Wellsville: When a community dislikes itself, growth is challenging

Communities like Wellsville have challenges. Like many in Allegany County, it has a limited population and has faced some economic challenges. Sometimes, however, the greatest detractor to growth comes from within. Enter social media.
Life seemed more pure before social media, however, there is no dispute that social media has created some advancements.
Just the same, the 24/7 never-ending flow of opinions has to be questioned. Case in point. There is a Facebook group dedicated to those from Wellsville. There are others, I am sure, but I'll examine this one. In just the past week, there have been posts about the lack of growth and forward movement in Wellsville. Most of the comments are from local residents or natives. By a vast majority, the comments condemn Wellsville. A few examples:

1. Wellsville...change is frowned upon.
2. Hell, this town doesn't even have a Walmart.
3. Make the village enforce the code laws..
4. Burrous building, yada, yada, yada.

You get the idea.
When a community hates itself and says so publicly (in today's world that is via social media), it becomes a tough sell to make advancements.
Many of the comments focused on the old train depot building. This building has been the focus of finger-pointing for decades. It's private property. It, apparently, is not a collapse risk. There is little the village board can do, although many would like the government to just push a property owner out of the way and take over. You know, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...
Hey, Mayor, what do you think?!
You know, if I lived out of the area, before I relocated to Wellsville or Allegany County, I'd do some research. If I read many of these blasting comments...why in the Hell would I come here? This one, ain't the fault of the village, town or county government. If you continue to call Wellsville shit...that is what people will think.
Yes, Wellsville has changed over the years. So has every other community. This year alone, there are several new businesses that have spent gobs of money developing on Main Street. Sure, there aren't employing 50 people...but it's business...commerce.
Disparaged properties are being knocked down. Code enforcement is on the job. Local government is working for you (yet no one attends the meets to see first hand).
If you call a child stupid over and over, that child will accept the remark. If you call Wellsville or Allegany County a loser enough...why would anyone invest here?
You can be a part of the problem...or a part of the solution.
Wellsville is what it is. It will never be a metro area with Walmart, Target, Home Depot...the population can't support it. You chose this village or county. Accept it. Put down the phone and work to make it better.