GONE FOREVER ? ? ?

DOWNTOWNERS PARK GONE ! ! ! !

TREES, GRASS, FLOWERS GONE ! ! ! !

A LITTLE MORE SUNSHINE GONE FOREVER ! ! ! !

The people who rule what happens in Downtown Greensboro have removed the little greenway through the parking lot on South Elm and McGee streets downtown because they claim that nobody used it. People used to use it to eat bag lunches and watch passers-by and enjoy the breeze and the flowers. Neighbors often sat on the benches and had friendly conversations and/or heated discussions.

Of course, not as many people used it after the benches were removed to prevent so-called "homeless people and panhandlers" from sitting on them. Are these people any less because they do not own real estate? Why should it matter who sits on the benches? Most of these people were harmless, non-violent folks. I will admit that they were sometimes annoying but so are the many drunk customers of the bars that frequent downtown after dark. So, should we ban everyone from downtown who is annoying ? I know some people who fit into that group. Maybe some folks would want me banned.

Where does it stop?

What are these planners plotting? What are they thinking? Maybe to make downtown less attractive so people will frequent the alternatives to downtown such as the strip malls and mega shopping centers owned and operated by people who have no financial or nostalgic interest in our traditional downtown.