down. Former mayor Lambert opened up housing to outside the city which was a big mistake. We have been paying the price ever since. Given time, I do believe it will change. Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, neither will the new Fall River Phoenix rise in a day.
Stop complaining and start doing something positive!
RonnCee
May 25, 2023 at 12:00 am
Your tripping on some good stuff huh?
Duped
May 23, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Fall River has been “on the rise” for the last 40 years. We are still at ground level.
Twitwanger
May 23, 2023 at 1:10 pm
Fall River is experiencing a renaissance? You people must be living in a bubble on Highland Ave. Crime is way up. Small businesses are struggling. Home owners are struggling with rising taxes, insurance costs, increasing mortgage rates, and don’t forget about the astronomical rent increases. It might be trendy to espouse fantastical dreams of Bohemia or Zion, but the reality is much different. All of the used Mercedes Benzos cruising through Fall Rivers abundant pot holes need expensive suspension work, who will pay these costs? A population who subsists on welfare benefits will not be frequenting expensive waterfront restaurants. But hey it seems great if you’re earning $135,000 a year at City Hall and Central Planning is in your back pocket pushing through all of your
dreams. Give me a break and instead of calling us realists, negative, explain away all of the crime. Explain away the failing Public Schools. Why are there so many drug addicts thus an abundance of treatment centers. What about all of the homeless and street side beggars? This can be all summed up by a new term I have coined, Political Delusion Collusion. Hype up the current political leadership with lies and propaganda and before anyone notices they’re living in a vast wasteland of complete degradation, the retirement plans of the Politicos will be fully vested, paying $90,000 a year. Give me a break you foolish NPC’S. Change is coming everywhere. Many will end up homeless and hungry on the land our Forefathers have left us. Can’t wait till Fall River introduces a new Carbon Tax for the poor, might be as good for us as the Rainwater Runoff Tax. Gotta say that at least Fall River is progressive in implementing Regressive costs on it’s poor. Welcome to the city of the Working Poor.
Vote for me
May 23, 2023 at 8:41 pm
Marc is a nice kid who just wants to be elected to anything.
Rents, crime, and taxes are all on the rise. One can hope when the population shifts in five or ten years there will be an influx of better political candidates.
New Durfee, no improvement in test scores, graduation rates but the taxpayers got a nice increase. Wal-Mart and Amazon killing local business, and plenty of money being made off drug recovery.
OptimisticGuy
May 23, 2023 at 9:17 pm
TO ALL THE REAL GOOD CITY OF FALL RIVER RESIDENTS WHO LOVE AND ACTUALLY “C A R E” ABOUT OUR CITY,THE PLACE WE BUILT,WORK, PLAY AND LOVE IN EACH & EVERYDAY : THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP AND SPEAKING OUT AGAINST ALL THESE NAYSAYERS & HYPOCRITICAL HATERS, WHO HAVE THE NERVE TO TRY TO TRASH OUR CITY & HOLD US DOWN FROM NEW CHANGES AND FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH,SUCCESS AND EMBETTERMENT!! EVERY CITY & TOWN BIG OR SMALL HAS PROBLEMS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE STILL HAVE
SOME LOCAL RESIDENTS & LOCAL OUTSIDERS WHO STILL HAVE TO FIND A”PROBLEM”ABOUT ANYTHING THIS CITY GOOD OR BAD DOES! WHEN IN FACT “THEY”*(MEANING MOST OF THESE “NEGATIVE COMMENTOR’S POSTED HERE ARE THE “PROBLEM”*WITH OUR CITY!!* I SUGGEST ALL YOU NEGATIVE IDIOT’S & WHINEY A******* GO AWAY! GO & MOVE FAR FROM OUR BELOVED CITY OF FALL RIVER. WE DON’T WANT OR NEED YOU HERE IF YOU’RE GOING TO DO NOTHING BUT BITCH AND COMPLAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING. HOW ABOUT SHOWING SOME CARE,LOVE & SUPPORT TO HELP FIX IT! DON’T DEPEND ON LOCAL CORRUPT POLITICANS TO SPEAK FOR YOU! DO IT YOURSELF! CHANGE IT! LET’S ALL SHOW LOVE ❤️ CARE & SUPPORT FOR YOU’RE CITY, NO MATTER WHAT OTHER’S THINK OR SAY! MOST SUCCESSFUL CITIES NO MATTER WHAT SIZE THEY ARE…TRUELY BELIEVE IN “CARE” ABOUT THEIR CITY OR TOWN..BECAUSE IT’S WHERE YOU LIVE YOUR LIVE’S!!! *QUOTE:[“A CITY IS ONLY SUCCESSFUL, AS IT’S RESIDENTS WANT IT TO BE”*] END QUOTE*. YOU CAN CHOOSE TO MAKE IT OR BREAK IT…I CHOOSE TO MAKE IT. I ❤️ LOVE FR NO MATTER WHAT YOU NEGATIVE LOSER’S DO OR SAY….NOW LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT ASAP!…( AND DON’T WORRY, WE WON’T EVEN MISS YOU ).
RonnCee
May 25, 2023 at 12:04 am
🤣😂🤣😂🤡🤡🤡
OptimisticGuy247
May 23, 2023 at 9:30 pm
OUR CITY OF FALL RIVER IS GREAT!! THOSE OF YOU WHO “NEGATIVELY COMMENTED HERE” ARE THE “PROBLEM”! THAT’S THE ONLY REAL “PROBLEM” WITH SOME OF YOU LOCAL & OUTSIDE SUBURBAN IDIOT’S!! YOU DO NOTHING TO HELP OUR CITY,YET YOU BITCH, WHINE & COMPLAIN NO MATTER WHAT. I SUGGEST YOU MOVE FAR AWAY!! & LET US GOOD,POSITIVE,CARING, LOVING,”PROGRESSIVE” PEOPLE HELP MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD WITH GREAT ECONOMIC GROWTH,CHANGE AND SUCCESS” FOR THE FUTURE. EMBETTERMENT OF OUR CITY.
ShowSomeLoveGuy58
May 23, 2023 at 9:42 pm
All you Nasty Negative Commenting people who keep Hating On Our Great City of Fall River Are the ReaL Problem with Our City. You don’t Show Support,Care Or Love to Try & Change Thing’s For The Embetterment of Where you Live.Every City or Town has Problems. But Most Still Love & Support They’re City thru Good & Bad times. A City Is Only As Good As The People Make It to Be. Change & Progress Is Coming & Happening now, Leave Or Get With IT!
RonnCee
May 25, 2023 at 12:05 am
Great City he said🤣😂🤣😂🤡🤡🤡
HuntersCrackPipe
May 27, 2023 at 9:58 am
If you point out reality you get called nasty. What a joke. Fall River should hire this guy for comic relief from the sad reality we are trapped in. ShowSomeLove/THEY58 What a wanker…
SensitiveSteve
May 23, 2023 at 9:49 pm
Huh,Funny,This news source is SO Bias because It won’t post Any of my positive comments! It’s Maybe Why Fall River Is So Politically biased & Corrupt! Shame On You fallriverreporter!
Ken Paiva
May 23, 2023 at 10:03 pm
All 4 of them are here.
Steve
May 24, 2023 at 4:20 am
Ok,Well,GOOD!Thank You Ken! You Guy’s Probably Recieved & Reviewed Them late, None the less, Thank’s Again For Posting Everyone’s Comments & Opinion’s Fairly. I Stand Corrected. But Also GreatfuL, Much Appreciated Fall River Reporter!*🙂👍
HuntersCrackPipe
May 24, 2023 at 5:05 pm
Steve, please lay off the booze!
HuntersCrackPipe
May 25, 2023 at 10:11 am
https://fallriverreporter.com/fall-river-police-investigating-after-driver-crashes-after-shooting/
HuntersCrackPipe
May 27, 2023 at 10:27 am
If you point out reality you get called nasty. What a joke. Fall River should hire this guy for comic relief from the sad reality we are trapped in. ShowSomeLove/THEY58 What a wanker…