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Revitalize Downtown (stolen blog)
http://www.myspace.com/backthedowntownplan
Downtown Meeting - Striking a Nerve
Category: News and Politics
Striking a Nerve
By Armando
On Thursday, June 29th, a friend and I attended the City meeting at Album Park concerning the proposed Downtown Plan.
My friend, Adriana, and I were the first to arrive, so when we got in, I showed her the maps of the proposed areas that would be affected by this plan, and I gave her a general overview of how the plan would work. She had questions, naturally, so I tried explaining the ins and outs of the plan as best I could.
The basic structure of the meeting was this: A few comments from the City spokesperson explaining how the plan had come into being and how it was funded; a presentation from a member of the planning group hired to create the plan, SMWM (Planners); and finally, a public comment session where anyone could speak to the panel and those attending.
This was the second meeting I was attending. The first was held earlier in the month at the convention center, and it was highly heated, with opponents basically taking over the public comment portion of the meeting. The opponents, or the loud few as I like to refer to them, consist of a small number of business owners and residents who attend every meeting. These few always say the same thing, offer very little in the way of constructiveness, and speak for too long, not allowing others to speak.
So going into it, I knew what to expect.
The first two sections of the meeting went off as planned, and so it entered into the public comment portion, and thats where things got interesting.
The first to speak was an elderly woman who began by asking what would happen to the Mills building. Her second concern was that the conceptual drawings of the renovated downtown contained many different bright colors that she felt would be unattractive. Understand that, as much as these comments seem like questions, opponents of the plan dont really want to hear the answers. They just dont want this to happen, and they want everyone to know it.
The second to comment was a younger woman, probably in her 40s, who wanted to say that she felt that El Paso was a suburban city, and the idea of creating an urban downtown was out of reach for our community.
Aaaaahhhh! The status quo mentality! Absurd. Leave things the way they are? Just for the sake of leaving them the way they are?
During these first two speakers, I was jotting down bullets about what I wanted to say when I got my chance. Well, my chance came quickly. I was the third to speak
At this point, I would say that the crowd was probably half and half, judging by applause. My nerves were definitely climbing. There were a good 50 to 60 people in attendance, and I was sitting towards the back, so everyone had to kind of shift to see me.
I began by praising the City and the Planners for their wonderful vision and drive in having created the plan in the first place. I continued, saying that as a young adult, the idea of creating a world-class Downtown in El Paso excited me, especially compared to the current state of Downtown.
Here are the points I touched on (the bullets I had written down):
Its all of our Downtown, no matter which part of town you currently live in.
Some have argued that those who reside there should be allowed to redevelop themselves. Its obvious that this has not occurred in decades. A strong revitalization plan is needed for big change.
An opponent had previously chided the Planners use of the word catalyst because he claimed that a catalyst is something that causes a violent explosion. I wanted to correct this interpretation, stating that a catalyst is something that speeds up a reaction.
High End Retail Myth: The plan wants to introduce Mixed Retail, which means that Downtown would contain a good mix of commercial businesses that would cater to all income levels, not just the current low-end retail which is in place. The media has continuously used high end and upscale when describing what the Planners have in mind, making it seem like there would be no other type of retail, which is ludicrous. Of course, there would probably be a section of Downtown which would have upscale stores, like in most major cities, but certainly not all of Downtown.
Take a Walk Downtown: I explained how cofounder Josh and I took a walk Downtown through the areas that would be affected most by this plan, and how we were struck over and over by the deplorable conditions that the buildings were in, and especially overwhelmed by the ridiculous living conditions endured by those living there. I suggested that everyone should take this same walk and see for themselves how much downtown is in desperate need of saving. Its dying a saddening death.
Opponents: I expressed frustration at seeing opponents hijack these meetings over and over, and was glad to have the chance, as a supporter, to speak about how I felt. I made clear that I was certainly not alone.
SMWM: I suggested that everyone take a look at SMWMs website and see the experience and quality of work that the Planners have. I also stated that a plan put forward by anyone else, such as the opponents or a City Councilperson, could not compare to this Downtown Plan, created by professionals whose expertise is in redevelopment projects.
Young Adults leaving El Paso: I expressed sadness at the fact that so many young adults leave our wonderful city. Improving Downtown means improving Quality of Life for the entire city, not just that area. A vibrant, successful Downtown would do wonders in luring large companies to our city that pay well, and increasing the likelihood that a brain drain could be stopped. No other single project, like the renovation of Downtown, would have the chance to improve Quality of Life in such a positive manner.
I touched a little on the comment made earlier about the Mills building, and cleared up the fact that it was in the Historic Incentive District which would give the building owner incentives to improve the building. I also responded to the comment concerning the different bright colors which might be used by saying that a short walk down El Paso Street would yield storefronts currently painted in ridiculous colors, bright yellow, aquamarine, pink, with lettering falling off. We dont have to wait for this plan to be implemented to have insulting bright colors on building; its already there!
Whew, I was done! I thanked everyone for listening to my comments, and sat down.
Then, the rumbling really began. About five of the next six speakers were opponents of the plan and they all either pointed at me, referred to something I had said, or spoke to me directly! While this was happening, I was getting more and more upset. This was quite unexpected. They were irate!
Adriana spoke a short while later, and added lots of fuel to the fire! This further enraged the opponents, the loud few.
As more and more people commented, more and more supporters left. It is frustrating to sit there and listen to so much negativity. Loads of it. No forward thinking. No good ideas. Just a bunch of loud, obstructive naysayers. There were moments I wanted to get up and go, but Adriana kept me there. And she was right. Its important to sit there and not budge, especially after speaking my mind.
The meeting ended, and Adriana and I sat there for a moment, composing ourselves, when all of a sudden a woman came and sat behind us. She told me she was so proud of how I had stood and spoke, knowing how difficult it must be feeling like youre all alone in your support. Her name was Becky, and she was one of the organizers of Somos El Paso. And I was so glad that she approached us. We sat and spoke for a few minutes about what was going on, the rally, plans for the future. And it just felt great.
Then suddenly, a young couple sat on our other side, and indicated that they too wanted to get involved.
Adriana and I left the rec. center, and walked quickly to our car, joking that some of the opponents might try and run us over.
In the car, we realized something All of the commotion after we spoke, all of the references to what we had said, the pointing and wagging of fingers, the negativity it all meant something:
We struck a nerve!
The reason so many opponents reacted to us as they did was because they had not seen anything like it. What? Whats this? Young, mature, well spoken individuals in support of the Downtown plan, speaking at these meetings? Unheard of! No longer.
We struck a nerve.
Now, the really important meeting comes. Monday, July 10th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Convention Center, a special City Council Meeting will occur where Council Members will vote on the final plan. Supporters must be present to make some noise, show that there are many of us out there that Back the Downtown Plan.
Lets do this! Lets make our city great!
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