I was late making my annual pilgrimage to my hometown this year. Frankly, I was a little concerned after reading this forum all year. Happy to say I survived. Even though I walked Main St. and other downtown and residential streets several times I was never accosted by welfare people or sworn at or spit on or run over by a stroller or anything else unpleasant.

Yes, I saw people I probably wouldn't invite into my home. And I saw businesses I don't choose to patronize. And I saw properties which aren't maintained they way they were in the 50's and 60's. But I also saw downtown businesses in good condition trying to serve the smaller customer base Bradford has to offer these days. And I saw many well maintain private homes, many of which appeared to be owned not by senior citizens trying to preserve their property, but by proud young homeowners trying to build a family life. And I saw evidence like the duck pond at Willow Dale and restaurant at the airport that some people are still trying to make Bradford better.

Bradford has a lot of problems. When your population shrinks the way the city's has that is inevitable. I do think the mayor and council sometimes seem blind to these problems or incapable of dealing with them. But I also think some of the postings on this forum get a little over the top. I'll keep coming back to my hometown and I'll keep rooting for it's revival. I hope those who criticize will also step up and do what they can to help those who try to improve things.

(Okay, guys, take your best shot.)

Good post BTR. We all feel the same way, but... A short vist as opposed to living with it in your face every day may slant things for you.

A trip to Tops usually cures me of any optimism for Bradford's future. Its always a guaranteed close encounter of the scummer kind; either a welfare queen with a stack of Wic checks holding up the line or the large troll-like retard that apparently lives there, or any of the other stinky dirtbags that live in this town.
If I could just buy groceries one time without having all five of my senses violated, I could agree that the conditions have been exaggerated.

Anecdotal evidence
The expression anecdotal evidence refers to evidence from anecdotes. Because of the small sample, there is a larger chance that it may be unreliable due to cherry-picked or otherwise non-representative samples of typical cases. Anecdotal evidence is considered dubious support of a claim; it is accepted only in lieu of more solid evidence. This is true regardless of the veracity of individual claims

At best, your post is only anecdotal evidence. However all the posters here on BT combined with testimony to City Council by residents and respected business owners, tells a different, more credible story of what Bradford is really like. Not to fault you, but the real cretins that we had on the streets all summer long go into hiding for the most part in the cooler weather. I'm glad you got to miss it!





Please give me ONE example of a post about Bradford scummers that is untrue or "over the top". Please don't give any that were obviously said tongue-in-cheek as a joke. Just one example of what you consider "over the top".


Oh! THAT is over the top! People are not spit on, run over by strollers or accosted by scummers on Main Street. However, at any given time of the day we the public may be treated to vulgar swear words being shouted out by disgruntled scummers. You are lucky you missed out on that. Right now, the scummers just attack each other.


AMEN brother! Now that is what we are talking about!


Again, THIS is what we are talking about! I'm glad you agree with us!


Many of us are doing what we can, when we can. Our biggest problem is that *the powers that be* don't want to acknowledge the problems, and choose to attack those of us who do report and identify the problems! The "deniers" are the problem, not those who ask for problems to be addressed and solved!

Well BTR, I guess we had a gang related "gunfire episode" at 4:40AM the other morning. So your days of visiting Bradford and walking all over town and "surviving", may be numbered! You may need to put some thought or research into your route next time.

As Phantom says ..... sad, very sad.

Yeah, that is sad. Drugs are usually at the heart of things like this and drugs have been in Bradford for several decades, as they have in just about every city and town in the country. There isn't enough room here to tell you about the drug problems out here in the midwest, even in small villages less than half the size of Bradford. The good news, if there is any, is they usually shoot their own, although innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire sometimes.

Yes, a few innocent bystanders sometimes getting caught in the crossfire of drug related gun fire IS good news! Are you for real? Even ONE innocent bystander is too many!

'Disgruntled scummers' wins the thread

when was the last time a mid level dealer was busted in bradford? never! why do the big time dealers never get busted? the answer should be obvious.