arc of time

remember that phrase?

we used to use it as kids to basically say to someone, “well of course. everyone knows that. how obvious can you be.’

well i have a great example and it deals pretty squarely with what thomas wheatley once described as ‘atlanta’s little transit agency that could.’

as i mentioned i haven’t blogged much at all on this trip, but i was reading ben’s blog this morning, and in particular his ajc recap, and it pointed me to an article that just had to be commented on.

the article deals with a police effort to actually *gasp* try to clean up barbara asher square at five points.

some comment on the whole thing, in a minute but first the ‘no duh’ quote from the ajc article”

“A normal person can walk through and get a negative impression of the city of Atlanta,” said Lt. Wayne Whitmire, assistant zone commander for the area.

HAH!

you think?

even funnier is councilman kwanza hall’s statement:

Said Kwanza Hall, the City Council member who represents the area, “This is our front doorstep to the world, and it should not look and feel like crap.”

wow. now that’s some bluntness. anyway, they are both right. barbara asher square is horrendous as is the default open air bus terminal at alabama and broad. but i am of a torn mind about this. i understand how the overwhelming blackness of these areas and the high degree of loitering, selling of pirated cds and individual cigarettes and homeless people milling around hurts both downtown and marta ridership. i once wrote about my own prejudices in this area and i know others like me feel similarly suited.

but day-in-day-out as i have walked through barbara asher square or stood waiting on a bus at alabama and broad, i have come to realize most of my fears are unfounded and often the carnival of life going on here has become an integral part of my daily experience.

so as a marta consumer who knows increased ridership would improve the service immensely, and as a city resident who knows a reviatlized downtown would do wonders for quality of life and the cities tax base, i hope the police are successful.

but as someone who enjoys the diversity and uniqueness of the experience and who has come to appreciate who dealing with it daily has forced me to confront, recognize and deal with inherent prejudice, i will be sad if they do…..