Taking down Downtown
I am writing this letter in response to a glaring oversight in what you have chosen to cover. Namely, the unsung heroes of Downtown Charlottesville, the vigilant, selfless and tireless workers of the Bureau of Commerce Prevention. Often overshadowed by the more publicly known and attention-seeking City Council, whose bidding the BCP often does, these are the true heroes, the ones without whom City Council would be nothing but a formal exercise in policy-making, a wellspring of well-intentioned but strictly hypothetical ideas, an ivory tower of idealism.
The little-known BCP has been hard at work in Charlottesville, focusing much of its energy on the un-development of Charlottesville’s Historical Downtown. As many of us know, “historical” here is a misnomer: The Downtown remains, to this day, vital, modern, a center of culture, commerce, and social activity. Indeed, the task of making Downtown Charlottesville “history” is a daunting one. But the fearless men and women of the BCP face it unflinchingly. Here are just a few of their recent victories:
1) Parking prevention. Downtown Charlottesville is a “modern” city superimposed on an older gridwork, one that pre-dates the ascendancy of the automobile as the transportation mode of choice in America. This being the case, parking Downtown is inherently very difficult, and no one would think that would be enough for most drivers to eschew downtown altogether. But no; wily, would-be consumers continued to locate parking spots, or else (note the depravity here) began traveling by alternate modes of transportation, such as bicycles! Some even walked from as far away as Belmont. I sometimes secretly admire the determination and creativeness of these drivers, shoppers and employees, were their goal so antithetical to a peaceful and depressed way of life. Thankfully, the BCP has been unrelenting in eliminating parking wherever possible, ticketing shoppers and workers alike, raising fines and parking prices [“Some parking rates go up,” 7 Days, January 4] and taking a stance against the “rolling menace,” bicycles and skateboards. As we speak, the BCP is working closely with local police to combat pedestrianism by empowering the law enforcement agents to stop those walking the familiar routes to downtown for questioning. The message is clear: The BCP means business!
2) Combating the café threat. As we know, one of the great dangers to society is outdoor dining. Yet frighteningly, this trend has been increasing in our community, with much of the activity centered Downtown. Last spring, I was walking with my 7-year-old son when I looked up and saw a man sitting outside, drinking a latte right out in the open. Ignoring my son’s queries, I rushed him to my car (which, reassuringly, had a $35 parking ticket on its windshield) and drove straight to a proper mall with recognizable retail franchises. My son was quickly distracted by the healthy array of video games and cheap plastic toys produced by Asian sweatshop labor, but the image of that man drinking a latte haunted me for days. In light of this traumatic experience, I was glad to see that the BCP had all outdoor furniture removed from the Downtown Mall this year, taking a strong stance against those who hope to make Charlottesville some sort of haven for businesses and residents. I was even more reassured when unseasonably warm weather arrived and a few restaurants put out a table or two to accommodate those decadent customers who wanted to indulge their filthy outdoor dining habit. They were immediately chastised, and the tables removed posthaste.
Really, the efforts of the BCP are too numerous for me to detail here, which is why I believe a cover story on these guardians of justice is merited. Need I remind you that only a year ago, Charlottesville was publicly disgraced by being named No. 1 city to live in the United States? Have we already forgotten those dark days? It seems we have, for we fail to appreciate and support the efforts of those who would help make this city more like every other city in America, keeping culture at bay and tourists away. I, for one, salute these brave men and women, and believe that they are the ones who will help downtown become history again.
Michael Rodi
Charlottesville