There is a saying; the only two certain things in life are death and taxes. Well, it seems there’s no place that statement is more accurate than right here in New Bedford. But in a jurisdiction so overwhelmingly democratic, in nature and by count, it may raise an eyebrow that …
Read More »OPINION: 4 myths about buying a home in New Bedford
1. You need a lot of money for a downpayment Gone are the days requiring a buyer to pony up a whopping 20% downpayment to get in on the American dream. In fact, programs are available that offer downpayment assistance, making it possible to get into a home of your …
Read More »OPINION: One New Bedford Charter School down, several to go
Charter schools are strangling the life out of the public school system. The theory behind charter schools initially made a lot of sense. Their original purpose was to provide a real-time testing place for new and emerging ideas within the educational community. The intended purpose was never to form permanent …
Read More »OPINION: For the better of New Bedford, let’s stop granting residency waivers
New Bedford is not a steppingstone and should not be used as such. The goal of our municipal workers should not be to make enough money to leave, it should be to work together to make New Bedford the kind of city people WANT to live in. I believe the …
Read More »OPINION: Shouldn’t New Bedford’s Assessor live in New Bedford?
Many have noticed their properties being assessed at higher and higher values, especially recently. New Bedford assesses all properties each year by the first day of January. Every three years this information is sent to the Department of Revenue and certified. The City of New Bedford prides itself on its …
Read More »OPINION: A nation divided – an optimistic west and a pessimistic east
During the Civil War, in 1862, the United States created a piece of legislative history entitled The Homestead Act. This important piece of American history served many purposes and essentially said that any U.S. citizen or an intended citizen could claim a parcel of land up to 160 acres in …
Read More »OPINION: New Bedford’s Subsidized Slumlords
New Bedford is a city with a high rate of rental units. While the average rate of owner-occupied homes in the U.S. is 63.9%, New Bedford’s rate of owner-occupancy stands at just 41%. This is a problem for many reasons, but many would agree, properties with absentee landlords present the …
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