Room for Both for Growth
The layered and willful ignorance displayed in the two letters focusing on locality, which appeared in the July 11 LEO Weekly, is unfortunately not surprising. Consider this an address to both.
Most citizens want Louisville to grow into the metropolis it has been masquerading as for years. The fallacy that the form of economic development needed to accelerate such growth can be bred solely from local boutiques, shops and eateries is the same line of shit currently being fed to the American people in national doses. Wake up.
Small businesses are not the main engines of economic prosperity. The meager and often transient nature of their staffs, coupled with shallow business models that generally perpetuate inefficient and harmful practices, serve to stagnate a 21st-century economy rather than act as a catalyst for its expansion.
Any business, no matter the size, selling overpriced and unnecessary goods (I am looking at you, Kevin Burris) is a symptom of the disease that acts to weaken modern capitalism, not strengthen it. These ventures, many of which can be categorized as small or local, are at best a short-term fix to an issue so complex most refuse to even consider its scope.
There are approximately 30 Starbucks in this city of roughly 700,000 for a reason. I would wager many who protest in this manner are all in a line at some point.
Will I shop at Urban Outfitters? No. Would I pay $20 for an equally garish T-shirt from a local vendor? No. I have more sense than that. Does another international chain mean the death of localism? Of course not. When will we realize that sustained success is born from a composite of ideas and practices?
Lucas Diamond, Crescent Hill
Get In Line
When is it going to end? Seriously … a full page “ad” for job-seeking John Timmons (LEO Weekly Music Issue, July 11). And he says he doesn’t want to do hard labor? That’s good to know. Who does? How long do we have to hold his local hand while he gets through this rough time? Who hasn’t been affected by the job market? Who doesn’t have bills — big, local bills? His story is many people’s — many local people’s story. How many casseroles do we have to prepare for his freezer? Who else gets radio time to train with Duke? Should we start taking up a collection now for his local cemetery plot at Cave Hill?
I hope next week you give someone like local artist Mark Anthony Mulligan the opportunity of a full-page spread to showcase what he can offer the local scene.
Danal Sudduth, Buechel
Loved to Life
With regard to your article on the Red River Gorge (LEO Weekly, July 4), thank you to the Red River Gorge Trail Crew for their hard work and Sean Patrick Hill for giving them credit. Just like at the Gorge, Louisville recognizes the many people who volunteer in the Frederick Law Olmsted Parks each year, tending to trails, trash, mulch and invasive plants. Olmsted Parks Conservancy greatly appreciates the time these volunteers give.
But also, just like the Gorge, Louisville’s urban parks are “loved to death.” Thousands of people use these wonderful green spaces to hike, bike, walk, run and picnic. Unfortunately, many park users are not park caretakers. “It’s Metro Louisville’s responsibility. I pay taxes for the city to take care of the parks.” That’s a cry we hear often. But times have changed, and our taxes aren’t enough. It takes a willing community to ensure we have healthy parks.
We need the community to make a commitment to pick up their picnic trash, not leave a mess in the restroom facility, follow the trail rules, volunteer in the parks, and donate funds to improve park health. Go to olmstedparks.org for volunteer dates and how to donate. It’s your city, your green space. Care for it.
Liz DeHart, director of marketing, Olmsted Parks Conservancy
