Sometimes, only the thorns can be seen.

The West End is a diverse neighborhood; there are cramped, cheap, and dirty apartment buildings, underutilized mansions, and everything in between. There are people doing a lot of good for the community and others who actively try to block progress.

 

You might see the warnings about cameras on Terry Road and think this is a security measure extended around the general area of the Governor’s Mansion. False.

What a shame that some of the residents make Terry Road feel like the least hospitable street in Hartford. The houses are beautiful, but man is there some paranoia at work here. Between the slipping hazards (half the sidewalk had been covered in snow or ice when there had been no weather event within 48 hours), the camera signs, the no parking during church signs, and the zoning nonsense, being on this street actually felt less comfortable than walking through a high crime area; here, you could be targeted for no reason at all.

I know some might want to say #NotAllTerryRoad, and that’s human. That’s also a sign to do your part to be louder than those who do not know how to welcome the stranger.

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of focusing on a handful of the privileged and vocal, it might be helpful to amplify what is right: those who don’t just shovel their walkways, but clear paths around fire hydrants; a new cafe that welcomes the community and employs those from it; that a bike lane has taken root on Farmington Avenue; that the West End Farmers’ Market moved to an area more convenient for those in greater need of fresh food in walking distance. Taking some time to walk through the neighborhood will reveal these positive attributes.