This commentary is repeated on the static cover page (which will be changing into less of a mess soon). I’ve already reproduced some contentious commentary among people both for and against mixed use to separate web pages. Because of that change, I hope to get more explanations for voting against mixed use. I’m hoping that someone will write something that actually is based on fact as opposed to fear and mistrust, or someone who knows a better way to get us out of this mess than mixed use.

Personally, I see mixed use as the only out we have, but I’d love to listen to anything that anyone thinks will work and who can provide the depth of coverage on the project and the conceptual clarity that Jeff Parenti has given us with his mixed use plan. I really would love these things to occur, but at this point, I’d like to read some indication that some of the no voters have actually read the articles and the FAQ that Jeff published in forming their opinion and fusing it into a logical decision. So far, I’ve been greatly disappointed.

This town needs to grow. It can either grow well, or grow into an even bigger mess. Ideas may remain checked and static, but time consumes all things and the earth will absorb anything that stands still too long.

I’d hate to see Billerica become the Detroit of Massachusetts, but the facts are our infrastructure is crumbling, our schools are in desperate need of servicing or replacement, out spot zoning is producing one ugly scar after another, business are leaving instead of setting up here, and those that are trying to expand are being harassed and stifled by idiotic unions that have no relationship with those companies. Our so called leaders appear to have a pervasive paranoia that is destroying people’s faith in government and any chance of getting things done correctly.

We have officials who, in my view, hold themselves up to be more than they are; like some puffed up turkey. Just like our congressmen and congresswomen in Washington or our legislature in Boston, they are SERVANTS. They are NOT masters, and they owe those who elected them the consideration and the obligation to act like adults; responsible, thoughtful, and optimistic adults who have a vision they can believe in, that they can articulate well enough to entice others into the inspiration to follow them to fulfill that vision.

They also need to be willing to listen to the other side and instead of choosing between the lesser of two evils (evil is evil; one can’t be just a little bit evil), choose those closest to your beliefs and work with them as opposed to trying to checkmate them and paralyzing the entire town. That’s juvenile, it’s unproductive, it’s a disservice to constituents, and I doubt very much that it’s something you are trying to teach your children to pattern as they grown into adulthood. It’s difficult to soar with eagles when you are surrounded by turkeys. Hopefully, we’ll see some eagles break from the pack mentality and as individuals, soar to un-dreamed of heights.

So, let’s commit to acting like responsible parents and neighbors and let’s commit to working with each other as individuals to make the town better. Let’s agree to discuss issue of disagreement with honesty and logic instead of emotion and irrational statements that can’t be tied to principle or fact. Observation is not fact. Identification of each underlying cause is at the least an honest attempt to discover facts that can be used for the discovery of solutions. Pessimisim and quitting are never viable options; especially with area that could be existentialistic in their effect on the town’s future.

I know that what I’m asking was hard. So was beating back Britain in 1776, and so it was leaving the moon after the landing; but we did it. We may not be able to find that success in our town hall, but I think we should at least try. Don’t you? Most people who actually try spinach actually get to like it over time.