Link:http://forcv.com/index.php?idvar=8

English: Where should the Cape Verdean Consulate be located to better serve the community:
Brockton, Pawtucket, Downtown Boston, Dorchester / Roxbury, Bridgeport, New Bedford, Providence?

Why or why not?


Kriolu:Undi ki konsuladu di CV debi fika pa serbi kumunidadi midjor: Brockton, Pawtucket, Downtown Boston, Dorchester / Roxbury, Bridgeport, New Bedford, Providence?

Pamodi?

Every one in the Boston area would like for the CV-CG office to be in the Boston area. It is perhaps the most populated with CV'S,but it is difficult getting in and out of Boston and parking can be costly and parking tickets are very expensive,plus you can get the boot. Real Estate is also very high.

Brockton is located in a place that is more central from Boston,R.I. from the Cape Cod, New Bedford area. I think that property is a lot cheaper in Brockton. It would serve the CV community if in fact they would buy a building in an upgraded area that would have all the facilities for the rooms they need for there business of operation. That same building could also be so designed that it would have living quarters for a family. That is a three bedroom 2/1/2 bathroom large dinning room,large living room guest room and a large Librarywith small class room for information and education,3 car garage. enough parking space for at least 25 cars at one time. For special events. I bet a good architect designer know what I mean. On a beautiful farm area.

Well that just one idea but Iam sure that if not in Brockton Taunton is also centrally located.
perhaps on no less then 4 acres of land.

To be honest, I don't know why the government decides to continue with the Consulate located in Boston. Yes, it is more expense to maintain any building in Boston ( ManU Salah), it is far from the community (Downtown), it offers difficult access to the community that it is supposed to serve, and it is located in one end of the geografical area where its community is placed.

The only clear reason I see is maybe for "them" to make sure they are in the "Capital" of Massachussetts, sacrificing all the others interests at stake.

Geografically (which should be one of the main criteria for choice of location), Brockton or any sorrounding areas should be the ones to be picked upon for location of the Consulate General.

Consulate's main jobs are to issue passport, power of attorney, or other administrative duties, no more. It should be seen like a "convinience store" at the corner to serve its immigrant community.

My vote for Brockton!!!

Please, communicate your votes and your reasoning.


Cabrala

I recently had to leave CT to go up to the consulate for a quick visit. First of all, the consulate needs to be staffed more if they wish to continue to effectively serve the community.

After a 2 and a half hour ride, I found myself driving for another half hour looking for a space to park. Once i located a parking space in the 300s, so I had to walk many blocks in the cold of winter in order to get to the consulate. I arrived 15 minutes later to a room filled with fustrated individuals who were facing the same issues. I was there for a simple stamp In my passport, but i was told that i needed to return the following week. I returned to my car 2 hours later, just to find a ticket placed in my windshield.

Here is a quick look at what it cost me for 1 trip there

Passport renewal $50
passport pictures $14
gas cost $40
Missing a day of work $100
parking ticket $30
Lunch $8

Total $242

It cost me that much for a simple passport renewell visit to the consulate. The only reason why i added the missing work is the fact that i was asked to return to pick up the passport.

I believe that Boston is absolutely not the right place for the Consulate office. It needs to be in a location that is more accessible to individuals that are coming from further locations. Although it is a strong cape verdean community there, we still have to acknowledge that there are many other cape verdeans around other locations.

I vote for Brockton or Providence.

Greetings:



This is actually a good topic and a relevant one I might add.

To me it is logical that the CV Consulate aught to be conveniently located in Brockton for some simple reasons:

The Capeverdean community in Brockton is arguably the largest and most organized one in the Diaspora.
From an economical, political, cultural, and residential aspect Caboverdianos in Brockton have really accomplished a lot.
Where else in the Diaspora can one drive 5 plus miles on Main Street and point to a capeverdean establishment on every block. One day I drove from Sodadi Restaurant to Montello News off Oak Street and got tired of counting Capeverdean businesses.
Although Brockton is a city 1/5 the residential population of Boston, it still feels like a town which means it is easier to get things done.
Brockton is in between all of the major Capeverdean communities in New England with exception to Bridgeport & Waterbury, furthermore we have at least 3 conveniently located commercial buildings on Main Street owned by capeverdeans with free parking.

There is at least 3 commuter rail stops arriving from South Station in Downtown Boston at least every hour and a bus line that goes into Dorchester.

Lastly, it would probably cost them less to lease an even bigger space and use the left over cash to hire extra staff and while we are at it we can move TACV into one of these buildings as well.