From 1921 (photo credit).
This tweet yesterday caught my attention.
Designing a “walkable” downtown primarily for suburban people to drive there and spend money is a recipe for failure.
— David Wagoner (@dfwagoner) August 1, 2021
By extension, I’d add that whenever any city’s movers and shakers mention “quality of life,” it needs to be in the narrow context of existing residents. If our own people have a fair shake and enjoy living here, outsiders will come and visit. Tourism generally is good — and dogs wag their tails, not the other way around.
Having noted this caveat, one more point before I slip away: familiarity can breed self-criticism, often merited, but at other times not so much. We can forget what makes us interesting and unique as a community, and it’s helpful now and then to recall the positives.
I needn’t recap Louisville’s numerous socio-economic, political and social justice issues. They mirror America’s, and my...
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