Modesto's night life aborted

I was born and raised in Modesto, but I having been living both on the north coast of California and in New Orleans for the past eight years. Because most of my family still resides there, I have come back for the holidays fairly regularly. I had noticed during my early years away that Modesto really seemed to have a scene developing downtown — some night life. This past December. however, I discovered a ghost town: the absolute most depressing I have seen my hometown ever!

What's the deal, Modesto? Everything even remotely entertaining seems to have disappeared. Is it the economy, the crackdown on crime — what happened?

I can't imagine moving back there even if I wanted to now with the state of things being what they are. It's unfortunate. I'm curious to hear what people think about this.

CORINE BROWN

New Orleans