WHAT MAKES A CITY DESIREABLE...
WHAT DO PEOPLE SEEK OUT IN A PLACE TO LIVE...
IS IT JUST TRASH PICKUP...CLEAN WATER...AND SAFE STREETS...
PERHAPS...FOR REPUBLICANS
BUT PUBLIC ART AND SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS ARE WHAT REALLY SETS A NEIGHBORHOOD APART...
CONSIDER:
WHICH AREAS IN OLDER CITIES AND TOWNS..."GENTRIFY" FIRST AND FASTEST...
THOSE THAT ATTRACT THE ARTISTIC COMMUNITY...! FOR EXAMPLE:
YOU START WITH A SLUM LIKE SOHO, HARLEM, OR BROOKLYN....
OR THAT "OLD TOWN" DISTRICT IN YOUR CITY...YOU KNOW THE ONE...?
THEN WHAT...?
FIRST COME THE ARTISTS...THEN THE GAYS AND DECORATORS MOVE IN...THEN THE GALLERIES SET UP...THEN COME THE COFFEE HOUSES...AND THE HIGH END RESTAURANTS....
THEN... THE SLUM DOG APARTMENTS ARE CONVERTED INTO HIGH END CONDOS....
THE DOCTORS' WIVES START HANGING OUT...STEPPING OVER THE BUMS ON THE SIDEWALK AT FIRST...
AND WHO STARTED IT ALL...THE ARTISTS AND THE IMPULSE TO HAVE PUBLIC ART!
OF COURSE...ONCE GENTRIFIED...THE ARTISTS CAN'T AFFORD IT...AND HAVE TO MOVE OUT...
BUT THE CYCLE STARTS AGAIN...
WHAT SOME URBAN AREAS AND TOWNS NEED...IS NOT MORE ANTI-DRUG AND MORE ANTI-GANG ENFORCEMENT...IE "GOOD PORK"...
BUT MORE MONEY SPENT ON THE PUBLIC ARTS...
