To the editor:

I’ve heard a lot of people talking about the recreation center vote lately, and I’ve noticed that when people argue against it, they almost always say something about how it’s unfair to ask the senior citizens of Newburyport to do this because they can’t afford it. The picture they paint is of a little old lady clutching her purse, afraid of the big bad tax man. 

I am a senior citizen, and I’m tired of people using my age group as a reason to say no to the rec center. No one on the City Council or at City Hall has ever asked me about it, and you know what they say about people who assume. So here’s what I think.

I think that when politicians want something out of old people, they try to scare them. This happens all the time on cable news, and I see it happening now with the rec. center. There’s a lot of talk about taxes going up so high that people will have to move out of Newburyport.

I looked up how much the rec. center would cost, and when you factor in our share of the high school that’s being paid off, my household’s share is just $13. That’s not per month. That’s $13 per year.

I can afford that — especially when it means that kids will have a safe place to go after school where they can get help with their homework and play with other kids. Where I grew up in Connecticut we didn’t have a lot, but we did all get to ride bikes to our friends’ houses and spend afternoons together. With both parents having to work these days, that’s not possible for a lot of kids. But they still need somewhere to go where they can be with each other instead of alone on the internet. I want Newburyport to be a place for families again.

I may be a little old lady who lives off Social Security, but I’m not afraid. I’m inspired. We have the chance to do something great to make things better for our young people, so they can grow up healthy and happy.

This vote shouldn’t be about old vs. young. It’s about investing in the future. It’s something I can do right now to make a difference. I’m voting yes.

SUSAN SWEET

Newburyport

Newburyport Daily News, April 23, 2025