[josefresco]

Cape Codder / tech biz owner here. I guess that makes me the one who fleeces the businesses that fleece the tourists? You're mostly right, but obviously seriously jaded/bitter. Real estate is expensive, the business economy revolves around tourism and the population is aging. That doesn't mean we're just giving up though, so please if you're young and have the income to support a life here please do so! We need more young people willing to fight for the future of the Cape!

[throwaway0a5e]

I am curious why you think anyone not set to inherit a business would not be better off pursuing opportunity elsewhere.

There is some decent opportunity in the trades but not if you're not already an established professional but outside the tourism industries there isn't much.

If you have any ambition to do anything to anything people will stand in your way and put up roadblocks because your expanding liquor store or auto-body shop (or whatever) isn't what they think is "befitting the local character".

[josefresco]

Let's rewind...

Someone: Work at Woods Hole! We're hiring.

You: The Cape sucks, don't go there.

Me: If you have a good job, come here and advocate for change.

Where did we go off the rails?

[R0b0t1]

As someone who is, unfortunately, in a lower earning portion of the US,

> so please if you're young and have the income to support a life here please do so!

Please feed into our pyramid scheme so I can continue to maintain my quality of life? Guy, what? Nobody is just handing out money, why do you expect it to be handed to you?

[josefresco]

Did I say "the Cape is a great place to live! no problems here! move here!"? No. I agreed with the fundamental problems the Cape faces, and am asking for others to help change/stop these issues. Fighting for affordable housing, advocating for good schools, supporting non-tourism based business... there are countless other causes. My point was that "I'm not going down without a fight" and we need help, because we're losing the war for the Cape, and the future is bleak if "good men do nothing". No one is asking to be handed anything, I'm asking YOU and others to fight for a robust and thriving community.

I can't believe I'm defending "advocating for the Cape" on Hacker News of all places.

[__jem]

fwiw i love cape cod and the islands and hope you can figure out a way to fight for those things. i spent a lot of time on martha's vineyard growing up and it was always so sad to hear islanders talk about their kids leaving for better opportunities.

[josefresco]

Hey thanks. I have kids and talk to them openly about the problems with the Cape, and how they might find more opportunity elsewhere. Like most kids they love their home, but fully recognize that housing costs, and career opportunities are limited.

My wife and I built our business from the ground up, but couldn't have done so without family support and some advantages that others do not have. This privilege is something we recognize and work to "fix" by participating in local government and biz development organizations.

Getting "young" working families to simply show up at town hall is a huge challenge but we're working on it, and are not going to let the Cape slide into just a place for the wealthy, elderly and second home-owners.

[R0b0t1]

I'm fully aware of what you said but it is all contingent on having a high income. It rings hollow.