Challenges

Fort Dodge has had a lot of graffiti and vandalism on downtown buildings. Vandalism affects everyone in the community, because it makes Fort Dodge look bad. The downtown will have gang signs and broken windows. It makes Fort Dodge feel like a gang town and a run down city. Vandalism is an issue, because it's illegal and makes our police department look bad, because the graffitiers get away with it. There is no way vandalism is a positive thing. The members have a role in the problem, because members of the community are the ones doing the damage. The only way to improve the problem is having camera's downtown and in allies, so the people doing the vandalism get caught in the action. Vandalism is not right, and it makes Fort Dodge look bad.

The bad roads in Fort Dodge is one of many challenges we face. It affects everyone with vehicles in our community. It ruins their tires and cars, because you hit bumps, potholes, or glass on the streets. Repairing tires is expensive, and not everyone has the money to replace your tires every year. It's not positive at all, because everyone complains about them. I believe the members of the community do have a responsibility in the problem, because they are the ones who pay for them with taxes. The members of the community can improve Fort Dodge's roads by donating money towards fixing the roads. I feel like the roads are the challenge that is most complained about, and that is why the roads is a challenge Fort Dodge is facing.

The crime in Fort Dodge is awful, whether it's theft, drugs, stabbings, rapes, or assualts. It affects everyone in Fort Dodge, because it could happen to anyone at any time. It can affect people personally and as a community. Personally because it could be you getting raped or stabbed, just like the women who was stabbed last weekend. It could affects Fort Dodge, because it gives Fort Dodge nicknames like Dirty Dodge and Little Chicago. It makes people not want to live here anymore. Crime can never be positive, especially when it causes someone to die or get harmed. Members of Fort Dodge have a role in crime, because they are the ones who do it. People steal from each other or hurt eachother all the time. Fort Dodge can enforce the law more and make it harsher punishment for the crime people commit. Crime is the reason we are called Little Chicago, and that is not good.

Abandoned house's make Fort Dodge look terrible. It affects everyone who cares about Fort Dodge and want to see Fort Dodge continue to grow. It affect these people, because it makes their town look bad. It is an issue, because people who visit Fort Dodge will not want to come back to a town that looks dumpy. These houses could be positive because they cost less than normal houses. People who don't make a lot of money can buy or rent these houses for cheap, and still have money for other things. Members of the community have a responsibility for this issue, because they are the one's who owned these houses and abandoned them. The community can donate money to fund the demolition of these houses. Run down houses that are abandoned make Fort Dodge look bad. It gives Fort Dodge a bad reputation and they need to fix this issue.

Old building downtown is a challenge. It affects some members from Fort Dodge. It affects these people, because it makes Fort Dodge look like an old rundown city. These buildings need to be remodeled or refurbished to have more of a modern look. It's an issue because we live in a new modern era. It make Fort Dodge look like we are behind in technology and just behind in a whole era. Fort Dodge doesn't have these fancy buildings like Chicago or even Des Moines. The issue is a positive thing for sure, because it shows the history of Fort Dodge. It shows how Fort Dodge looked years ago, and how it all started. Members can bring up the issue, saying they want more modern buildings. They can donate to the city, so the city will have enough money to do it. Having these nicer buildings will bring in new people to spend money and then Fort Dodge will have even more money for new things.