Good ideas need listeners

If representatives from a federally funded program to improve the business climate in local cities and towns came to Winsted, one might expect they would be welcomed with open arms by scores of interested residents and merchants.Sadly, that was far from the case last week, when only a handful of people attended a pair of workshops hosted by Smart Growth America at the Whiting Mills building on Whiting Street. Met with stunningly low attendance of fewer than 10 people at each session, organizers may have wondered why they were even bothering with a town that shows so much apathy, but attendees reported enjoying the robust discussions that transpired.As usual, the perception of Winsted as a trashy, rag-tag, out-of-the-way non-destination was juxtaposed with the town’s abundant natural resources and available space for business. For the seemingly millionth time, talk surrounded slowing down traffic on Main Street by reducing the current four lanes to two, and it was noted that the Laurel City needs to focus on promoting itself.Yes, the suggestions are relevant, but who is listening? Twenty years ago a study of downtown Winsted was undertaken by Yale University’s Urban Design Workshop, in which recommendations were made for streetscape and business improvements. Two decades later, some of the physical improvements have been realized while other goals, including a thriving business community, have eluded us. Winsted still hasn’t found a way to get 20,000 or so cars per day to stop for much more than gas and fast food.It seems many people in town are content to settle for mediocrity while others are happy to watch Winsted slowly die with them. Perhaps they are wishing that another great flood will hit, like the one in 1955 that wiped out the south side of Main Street. This time, it would wipe out the north side and we could truly start from scratch. How long would it take before townspeople started bickering again?It’s hard to decide what’s worse, the constant arguing or the complete indifference shown by those who did not attend last week’s Smart Growth meetings. But one thing’s for sure: When negativity and apathy go hand-in-hand, it’s a lot easier to imagine that this community has a hopeless future.