Swampscott, Mass. – Looking at the past decade proves the highly populated seaside community of Swampscott to be noticeably impacted by America’s economic crisis. Residents watch as their friends and family members are laid-off from jobs and struggle to find consistent methods of income, while residents of the three-square mile town make compensations for their financial dilemmas.There is no doubt that Swampscott locals face money losses, a quandary weighing heavy on their minds as they attempt to keep up with financial responsibilities. A 17-year resident and homeowner in Swampscott, Peggy McHugh, 51, tells of her neighbor’s struggles after his lay-off two years ago and how his family copes without a stable income.
“People like the Grant’s down the street are a good example of what’s been going on in the job market.
The husband lost his job and they have a little girl to support. I’ve heard it’d been tough,” says McHugh.
His new job involves a consistent income, McHugh says, but pays nothing compared to the past job and lacks his specialized business focus. McHugh, an Office Manager for Clearrock, a Boston-based executive coaching and outplacement firm, says that multiple businesses in the local strip-mall have closed, causing job losses for other local residents. Popular specialty stores, such as Athletes Corner, KaBloom and Trader Joe’s, are examples of short-lived places in what was a busy area of town.
Along with job decline, McHugh says the housing market has fallen drastically. Her neighborhood was forced to clear land for the construction of two half-million dollar homes that remain unsold three years after completion. She says that less people are able to afford expensive homes and are reluctant to move into affluent communities such as Swampscott.
“We’ve just been sitting here looking out our back windows waiting for people to move into these two huge things the construction company begged us to support.”
Jennifer Smith, 20, a graduate of Swampscott High, tells of her parents’ low income and their difficulty in supporting a family 10 years ago, let alone now.
“Living in an affluent town like Swampscott makes it even more difficult,” she said. “The town ups its taxes, thinking that people can afford it. But for us it’s hard just to keep up.”
Smith and her sister, Sam, 21, both go to Salem State University but live at home, sharing a bedroom and a car. Both full-time students, they also work part-time jobs to help pay bills for their parents’ house.
“I basically pay rent to live here,” said Smith, “and I can’t wait to move out but it’s going to be so hard. I feel like I’ll never have the money.”
U.S. Census studies show a decrease of Swampscott’s by about 400 in the last 10 years, and the unemployment rate as nearly double. Alan Burke’s article, “Special Town Meeting tonight in Swampscott,” in an October, 2010 release of The Salem News, said that Swampscott Town Administrator, Andrew Maylor, declared the town a “Green Community,” therefore receiving $100,000 by the state for green improvements.
U.S. Census studies show a decrease of Swampscott’s by about 400 in the last 10 years, and the unemployment rate as nearly double. Alan Burke’s article, “Special Town Meeting tonight in Swampscott,” in an October, 2010 release of The Salem News, said that Swampscott Town Administrator, Andrew Maylor, declared the town a “Green Community,” therefore receiving $100,000 by the state for green improvements.
"This proves that we need money, and right now this is how the towns getting it, aside from taxes." McHugh said. “It’s even gone as far as trash pick-up. Each house can put out one barrel a week, and extra barrels cost money to pick-up. It goes to show how everything trickles down to the most unthought-of places.”
