Why are our public spaces only welcoming to those of us who have other options? Even when we create housing, people want to gather and participate in communal activities.
Very low income and homeless people are encouraged by neighbors & police to "move along" when they spend tim... more
Why are our public spaces only welcoming to those of us who have other options? Even when we create housing, people want to gather and participate in communal activities.
Very low income and homeless people are encouraged by neighbors & police to "move along" when they spend time in parks. Libraries are considering limits on bag size and type of activity allowed. Families in shelters can't afford to pay for soccer leagues and/or swim lessons, and are excluded from community centers.
Let's create more public spaces that welcome everyone. There will be safety concerns--address them. How many of the perceived safety concerns are based real risk vs. a perception that poor people are dangerous?
When people spend time together, they learn to trust each other and be accountable to each other.
clayboy56
Increasingly I am distressed how so much of "community activity" is connected to commerce, implicitly (at best) sending the message that cash to spend is necessary to enjoy, let alone participate in, city life and to interact and connect with other people. Consumerism seems a prerequisite, which seems the wrong message to be sending as we try to live-lightly and more simply.
lauren
absolutely. address the real risk vs. perceived fear and judgments. let's create spaces to be in together! regardless of who you are, how much money you have, or what beliefs you operate under...we need to learn to trust our human family. Now! Give us Space to do it In that is safe, free, and can be beautified by the people. Yes. It's time.