Whenever we research various things about the city, we are baffled by the number of people who are compelled to write negative comments. And not just negative comments, but nonconstructive and downright mean comments. There are some people who appear to spend a good portion of their day lurking the media outlets and online city forums ready to pee on any optimism that might creep up. Perhaps the people who have positive things to say are too busy trying to do something to spend their time commenting on news stories about developments in the city. I’m not saying that if things are bad or you dislike something, you shouldn’t express your feelings. The people of this city have been through a lot and many are saddened by the decline of the city and are tired. It’s easy to understand why so many people here are discouraged. But those who just sit and complain and choose not to participate in a way to change things, are wasting their energy. And that doesn’t mean they have to do something big like organizing a rally, running for office or staging a sit-in. (I know most of us have jobs and don’t have time to do something drastic.) It simply means getting involved. Attend a public city meeting, write or call the mayor’s office, join your neighborhood watch committee, get to know the police officers who patrol your neighborhood, shop locally, take your new neighbors some dinner while they unpack, vote, volunteer or donate money to organizations who have a voice to make a difference.

It doesn’t take much to affect some positive change. It’s easy to be pessimistic and complain; it takes more work to look for the good. Change won’t happen overnight. And it won’t happen at all if no one cares or makes an effort. But there are many people in this city who do care and are making positive contributions, both big and small, to their communities every day. All of us who have chosen to live here have two choices – we can sit and complain (and we will be guaranteed that nothing will change), or we can harness that energy into making a positive contribution toward change.