[Peace-discuss] lowe's: Good idea.

[Morton K.Brussel]

I like and subscribe to the idea that there should be public space—not 
only for  parking, but for recreation and civic activities—available at 
the N. Prospect shopping plaza. A miniature Hyde Park would be nice.

The city should be encouraged to promote this, and help pay for it . 
One might also approach the managers of the area with such a proposal.

Mort B.

On Sunday, Mar 23, 2003, at 14:14 US/Central, C. G. Estabrook wrote:
> ....

>
> We're trying to preach in privatized, commercial space.  That's why 
> we're
> there -- to talk to the people who are going to the stores.  But it's 
> been
> pointed out that modern retail forms represent another privatization of
> the commons -- there's no public square for us to talk in.
>
> We might solve the immediate problem by moving to the edge, so to 
> speak,
> and walking a bit farther to demonstrate.  We might also point out to
> merchants that they've confiscated public places, with the 
> acquiescence of
> our representative institutions, and they should make some allowances 
> for
> their occupation of that space (as for example "public accommodation 
> laws"
> did as a result of the black civil rights movement.)  Perhaps they 
> could
> avoid asking demonstrators to move their cars (or worse, towing them) 
> if
> their lot is only partly filled.
>
> Perhaps we should also ask out public authorities -- i.e., the 
> Champaign
> City Council (remember to vote April 1 for the Green and AWARE 
> candidate,
> Ken Urban) -- to mandate public access to the "private" parking lots,
> under a reasonable arrangement.
>
> And we probably should point out vigorously to the merchants that we 
> won't
> shop in occupied public space unless that space is in part made 
> available
> for public purposes.
>
> Regards, Carl