The sun shone brightly over her Roman neighborhood on that fateful day in 2010. Expat and dual citizen Rebecca Spitzmiller, however, was in a dark place. The degree of urban decay that lay before her on the short walk to the bank had become overwhelming. It felt like a plague that worsened by the day as it overtook her beloved neighborhood and city.
Tears couldn’t be contained as she approached the teller. Was she the only one that noticed or cared how urban Rome had become defiled by uncontrolled graffiti and trash? Concerned, the teller inquired about the tears and was led outside to see the cause. “There is really nothing we can do about it,” came her resigned reply.
