To the Editor:

When I first came to Massena in the 60’s it was an thriving, beautiful community with Main Street filled with merchants selling their wares, people walking up and down especially on Friday nights shopping, greeting each other. There were no empty stores or empty lots. There was respect for one another and very little crime. There were 3 full time plants then providing financial security to families along with the town and village.

Then changes were made nationwide including Massena. Two plants closed down one at a time leaving a partial third plant. Families moved away for employment. Retirees make up a major portion of the population. The number of houses for sale is staggering and won’t be sold due to the lack of new businesses coming into Massena. The crime rate has gone up with criminals being put on probation only to commit again. Drugs have increased along with a neighborhood looking like the slums. Residents have to make sure their doors are locked.

My son came home a couple of weeks ago with his wife. He was going to show her the town where he grew up. I asked him ‘What empty lot or empty store are you showing her first.’ At least, the windows of the empty stores could be washed to make them look a little better.

Election Day is coming. All town and village officials especially the mayor who are up for re-election need to be changed. They have been in office far too long and have become comfortable with their position and ideas. They have been paid by Massena citizens who have got nothing but a financially decrepit village/town and increases in taxes. There has not been a major financial business or store established in Massena these last 4 years.

What there has been is an increase in taxes. There has been a self-imposed raise for the mayor and his board members and then he raised taxes. There are cuts in services with increased rates for services. Now there is a proposal to have citizens pay for new water lines in the streets when the lines need to be replaced. This type of replacement is what taxes are supposed to cover. How are citizens suppose to pay all these taxes plus pay for heat, groceries, utility bills, food, housing, medical bills, etc. with some of these items having taxes added on to them?

Has there ever been a full line by line Town and Village budget printed in the local paper so citizens can see where their money is going? Something like the list of those whose taxes are in areas.

Has any kind of advertisement been done to draw plants, manufacturing factories, private businesses, major stores, restaurants, etc. to the North Country. Dick’s Sporting Goods store is interested in Massena. This would be a positive improvement for the area. But wait, the mayor is dickering over giving Dick’s the property they want to build their store on.

So if you want the same financially decrepit town that you live in and keep paying higher and higher taxes, keep the same government in.

If you want a change vote for a change. Vote for Tim Currier for Mayor of Massena. He is knowledgeable, knows and cares about the community.

Rita Rinke

Massena