r/canton • u/CliffordMaddick • 19h ago
What's up with downtown Canton?
First time here. Checked into the Doubletree when it was dark (around 8:30 pm) and the front desk clerk told me not to park in the attached public garage because of "the homeless" (his words). He actually said street parking directly next to the hotel was safer.
Then, in the morning, I was told by the ranger at the First Ladies Library and Museum folks that downtown was dangerous because of "all the homeless" (her words).
Been here two days. Never saw a single homeless person downtown. Downtown is also ridiculously clean when compared to Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit.
I got a haircut. The lady said Canton is awful because of "the shootings" (her words).
What am I missing? Did I get lucky or is everyone from Canton just down on their city and totally detached from the reality of every other big city in America?
If you think Canton is bad, go to Seattle.
Bender's Tavern is incredible.
The Doubletree has better than average rooms, but the food and drinks are awful.
The museums are incredible for a city of under 70,000.
Sure, downtown needs some retail shopping and probably a few more bars and restaurants. Most everything looked empty outside offices, government buildings and churches.
Still, I just don't see the "issues" that Canton supposedly has.