The vibrancy of center city is based on the intricate and eclectic interaction of those with means and those without; of the kindhearted and those who need a hand; of those who choose to come downtown and those with nowhere else to go.
That kaleidoscope of the human condition is alluring to all who prefer historical roots and the hope of revitalization. They want to walk the same streets as their grandparents and support local merchants embarking on the dream of owning their own business. Sidewalks that were previously rolled up at 5 o'clock now bustle with couples checking out restaurants, shops, art galleries and theaters. The old, dark doorways and urban camping sites once left vacant have been reclaimed by residents and business owners.
The tension between redevelopment and public services has manifested itself during the past year with the discussion of bus transfer locations, the suggested altering of the closing time of Park Central Square and the potential expansion of homeless services on historic Commercial Street.
The stakes in these tussles can be high: the forfeiture of millions of dollars in federal appropriations, the closing of small businesses, the lowering of property values or more homeless turned out into our streets without much-needed shelter or treatment.
As such, it is important to remember that any political "win" that comes at the expense of someone else's livelihood, safety or well-being is still a loss.
The lyrics to James Taylor's "Shed a Little Light" come to mind:
"We are bound together by the task that stands before us and the road that lies ahead. We are bound and we are bound."
Like it or not, zero lot lines, shared sidewalks and the broad brush of public opinion of downtown bring together the most unlikely of neighbors. Their destiny is unavoidably shared.
But what should be the ground rules? The 1995 Rob Tier report, "Civility and Recovery: Reconciling Compatible Interests in the Commercial Street Area," offers these two suggestions:
1. Street Order Maintenance. "There is no need to apologize for trying to minimize harmful behaviors that make it difficult to live in an area, drive customers away and make the area a less attractive place to work, live or visit. It is not cruel to expect and insist upon minimum standards of conduct, uniformly applied. ... All people, whether homeless or not, have a responsibility to conform their behavior to fair public standards."
2. Accept Responsible Neighbors. "Neighbors have a legitimate interest in how people act, not who they are. ... There is no shame in being poor or in being on the road to recovery from substance abuse problems. Such people can and do make good neighbors. The fact that some residents or some customers may prefer to avoid such people is not addressable in a free society."
Whether it is social services offering more beds to the homeless, young people hanging out in the square or myriad other important social concerns, each should be given the opportunity to demonstrate how they will minimize harmful behaviors. The groups should be prepared to address how they intend to proactively handle the real and perceived security concerns. They also should be open to other ideas that achieve the same public service goals. The Commercial Street area, in particular, already is bearing more than its fair share of these services, so the prospect of adding additional programs would require substantial investments in safety and security by the nonprofit agency.
The vibrant downtown communities across our country (Portland, Seattle, New York City, etc.) have discovered positive ways to reconcile the various interests with everyone's point of view considered. They have figured out how to integrate social services more effectively. At the same time, they don't tolerate improper behavior that can be a detriment to healthy street life and the resulting reinvestment in the community.
Two questions remain: "Where are we bound?" and "How long will it take us to get there?"
We can each paddle in different directions, wandering aimlessly and occasionally hitting each other over the head with our oars. Or we can collectively set a course for the horizon and make the most of our limited resources.
The choice is ours.
Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.
