Ok-Lengthiness446

Ok-Lengthiness446 t1_ja8lmvp wrote

Reply to A toast to those massfools who didnt borrow, or did pay their student loans. by Db3ma

I was a ward of the state, emancipated minor and 17 years old when I signed my name to student loans. I got a partial ride on merit, and as a legal orphan, it was a miracle I even got to go to college.

Do you think I should have been required, or allowed, to take on $50k of debt in order to educate myself? Without college, I would have been an ever higher risk youth. I was accepted to Ivy League schools too, but ended up at state school after speaking with Yale financial aid and learning that $30k/year was inaccessible for me.

Not a worry though, I am on disability for PTSD now and was approved for TPD (Total and Permanent Disability) 100% discharge of loans via SSDI and Dept. of Ed — so I now owe nothing, but the flip side is I can’t work for the next three years.

It’s almost like accessibility to educational opportunities for youth would create a better trajectory than ending up on disability 20 years later.

Oh, and my mom was a cop, part of why I refused foster care = ACAB.

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Ok-Lengthiness446 t1_j42zrbe wrote

Reply to comment by Quirky_Butterfly_946 in In MA, single women over 65 are more economically vulnerable than in any other state. Housing cost is a major factor. by Creative_Law_1484

They can apply for section 8, but it takes years to come up on the list, and even then they only give you 30 days to secure section 8 approved housing - which can be damn near impossible, especially with discriminatory landlords who conveniently loose emails and applications from those on section 8.

The waiting list for Income-based apartments is up to ten years. Properties that could have been developed into affordable housing have been purchased by corporate landlords who, instead of offering units at reasonable rents, drive up market values by listing vacant apartments going for twice what they did three years ago. They do not care if they remain vacant until the people making $30/hr+ rent them, and wages are half that - if you’re lucky.

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Ok-Lengthiness446 t1_ir9176u wrote

Reply to comment by giob1966 in Eating lunch in the Berkshires this weekend…suggestions? by againwithausername

When I first relocated here, finding it was like a warm hug from my late, beloved, cigarette-stinking-navy-vet Papa. I went a lot that first year, when I felt completely rudderless, out of place and needed comfort. Felt like home. I only do take out now, but it’s still my #1 local comfort food. The fries are consistently crisp to perfection, even after the ride home.

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Ok-Lengthiness446 t1_ir8mm88 wrote

Reply to Pittsfield by artistsays

There’s a ton of great places to eat in Pittsfield. It’s leaf peeping season, so Pittsfield state forest, Lanesborough has a great lake, take a drive up Mt. Greylock, or go to Waconah Falls. Eat on North has great fare, soul food at Rem Rocs, RJ’s seafood has exquisite Italian food, Teo’s is a local dive hot dog stand, cash only, La Fogata has empanadas that are life changing, as well as the arroz con pollo, Papa Joe’s pizza and cannoli are great. There’s hourly kayak and rowboat rentals on Lake Onota. Ayelada is a local froyo place or Chocolate Springs down the road if you want a decadent sweets experience.

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Ok-Lengthiness446 t1_ir8kgo3 wrote

Reply to Eating lunch in the Berkshires this weekend…suggestions? by againwithausername

Black Swan Inn in Lee — Indian food on the lake, great view, kinda cramped and only Indian food, but top tier. RJs Seafood is an exquisite Italian seafood-focused restaurant in Pittsfield.

Hotel on North’s “Eat on North” also has impeccable food, all varieties, but American typical bar fare and entrees. Rem Roc’s is authentic soul food that you could take to-go and eat the best fried chicken of your life atop Mt. Greylock or the like. Treat yourself to some Ayelada frozen yogurt on the way back. If you find yourself in Lenox and starved, but don’t want to pay a mint to eat — Loeb’s grocery has a deli in back, the Earl’s Favorite is scrumptious. Chocolate Springs is worth a stop if you pass it. La Fogata in Pittsfield has out of this world empanadas, and Pancho’s on North is a solid authentic Mexican restaurant - neither have a view, but keep reading and I’ve got you covered.

Pittsfield is centrally located and you’re likely to see less traffic if you peep north of Pittsfield aka “Shire City” and much less waiting time for anything, especially food, in Pittsfield. I would steer clear of south county, Great Barrington, the Stockbridges including Lee and Lenox, if you want to stay relaxed and not up to your ears in peepers. There’s waterfalls in Dalton and lakes to drive by in Lanesborough, Pittsfield State forest area and up towards Adams.

Edit: if you’re coming from the east, take rt. 20 into Dalton/Pittsfield and go North from there. This will allow you AMAZING peeping while driving into the country, while avoiding all of South County where allllllllllllllllllllllllLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the congestion is, always. Waconah Falls should be on the way, which is a 50 yard walk to a beautiful slice of nature.

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Ok-Lengthiness446 t1_iqr7gex wrote

Reply to The Future of Springfield MA by nofog2234

Gentrification is a dirty word, especially in places like Springfield. I’m out in Pittsfield and it’s starting here, which is terrifying to anyone making under $30/hour. Like Springfield, it’s the only affordable town to live in, in an area surrounded by affluent towns who rely on “middle class” folks hospitality community. They’re not going to have anyone to serve their coffee to them or run their ski lifts if they don’t keep Pittsfield affordable. Same goes for Springfield. Please leave it poor.

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