This letter is about your editorial printed Aug. 20, 2020, titled “Welcome back Roger Williams,” plus other subjects. Thank you for making the point that there are numerous classifications of people ...  made up of some “who loosely follow the rules …” and … “those who are hyper-vigilant.” Thank you pointing out that some people “won't love” ... “those college kids” ... “doing ... well, what college kids do.”

Thank you defining that “the University community includes more than 5,000 people, including students … some who live in this community year round, but the vast majority are visitors who ... rent apartments” and use a number of other services in this community. Thank you for making the point that … “like it or not, those college kids … represent an economic engine that many Bristol businesses depend on.”

Thank you for telling the good citizens of Bristol that “there will be colleage parties,” and that “there will be kids who blatantly violate rules” and that they “should be sanctioned and dealt with.” Thank you for reminding the good citizens of Bristol that, in your words, “the University is a vital member of this community” and it’s good news for Bristol.

That being said, coming to Bristol in 1969 was a pleasure. Finding a small town (of approximately 15,000 citizens) that was a peaceful place to live, has been the reason for staying in Bristol.

Since starting in October 2019, it has been an uphill climb to bring, in my opinion, an important issue to the forefront. That being, that ALL IS NOT PEACEFUL in our Bristol neighborhoods.

Thank you for exhibiting good journalism by allowing Christy Nadalin to write the front-page article, titled “Hoping for peace at home.” And thank you showing your courage by publishing the article in the Bristol Phoenix on Sept. 3. As a result of the extreme dedication and cooperation of: our town administrator, our town council members, our hard-working members of the Bristol Police Department, RWU, Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. John King, RWUs Safety and Security Department, and Bristol’s Code Enforcement Department, “Positive Proactive” progress has been made. (Part of this progress is the formation of The Bristol Citizens Council for Peaceful Living (BBCforPL).

Contact at: Bristolcitizens@hotmail.com.

Its mission is, “Peaceful Living for All Bristol Citizens.” We encourage you and, any and all, Bristol citizens who would like to have a voice, to join us in this effort to achieve our mission.

Jim Lawton
Bristol