People Are "Visual Blight"?!?!
The Star this morning included a quotation that I sincerely hope makes people stop and think. Regarding a proposal to ban street performers,
Representatives of the Plaza, downtown and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce endorsed the proposal, calling panhandling a matter of public safety and “visual blight.”Folks, when you catch yourself seriously describing your fellow human beings, no matter what their circumstances, as "visual blight", you need to stop and think hard about the path you're on.
Labels: kansas city
posted by Dan at 2/15/2007 10:32:00 PM
5 Comments:
These "representatives" care about one thing, money. If there is a public safety concern, and there probably are some panhandlers who pick pockets, etc., then deal with that .. add police or whatever.
Snobs
Here is another gem of a quote:
"The panhandlers' actions detract from the ambience, the pleasant experience that is the Country Club Plaza," said Gary Brady with Highwoods Properties.
"...the ambience, the pleasant experience that is the Country Club Plaza,' said Gary Brady with Highwoods Properties."
Yeah, nothing like the scent of horse dung to accompany you on your stroll through their streets.
Dan, your last sentence says it all perfectly.
I attended the council meeting, and I agree, most only care about $$. Under their proposed ordinance, my family and I will also be eliminated as part of the 'blight'. We are street performers. My husband and I are balloon artists, our son is a jazz musician. They want us gone, they want the panhandlers gone - well at least not in their backyard. The proposed ordinance only 'protects' certain affluent areas. The 'dangerous' panhandlers can go bother other people. follow my take on this ordinance at www.kcstreetart.org
RUCKUS did a great show on this...Yael described it as "a solution looking for a problem" - KC doesn't have a problem with panhandling. Someone else said it was an ordinance to keep the people from the suburbs from being made "uncomfortable" by poverty.
White people from Johnson County make me feel uncomfortable - whose going to protect me?
Ridiculous...
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