Protection of Pacechester People (POPP) addressed recent community concerns regarding the village water, the potential 2020 Olympics, and their relationship with Choate FC.
POPP CEO Paige Touse held a community forum on Tuesday where she answered resident questions on a variety of topics. Social Media and Community Outreach Coordinator Sierra Bauer clarified more concerns brought forward by residents at a press conference on Wednesday.
Concerning the water crisis, Touse advised residents to only drink bottled water, not to take Aspirin as it may worsen symptoms for children, and to clean their sinuses. The ongoing crisis in the village was brought up once more, and when asked if there was an estimation of when this should be over, Bauer stated that there was none.
The organization took a hard stance on the campaign to bring the 2020 Olympics to Pacechester, voicing their opposition to it, saying,
“The Olympics is a great event to do, it’s just not a great event for Pacechester.”
Touse discussed how past host cities like Rio saw residents being kicked out of their homes up to seven years before the games, and how cities like Montreal, who hosted the 1976 games, didn’t pay them off until 2006.
“If we’re going to work with them we want to work with them on finding spaces that aren’t going to uproot families.” Touse said.
One of the main issues at hand at Wednesday’s press conference was a fight that broke out in a Choate FC game the night before. Two unnamed men and a female witness were involved. The amount of violence and deaths that occur during these soccer games was a big worry for POPP and just another added reason as to why they do not want the Olympics to come to Pacechester.
Other factors that were brought up was the large amount of racism and prejudice that comes from the crowd of these soccer games. When asked how POPP can promise to Pacechester residents that this was just a one-time and isolated incident, they said they are,
“Hoping to get to the bottom of it, what actually happened, and why they did what they did.”
Regarding POPP’s relationship with Choate FC, Touse claimed they would be willing to work with them on the women soccer organization’s mission to build an 18,000 seat stadium but discussed how it may effect residents.
Be First to Comment