As a lifelong resident of Springfield, Ohio, and someone who is fairly connected to the community, it is hard to witness what is happening in my town. The residents of Springfield are being used as political pawns at the expense of coming up with real solutions to real problems. Are there immigration issues here? Yes. Are they as extreme as some in the media would suggest? Yes, but that's where the honest trust gets manipulated for dishonest purposes.
Division and hate are settling in on Springfield, a community that in large part is safe, united and peaceful. The residents of my town are struggling. Financially, it is difficult. Housing is a mess. Hard-working people can't afford to rent anymore due to the price increases as a result of the housing subsidies provided. Food and gas prices are inflated and unfortunately, the recent national attention has given people a scapegoat.
Tensions are high in Springfield and unless we have an honest and open debate on real resolutions, things are going to get worse. Springfield residents are frustrated. We are fed up with being described as intolerant, racists and bigots while having our reasonable complaints labeled as irrational. The most disappointing part is that nobody in city leadership seems to want to acknowledge the changes and adjustments we've all had to make to deal with the influx of immigrants to our community.
For example, basic social norms in grocery stores, parks or any shared space in the city are non-existent. It's things as simple as five or six immigrants standing in an aisle at the grocery store and not moving aside respectfully to allow others to pass. And because there's a language barrier, even when you say, "Excuse me," no one is moving. There are social norms that they appear not to be familiar with. These annoyances are not the end of the world, but they are frustrating nonetheless.
Then, there are the more serious issues. There are multiple car crashes daily. I've personally witnessed more than a few. It has become almost impossible to drive on the south end of town. I can't drive to my mother's house without calculating whether to go down a different street or take another route. Crashes occur daily, sometimes hourly. It's really bad, and it's straining police services. About six months ago, I was involved in a car crash (not with a Haitian immigrant) and it took police three hours to respond. When I asked why it took so long, the officer said they were stretched thin by the overwhelming number of calls for service.
I don't have solutions for the overall problem, but city leaders' acknowledgment of residents' frustration would be a good start. I hate that right-wingers are taking my frustrations and running with them. Because no one else will listen, I wind up having to agree with people that I'd rather not agree with and don't agree with on much of anything else.
It is time the leaders of our town listen to the hurt of its residents, be empathetic to our concerns, and stop telling people they are not allowed to be frustrated. Then and only then, can we all come to the table to find a collective solution.
Randy Smoot lives in Springfield, Ohio.
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