I received a message from Bill Bowen, of the Double Dip Deli. You’ll see that he wonders if I will post his full message, attributed to him. Of course I will, thereby giving his friends, patrons, etc., the opportunity to know that he spoke his mind, as it were. (What he writes would mean no more or less if he wrote without attribution, but if he wants the notice, so be it.)
I will post his full message now, and post my reply tomorrow, Wednesday, morning. Mr. Bowen will not be able to say that his message wasn’t published in full.
Dear Mr. Adams,
I fail to understand how you can be for a “Free Whitewater” and yet be so cynical and belittling.
For example, in the following two excerpts, I am astounded that you would disparage the efforts of a group of people who want nothing more than to be proud of and enjoy their community. They have worked very hard on these public art projects, some tirelessly, and have given a part of themselves to the community. Yet you state that they are “empty municipal gestures”.
First excerpt:
“Our economic development is less about a free market economy than about any number of empty municipal gestures. We could hang birdhouses, or painted chairs and wooden fish, from our lampposts forever and still businesses would close and go elsewhere.”
Second excerpt:
Q: Why do you want to embarrass/criticize the town?
A: Reform and growth begin with honesty, not whitewash and Potemkin villages. We have some great possibilities before us, but some of our fellow residents have been treated with outrageous cruelty and official indifference, lies, and excuses. All the birdhouses hanging from lampposts will not undo the damage that, for example, our police force has recently inflicted on hardworking people.
I am even more surprised that as a self professed expert on our city, you apparently don’t understand the difference between a “municipal gesture” and the commitment this group of individuals has shown toward making our city just a little bit nicer place to live. Creativity and commitment is something to be regarded and respected. It can provide innovative solutions to real problems. It certainly does not deserve the irreverence you have shown it.
These projects were created not only by accomplished artists, but also by everyday individuals and some even as family projects. Who are you to belittle them? Even if this was not your original intention, the connotation is certainly there. Talk about cruelty.
The only part of the entire project that could be considered a “municipal gesture” would be 1) the fact that permission was granted to do these projects and 2) the city crews, which I have read you don’t have any respect for either, assisted in securing the works to the lamp posts. By the way, you should try some of the jobs they do on a daily basis.
I will also tell you that these types of projects have helped me stay in business in Whitewater. Aside from the additional foot traffic downtown, which translates to additional sales, it sometimes is just to nice know that people are willing to try, which helps me hang in there and try a little harder.
I doubt you will actually post this publicly, but if you do I would very much appreciate 1) you do include my name, I am proud of my viewpoints and welcome direct discourse on differing opinions and 2) post it’s entirety, paraphrases can often be misleading. I expect though that the name will be withheld because “Our policy is…blah, blah” or “It is not our mission to…blah, blah, blah” etc, etc.
Speaking honestly,
Bill Bowen
The Double Dip Deli
Wednesday: Adams replies.