SOMA

Speaking of urban boom and blight:
I’m watching a lot of Ypsi folks get very excited about the fact that Matt and Renee opened a new “tasting room” in Ypsi. While I think generally new, locally owned business is probably good business, I have an issue. Somehow people think that a new bar is of the same urban viability class as other businesses. That it is to be celebrated, name dropped and (briefly) mobbed into. This is particularly true here in A2. I contend it is not a sign of viability. I contend this is some creepy form of Manhattan envy.

Everyone has seen decayed cities where the only active businesses left are bars on every corner. Bars are not an indicator of economic stability. Pinning ones urban planning hopes on bars is not a viable option. New bars become old bars VERY quickly. If the neighborhood does not have a reasonable grocery store and other community friendly business the bar becomes a liability not an asset.

The real issue here I suppose is my ongoing peeve with alcohol culture in this society. I really hate it. The idea that otherwise intelligent, responsible, and community minded people will overlook the negative impact of alcohol culture on their environment, likely because they are living an alcohol infused lifestyle and just don’t want to examine the realities and impact on them, their friends and families, neighbors and neighborhoods, really bums me out.