In the last article I pointed to the fact that Indiana was ranked 49th of the 50 states on Forbes magazine's published list of America's Greenest States. The depression that set in on contemplating this bit of information was relived by the first fruits of the Indy Green Commission. You can access the first report at http://chapters.usgbc.org/indiana/documents/GreenPrintActionAgendafinal.pdf. Now I personally like the word "Green" because of its wide general inference and its friendly non threatening tone; however, these positive attributes may actually disguise the gravity of the issues facing us. So, for a time, I would like to use the word "Livability" in place of the word "Green" in the context of the same discussion. The Greener, the more Livable. This small change forces us to realize that our state is next to last in the country in Livability.

Having been buoyed by the notion that the city of Indianapolis was actually coming up with ideas for improving the Livability of our city, my hopes were sunk by our man Mitch's 2008 State of the State address. You can read the speech at http://www.indgop.org/newslinks/display.php?NewsID=245. It is no wonder that our state is at the bottom - not a single mention of sustainability, Green, or Livability. These issues don't appear even to be on his horizon. Ironically, under the guise of no more business as usual, he continues to perpetuate last century's growth models that have led to our current low Quality of Life status - policies that enrich the few at the expense of the many with great cost to the environment. Is this progress? Is this improved Livability?

I will expound on these two documents in subsequent articles for they contain much revealing information but here, I want to apply the notion of Livability closer to home - Broad Ripple. On a walk along the trail, Patty and I stopped in Sunflower Market last Saturday to purchase some green bell peppers for a dish we were preparing and were most disturbed to be greeted with a sign that announced the imminent closing of the Market in the next couple of weeks. We briefly discussed the matter with the manager and other staff and it seems that the store did not generate sufficient profits to satisfy food distributor giant Super Value out of Minneapolis the owner of the Sunflower chain. The decision was strictly financial - Livability issues not a consideration.

At the same time, we understand that the plans for a Big Brother's bar to soon occupy the Broad Ripple Trophy Center Building are progressing. Given that police representatives state that 90% of Broad Ripple crime is bar related and that our community continually fights a severe litter problem that includes numerous protein spills (term coined by Rich Bees) generated every weekend, in large part, by the cultural tourists that frequent the bar scene, how is the addition of one more drinking establishment likely to effect the Livability of the residence of the Village?

There is a general notion that if you want to open a restaurant it is good practice to select a location where other restaurants already flourish. The same must also be true of bars - at least it appears that way in Broad Ripple. While economics might not allow the survival of a community asset such as the Market, there seems to be no shortage of profit to be made in bar keeping - but what is the effect on Livability? The fact is that the high profitability of bars makes them formidable competitors in the real-estate market for their operation can afford to absorb much higher rents than a typical small retail store. What is most disturbing is that after the Market liquidates its inventory; the employees manage to find new jobs; and the Market closes its doors, the building will only be affordable to another bar operation - Hooters perhaps?

Twenty years ago Boston experimented with legalization of the seedier social elements and concentrated their activity in an area about the size of downtown Broad Ripple that became known as "The Combat Zone". Perhaps Broad Ripple is destined to become Indianapolis' "Combat Zone" by design, by happenstance, or by economics. On the other hand we could come together and muster the resources to influence our destiny toward a more Livable future. Mounting an effort to keep the market functioning as food store, perhaps as a food co-op, would be a huge undertaking - yet a successful community owned and managed food co-op is not without precedent. Our community could gain much more than fresh locally grown vegetables in the organizing effort. The process will most certainly bring neighbors together in community - the single most important factor of Livability. If interested in what might be possible, please send me an e-mail at the address below.