The problem is that in, er, diverse communities with vastly differing standards of conduct among demographics, "public" spaces quickly transform into places decent folk fear to venture, so that those with means create private spaces and private associations that are safe, clean and civilized. I believe the city stopped hosting Halloween festivities at Farnum because of a succession of brawls and even a stabbing. We're not legally allowed to protect our public spaces from certain slices of the population that are low IQ, and prone to theft and violence. So how well do these airy fairy, hippie dippie proposals inevitably turn out?
The problem is that in, er, diverse communities with vastly differing standards of conduct among demographics, "public" spaces quickly transform into places decent folk fear to venture, so that those with means create private spaces and private associations that are safe, clean and civilized. I believe the city stopped hosting Halloween festivities at Farnum because of a succession of brawls and even a stabbing. We're not legally allowed to protect our public spaces from certain slices of the population that are low IQ, and prone to theft and violence. So how well do these airy fairy, hippie dippie proposals inevitably turn out?