A sign welcoming motorists to the city of Jamestown next to The Bullfrog Hotel and Bar on Second Street. P-J photo by Katrina Fuller

“I love my city and I see the problems.”

Autumn Echo, co-founder of Uplift Jamestown, a social media group to promote positive efforts in the city, said there’s plenty to enjoy about Jamestown, alluding to a recent article by “In These Times,” a publication based out of Chicago, regarding The Bullfrog Hotel and Bar located on Second Street in Jamestown.

The article by Kari Lydersen pointed out many economical and social issues in Jamestown — including unemployment, public assistance and drug use — in a profile of a former city resident. The story brought the writer to The Bullfrog, where she witnessed locals “struggle to survive on meager monthly checks from government programs for disability, Social Security, workers’ compensation or unemployment.”

Lydersen interviewed several patrons at the bar, many of whom expressed dissatisfaction with the number of people in Jamestown collecting public assistance. The writer described Jamestown’s “heyday” when it was the furniture capital of the nation, and included references to the area’s struggle with opioid addiction.

Several area residents spoke with The Post-Journal to discuss their optimism of the city’s image in light of the article.

Echo said just because a person loves Jamestown, it doesn’t mean they don’t see the problems. However, it is important to see more than the problems.

“Because I love my city, I want to solve the problems and not just complain about them,” said Echo, also the founder of Pulse Poetry Slam. “Obviously I’m attracted to the thriving arts community, but my hope lies very deeply in the people of Jamestown.”

Echo said there are many people who are devoted to the area and want the best for it. However, many people look at the issues at hand and have no way to start solving them.

“This community deserves better than what they have been given in a lot of ways,” Echo said. “They deserve to feel safe and they deserve to feel like their needs and concerns are being heard and met. There is a lot of noise coming at them and it’s really easy to feel overwhelmed by that.”

She said hearing constantly that Jamestown has nothing to offer or do, only has a thriving drug scene and is a dying city isn’t helpful. The developing stereotype of a poor, broken and drug-ridden city isn’t all that there is, but is the vision that people are being given most often.

“We’ve heard it all,” Echo said. “It’s fundamentally important for us to connect with one another, to remember why we love it here so that we have the energy to fix the issues. I’m just one person — but we all are just one person, and together, all of that changes.”

Echo said her favorite view of the city is the view from the top of Main and 6th Street. She said if you stand on the corner and look past Marco’s Pizza, all you see is trees, hills and sky. The best part is that you can “hear the bustle of the city, but you know the quiet is within arms length when you need it.”

She said the local music is another vibrant and growing part of the city that brings life with it.

Chanda Lynn, recovery activist in Jamestown, said she has fond memories of Jamestown that give her hope, but looking forward, she is pushing ahead to make change. Lynn said her favorite place to visit in the city is Third Street, and remembers visiting Rigoli’s and Hebner Heights when she was growing up to buy snacks. Rigoli’s was once located on Barrows and King Street, but burned down.

“(I bought) penny candies at Rigoli’s and sodas and subs at the other (shop),” Lynn said.

Currently, Lynn is planning a rally for September that will build a bridge of hope and recovery for Jamestown and the surrounding area.

“Much of the community is coming out to support it, so that makes me very hopeful for the city,” she said, noting the event will be on Sept. 23 from 1-11 p.m. “We will be having national speakers come, Rusted Root and Smackdab are in the process of booking it, and we will be bringing all of the resources in the community together to combat addiction.”

Lynn said she is working with Hope Chautauqua, the Addiction Response Ministry and Chautauqua Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council is looking to join in as well. Local vendors and businesses are sponsoring the event, and there will be food and activities happening throughout the event.

“We will be addressing the issues in this community followed by hope, help and resources,” she said. “Lost of stuff going on!”

The Rev. Carolyn Stow of Kidder Memorial Church in Jamestown said she can’t pinpoint just one thing that gives her hope about the city.

“I’ve seen the strength of its people in supporting one another in times of crisis like a fire or cancer diagnosis and ongoing need, like overcoming an addiction,” Stow said. “I see kids enjoying sports and the arts and our schools supporting growth and learning beyond academics. I see churches working to bring love in shared worship, reading programs and Vacation Bible School on-the-go.

“I see a shared ownership for the economic development downtown — Jamestown is rich in the recourse of its people.”

Between all the organizations, places and things, she said the people are what give her hope the most.

Cameron Hurst, Jamestown High School graduate and Robert H. Jackson Center intern, said there is much that keeps bringing him back to his hometown.

“I seriously couldn’t be more optimistic after today and after what could come from all of the support we’re receiving from all over the state and the country,” he said. “We’re on the verge of the culmination of a renaissance. We need to have hope right now. Great days are ahead.”

In an unofficial open-ended Facebook survey, several community members said organizations in the city such as Infinity Visual and Performing Arts and Evergreen Health are helping people, while others commented on how the plethora of restaurants and local businesses bring them hope.

Still others mentioned the impact of local educational programs like the summer reading program at the library, the parks program put on by the city and the Boys and Girls Club of Jamestown.