To the Editor:
You can really walk a lot when you are young, and enjoy it! My dad lived downtown and used to walk up and down Broadway 75 years ago, cracking peanut pods, eating the nuts and dropping the shells along the way (yes, we can be inconsiderate in our youth). I used to love buying Italian ices on Broadway from a shop on the corner of 25th St., I believe. Then there were the movie theatres, the Dewitt, the Lyceum and more. A stroll on Broadway was one good way to pass the time and entertain yourself and your friends.
So I was a bit saddened when I returned to Bayonne in Sept. 2010 to find so many shops vacant, unused, for rent or for sale. I guess the economic collapse of 2009 was a big factor in this situation. I hope things will pick up because though we are a bit cramped here, side by side, I like Bayonne. If you are friendly and outgoing, you will find many wonderful, sweet people here. Bayonne has beautiful parks on First Street and off JFK Blvd. from 37th to 48th Sts. that are well maintained, as well as parks off 16th St. and the stadium park off 26th St. Then there is the gorgeous path behind the shopping center that holds Stop & Shop and Staples. And though it is a bit scary, there is a walkway along the Bayonne Bridge. It’s like being in a movie when you are on the middle of the bridge and a giant ocean liner carrying hundreds of containers passes underneath you!
Let’s see, what could Broadway need? How about a very good Indian restaurant? A cinema? A disco? An art store where you could buy original paintings from American artists? A reasonably priced store that sells all kinds of sports equipment? Schools to learn English, Spanish and maybe, for the proactive, Chinese? A pottery making school? I’m sure you all can think of dozens of better ideas.
Bayonne is a great melting pot of people from various different countries and cultures. I think it’s a good place to live and hopefully, if property taxes go down and if our city leaders do a good, whole-hearted job, more Broadway shops will be ready and open for business. Spread the word: occupy Broadway and revitalize Bayonne!
JIM FICO