Philip Frank, a 61-year-old resident of Huntington, takes a walk down Third Avenue carrying a sack that contains a jar of peanut butter and a block of cheese. He has spent his entire life in the city, as his father once owned a grocery store on Fourth Avenue. The area where the store used to be is now filled with college bars and tattoo shops since it closed in 1975.
As he walked past voters participating in the primary election, Frank expressed concerns about public safety and the condition of the roads. He believes that the city needs to start focusing on fixing the streets and improving overall safety. He reminisced about the level of safety in the 70s and 80s and hopes to see a return to that.
Frank also expressed similar sentiments about West Virginia as a whole, stating that while it’s a good state, it needs more support. As someone involved in the tech industry, he believes that there is still room for improvement and revitalization of businesses in town. While acknowledging recent growth in Huntington, he believes it will take time to get things back to how they used to be. Despite the gloomy weather, Frank continued on with his day, reflecting on the changes needed not only in Huntington but also in West Virginia as a whole.
Frank’s walk down Third Avenue was more than just an everyday routine; it was an opportunity for him to reflect on how much has changed over time and how much needs to change yet again.
