I admit fully to having issue with getting link to work. But after I read this great article by Jeff Chirico I had to share it.
I won’t embarrass myself by paraphrasing Jeff’s articulate words but suffice it to say that he voiced what some of us have noted recently.
There seemed to be an up-tick in police presence in Rittenhouse Square.
Now many of you will be saying to yourself that there has been an increase in violence in the park this past year and that is why the park security has increased.
But is it the park that is the real issue?
Hasn’t violence been increasing city-wide?
“Historic walls” aside young and old have been have been sitting on these walls and hanging out for generations-and the walls have held up fine.
There seems to be a contingent of minority students that come from local schools there and according to a friend there has been sanctions against the kids breakdancing.
But magic tricks are ok?
Am I reading into this?
Funny. The park authorities don’t seem to have an issue with the homeless napping on the benches for hours, people begging for food, foraging in the trash and defecating in the pristine landscape. But breakdancers?
And they have an issue with office workers eating lunch, hipsters playing guitars, and students relaxing because they sit on the “hallowed walls.”
Yes, there has been violence increase but thats just endemic of a larger issue.
Think New Orleans in the nineties. I was there.
I see the park as a microcosm of gentrification issues throughout the city.
The walls are the first step. What’s next?
This isn’t going to get better unless we seek solutions that embrace inclusion.
And just not for Nannies.
What are your thought?