Guess Who is "Making A Scene Downtown" tonight?

[sheclown]

Jerry Moran stood in front of the the entrance of Snyder Church during this evening's art walk.  His goal was to pass out this letter to attendees of Downtown Vision's 10th anniversary celebration.

[sheclown]

[sheclown]

[JeffreyS]

My list would be a bit different but I love his idea of passing out the letter at the meeting.  An effort like this could go a long way.

[sheclown]

Is the woman in the background calling for help?

[brainstormer]

While Jerry can be very outspoken, I admire his guts for taking a stand and demanding a change in the status quo.  This city is so mediocre its pathetic.   

[sheclown]

That is a very large downtown ambassador standing close to him. 

[sheclown]

If downtown wants businesses, especially restaurants and retail, it needs to adjust policies, accordingly. 

[Coolyfett]

Ive read enough of this crappy letter to realize this guy is a lil out of touch...The whole AntiBum messages is overkill! The Jail is fine where it is. benches gone?? All they have to do is install the arm rest/seat divider/sleep preventer on the benchs, get rid of tables?? No no no. There were some good ideas, but removing bums will not bring people downtown.

[Coolyfett]

...Hold a sec...This Moran guy is a member of this site...I had de ju moments reading the letter, he was on the Jazz Fest thread. Northbank is a district for everyone, bums included. Look im not a bum supporter,but no one has the right to kick bums out of Northbank. I say if you over populate the area with normal citizens the bums become the minorities. I know this guy runs a business, but the problem I see is there is not enough businesses bringing in shoppers & diners. Lower the cost so that new business can set up. Northbank is dying because local government is allowing it to. What there to do on a regular basis? What are the options? It will be interesting the opinions to come on this thread. If a certain bum is causing trouble than yea, call police and let them do their job ( I know I know Uptowners, JSO sucks but its Northbank not Springfiled) So JSO should be welcome in the area. Bums use the library, but if normal citizens out number the bums then what? Its a public library the whole ID, Social Security Card, PassPort, Military ID thing is nuts. Dont you need an ID card to use the PCs in there?

[simms3]

Well here is something to ponder: downtown Atlanta and upper Midtown Atlanta (starting at about 5th) are two very different areas, and the biggest difference between them is that upper Midtown has a complete lack of bums while downtown Atlanta has a lot of bums.  Downtown also has a lot of social services facilities, Woodruff Park that isn't even as bum friendly as Hemming, and the jail.  Midtown lacks all of these, has a good police presence (and so does downtown but the police in Midtown are literally bored to tears...they can't even catch speeders), and attractive landscaping.  Of course Midtown also is a great and well funded CID, and the tax increment financing for projects is overseen by Midtown Alliance, which is a board of private businessmen that do not have to answer to elected officials downtown.  Midtown is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the country and I am proud to live in the heart of it.  Due to these simple differences, Crate and Barrel has opened a store, countless hotels have opened (these aren't the large but crappy convention hotels you find downtown but rather upper mid-sized luxury business class hotels), and countless stores and restaurants from chains to independents have opened up.  Outdoor seating is encouraged where there is room, and signs are free to be displayed so long as the signs are appropriate.  Oh and another huge difference is that Midtown has the solar powered machines that accept any form of payment for parking whereas downtown still has coin meters.  The parking machines were paid for by the CID tax increments.

Our downtown is already a CID that is decently funded, so I have to agree with Jerry Moran that we need to put that money to better use and DVI is clearly not it.

[ChriswUfGator]

...Hold a sec...This Moran guy is a member of this site...I had de ju moments reading the letter, he was on the Jazz Fest thread. Northbank is a district for everyone, bums included. Look im not a bum supporter,but no one has the right to kick bums out of Northbank. I say if you over populate the area with normal citizens the bums become the minorities. I know this guy runs a business, but the problem I see is there is not enough businesses bringing in shoppers & diners. Lower the cost so that new business can set up. Northbank is dying because local government is allowing it to. What there to do on a regular basis? What are the options? It will be interesting the opinions to come on this thread. If a certain bum is causing trouble than yea, call police and let them do their job ( I know I know Uptowners, JSO sucks but its Northbank not Springfiled) So JSO should be welcome in the area. Bums use the library, but if normal citizens out number the bums then what? Its a public library the whole ID, Social Security Card, PassPort, Military ID thing is nuts. Dont you need an ID card to use the PCs in there?

If you're so outraged at Jerry's statements concerning the vagrants, then why don't you step up and take them all over to your place?

[sheclown]

I don't see this fight as "Jerry vs. the bums".  I see this as a request to the city to use its resources wisely and dealing with the social problems downtown is an important issue on that list.

[tufsu1]

If you're so outraged at Jerry's statements concerning the vagrants, then why don't you step up and take them all over to your place?

or perhaps we could all suggest some other locations in the City for the social service agencies...you know, areas with little to no neighborhood opposition that also provide access to transportation and other services.

[thelakelander]

I don't have a problem with the letter but punishing everyone because this city refuses to properly deal with the vagrant issue isn't the solution. Removing benches and seats from public parks would be an example of overkill, imo.