I appreciated both James Slowik's letter ("Occupy's Scope Needs Broadening") and the guest commentary by Susan Orr and Jim Johnson ("Our Occupiers, the Mayor, and Rochester's 13 Percent"), both on the Occupy Rochester movement, in the November 23 City.
I completely agree with Slowik's "expanded" indictment of Wall Street to include the Federal Reserve and our government in general - with richly deserved special mentions for Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama. I now have his suggested reading "The Secret History of Empire" near the top of my reading list.
But no one in Occupy disagrees that government, bought and sold by a Mega Corporation Near You, is somehow exempt from Occupy's critique of issues. My suggestion and hope is that Slowik and others who may wonder what "Occupy" is will stop in and visit at Washington Square Park. While there, check out the schedule for General Assembly meetings and attend one. If you have anything wool to discard, bring and donate it to a cold and wet Occupy Rochester.
Maybe centrists would not be easily persuaded, but the dialog would be "user friendly." You can, if so inclined, join Occupy as a "remote occupier" like me. One caveat: we are not interested in hashing out endless disagreements in unending and unendable bull sessions; this is unhelpful in the continuing effort to shape and adapt ourselves to finding the means to bring about significant change.
Prior to Occupy Wall Street, there had been no sign of significant positive change in this country for decades, and that which has arisen by virtue of Occupy (namely expanding the national dialog beyond the prison-like confines proscribed and prescribed by the Main Stream Media) is a bare beginning towards what is urgently needed. That makes Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Rochester a movement in the process of self discovery. A self discovery is taking place in a full-blown, deliberate participatory democracy.
MIKE CONNELLY
Comments for "OCCUPY: Visit Washington Square Park and contribute " (1)
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John said on Dec. 09, 2011 at 10:12pm
There are some very good reasons to be excited about the future of Rochester. In the past few days, the D&C has spread the good news about the Genesee Brewing Company adding a brew house and visitors center in the High Falls area. Buckingham Properties has skillfully brought back and will continue to re-develop the area around the old Genesee Hospital facility at Alexander and Monroe. With the waterfront re-development in Charlotte, the Midtown project in full swing and how vehemently the SouthWedge came roaring back, there is more optimism and excitement about the revitalization of City of Rochester than there has been in many, many years.
Yet, with all of this optimism, there is one place that is definitely going downhill. I am talking about The Village Gate. What used to be a funky, artsy, eclectic urban mall is now fast becoming just another restaurant row and cold, industrial office space.
If you have seen the news lately, you are aware of the upcoming changes. For Stern Properties to be shuffling and kicking out long term tenants for a Brazilian restaurant is just this side of criminal. Those who have been to Brazilian restaurants in other cities will attest, they are great…the first time. Sure they are trendy, (or were trendy 5 year ago) but after that, reality sets in. Brazilian restaurants are far too segmented and specialized for regular dining. Rochester is way too small and blue collar to support this type of establishment long term.
Also, instead of having a fun night club (like Johnny’s ) that more people could enjoy, they are adding a Jazz lounge. With listenership of Jazz music in steady decline, the average age of the Jazz listener alarmingly high and well known Jazz clubs closing all over the country, why would anyone think Rochester is going to support another Jazz lounge? This is NOT New Orleans, so let’s get real!
It is obvious to anyone who frequents The Village Gate that there needs to be new and better retail shops. With some forward thinking, it seems like an easy task to attract small art galleries, antique, jewelry, music or the myriad of other types of retail stores. The existing restaurants would benefit greatly from the traffic created by the retail shops and vice versa. These are the same restaurants that received much revenue over the summer from the music brought to The Village Gate by Bop Shop owner, Tom Kohn. How will this revenue be replaced? I guess Tom was not given the credit for how much he helped the restaurants when the decision was made to give him the boot.
It is obvious that Stern Properties is not up to the task of managing this property. It is dark, often dirty, barren and the ancient carpets are just plain nasty. There is rarely any holiday or other events…in a place that screams for them. The art on the second floor while well done, is laughably cold, impersonal and uninviting. Oh and by the way, rusted sheet steel is NOT flooring or wall covering!
What Stern Properties lacks more than anything else is vision. I challenge anyone to go to The Village Gate NOT think of what an asset it could be and how much better this grand old building could be utilized. Stern Properties has been given many years develop this property. They have failed miserably! It is time for the City of Rochester to get involved to see that The Village Gate reaches its potential and becomes an asset we can all be proud to support.
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