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"It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage, than the creation of a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institutions and merely lukewarm defenders in those who would gain by the new ones." Machiavelli
Albany Convention CenterBy DIA, Section News
Paul Bray has a great piece on the Albany convention center and how it may impact the Albany residents vs. the Albany elite. He references a book in the piece that
"Urban Fortunes" by Harvey L. Molotch and former UAlbany professor John R. Logan explains what makes winners and losers when it comes to our cities. It describes the inherent conflict between local elites seeking "exchange value" -- to make money from urban land through projects like stadiums, malls and convention centers -- and residents who seek funding to support "use value" to satisfy essential needs like public safety and education. Local elites usually win.The elites have certainly won in Albany. But then again, most of the "elites" that benefit from this project don't actually live in Albany. Albany is like their own little third world country. It should be stripped of any potential natural resources to enrich the elites and the residents should be ignored. If you ignore them long enough they get wiped out by tigers or droughts or urban gang warfare. It's a proven strategy. Another example of this exchange value vs. use value would be when the 10 neighborhood associations opposed the illegal spot rezoning of property for the Walgreens strip mall. Put another check in the win column for the elites. They've got quite a winning streak going.
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All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Comments are owned by the Poster. The Rest © 2005 The Management