By Jacqueline Oates
Good folks,
I
read in Yes Weekly that Bulent Bediz was arrested in the Glenwood
neighborhood while the city was impounding cars on his property. While I
understand that there has been an ongoing issue regarding unregistered
vehicles in Greensboro, this is disturbing on another level.
Several
years ago amid great fanfare, Greensboro council members brought in
Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class to discuss
raising the quality of life for people in small cities by concentrating
on attracting people rather than corporations. If I remember correctly,
the major foundations as well as the city council applauded this concept
and it was applied with some success to lower Elm Street. It was
wonderful to see hardworking, joy-giving creative people begin to turn
the scary-empty buildings near Lee into havens for diverse ideas and
artwork. Of course, the inevitable gentrification is now occurring since
the the less wealthy made a go of those blocks and the creatives are
getting squeezed out by the privileged. But that's ok I guess, that's
how things go in business districts.
This
leads to why I am so concerned about Bulent. He has concentrated on an
area that is not right smack downtown. He has created skilled employment
opportunities and re-purposed fine materials that would otherwise end
up in land fills. He has concentrated his efforts on an area that would
make being an artist or a creative in Greensboro economically plausible.
He has taken his artistic vision to a real working poor and middle
class area and created bit by bit exactly what Richard Florida spoke of
so well. Neighborhoods are people and people who care about communities
and dedicate their time/ work/ talent/ lives need to be nurtured.
I
know that collectively you folks can come up with a strategy that won't
discourage good folks like Bulent who wish to make better neighborhoods
for all of us, not just the monied classes.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline
