Sunday, September 16, 2007
Freedom in America: Old Money vs. Old Skaters
Everyday living in Fayetteville, North Carolina I am rudely reminded of that “society.” Anytime unabashedly I embark on a pleasure seeking adventure, I immediately am reminded I do not live on my own playground. In fact I live precariously in the middle of property that is overtly private, policed by the state, and taxed by the government. The only thing making it free is that idea in my own head. It used to be we felt free in America. I never thought that as soon as my feet touched the curb at the street I was on Uncle Sam’s property. I never thought riding my bike to the 7/11 in summer when my tires touched they sidewalk they were on “private property.” Of course they were. You could consider government property private, but is it? Of course not. It is paid for by citizens’ tax dollars. Only elected officials with dementia powerful enough could construe government property private. Again the traditions of the Old South prevail. Those with money seem to think because they possess money they are in power. Downtown Fayetteville is a prime example of a confused and mislead business philosophy. It is both inclusive and exclusive. To whom it is what is what is in question. The Downtown Fayetteville Organization has been passing out incentives to attract merchants to the historical block of Old Fayetteville. Over the last three decades multiple attempts have been made to revitalize downtown Fayetteville. The city succeeded in “cleaning up” the 500th Block of Hay St. I’m not sure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. Suddenly all of those G.I.’s stationed at Ft. Bragg had no where to go to buy beer, hang out, and scope the few available loose women in Fayetteville. Back then I didn’t mind people calling Fayetteville Fayettnam, because with that title came the by products. There were strip clubs. There were bars. There was action. Life was teeming. There didn’t seem to be ghetto, gang, drug dealers anywhere. Old Money succeeded in cleaning up Fayettenam just like Rudy cleaned up Times Square. In marches Disney in all their glory. Broadway shows became Disneyized. Are we living American life in a cartoon? It sure feels like it. The mayor decided to make it illegal in that historical block of Old Fayetteville to ride any type of vehicle that didn’t have a motor and a license. Are you getting this? In a town that hosts the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army, someone is saying you can’t ride a bicycle downtown. They are discouraging tourism to the very place they are trying to revitalize. St. Maarten Island in the Caribbean is a huge tourist destination. Cruise ships dock here every day and tourists walk the miles of pavement scouring the hundreds of shops. Often when I walk the streets no one is buying. There is a lot of activity, but no one is buying or selling. Isn’t the whole idea of commerce to buy and sell? If this is not happening than the dynamic or the environment is prohibitive. Someone is not making the buyer feel comfortable and safe enough to put their trust in a merchant selling a product. That is the failed model in Fayetteville. While urban areas continue to make Old Money simply because the masses at Ft. Bragg must be fed, more exclusive areas are shooting themselves in the foot. Making a value judgment that merchants only want customers who drive cars is a civil rights violation. Not only does this contradict every possible rational philosophy (clean air, exercise, pollution, etc.) it is a bigoted idea. It can be seen only from the eyes of merchants that are being exclusive in their practices. Why would anyone see fit to restrict the use of recreational vehicles, whether they were in a business district or not? Is it not possible to ride a bicycle to the movies? There is a movie theatre downtown. Is it not possible to ride roller blades to a restaurant? Is it not possible to ride a skateboard to a store to buy a jacket? It is not the place of merchants or mayors to make these decisions. These are inalienable rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, and for Fayetteville merchants to be partner to any such ordinances is a gross violation of Fayetteville civil rights. “Sorry massah. Do I have permission to come into your store to buy some fucking mint julip? I can’t afford a car, so I just drive this a little here cart with my three wheeled bicycle.” Sorry Leroy. Suddenly you are a sub par citizen and your presence is not wanted in the downtown block of Fayetteville. It is true Fayetteville has a homeless problem. Most cities do. We have indigent criminals everywhere, but a reckless, short-sighted, bandaid aimed at out-of-work loiterers is the wrong approach. If the town could fill its 30 vacant police spots and begin to enforce its existing laws like our Federal Government, then we would have a better starting place.