Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Those ghost-town blues: I'm DNCed out. I'll probably have plenty to say about the big convention bust later. Been very busy. Until then, Reader No. 1 writes in:
"Will John Edwards cite the gap during DNC Week between the North End pizza shops and sold-out Radius in his speech tonight as an example of the Two Americas?"
Reader No. 1 also highly recommends Steve Bailey's column this morning.
FYI-- I have a hunch the mayor and media could go to war over the economic debacle. I also have a hunch the public will blame both for the pre-DNC hype warnings -- and the failure to recognize the probability and potential impact of a Ghost Town USA instead of Gridville USA.
FYI II -- If you have time, get into the city tonight or Thursday. Really. It’s historic. It’s surreal. It has to be seen to believed. ... I’ve already called up some friends and relatives urging them to head on in, by public transit, to see the delegates, protesters, limos, security, and to be part of history with a very small 'h' etc. But the obviously more facinating thing is the empty streets, open parking spaces on Charles and Newbury streets, near empty restaurants, closed stores. ... Maybe in the end we can learn some negative-positive lessons from all this. Sort of like the earthquake that devastated San Francisco's elevated freeway near its waterfront, a tragedy that led to great post-disaster decisions to just clear out the debris and permanently open up the city's waterfront. The huge drop in foot traffic in Boston this week was horrendous, but the sharp decline in road traffic was hugely PLEASANT. Can't we find a way to permanetly reduce traffic but still get the people into the city? Come into town Thursday to see for yourself what Boston could resemble. ... More on this later.
"Will John Edwards cite the gap during DNC Week between the North End pizza shops and sold-out Radius in his speech tonight as an example of the Two Americas?"
Reader No. 1 also highly recommends Steve Bailey's column this morning.
FYI-- I have a hunch the mayor and media could go to war over the economic debacle. I also have a hunch the public will blame both for the pre-DNC hype warnings -- and the failure to recognize the probability and potential impact of a Ghost Town USA instead of Gridville USA.
FYI II -- If you have time, get into the city tonight or Thursday. Really. It’s historic. It’s surreal. It has to be seen to believed. ... I’ve already called up some friends and relatives urging them to head on in, by public transit, to see the delegates, protesters, limos, security, and to be part of history with a very small 'h' etc. But the obviously more facinating thing is the empty streets, open parking spaces on Charles and Newbury streets, near empty restaurants, closed stores. ... Maybe in the end we can learn some negative-positive lessons from all this. Sort of like the earthquake that devastated San Francisco's elevated freeway near its waterfront, a tragedy that led to great post-disaster decisions to just clear out the debris and permanently open up the city's waterfront. The huge drop in foot traffic in Boston this week was horrendous, but the sharp decline in road traffic was hugely PLEASANT. Can't we find a way to permanetly reduce traffic but still get the people into the city? Come into town Thursday to see for yourself what Boston could resemble. ... More on this later.
