This part of the post recalls events as they happened today Aug 3, 2009.
For those of you viewing this on facebook, you can view the original post here (www.henrickatlarge.blogspot.com)
Well, a few things happened today. First of all, Anika went to the vet. She is now all set to get her international paperwork (pet passport). It was a bit costly, but I also got all the materials (powders, chews, and pills) she needs for the next six months. She even got micro chipped! My dog is technologically enhanced (those of you who know me well know I'm jealous). My dog is a cylon! Today, I am exceptionally proud! I also had some very pleasant , albeit superficial interactions with people today. I haven't seen the aforementioned people in 10 months, and it was good to see them. I miss the neighborhood vibe of JP. Yesterday, I went to a friend's house for a cookout. While there I saw a clip from the upcoming video regarding the debated addition of a dominoes pizza to JP. I really hope they don't open one up here. Funny thing, as I am writing this, I checked Facebook and found this on one of my friends' posts:
"off to stop a Pizza chain moving into JP feeling a tad yuppyish. I guess we would rather not see the Empire's boiler room!"
Link to an article on the proposed site of the new Domino's Pizza on Centre street Here
I guess there is a meeting tonight from the Jamaica Pond society. I am feeling a bit hypocritical. On the one hand, I don't like the idea of even local government controlling who/what kinds of businesses are represented in the local economy. One the other hand, I don't think the neighborhood's social-ecology is a good place for such a business. It simply does not belong (which was the overwelming consensus expressed in the video I saw last night), not to mention that there are too many pizza places in JP already! The proposed sight would be right across the street from an existing pizza-place (Zesto's). I think this neighborhood is at maximum-density for eateries and cafes already (my own opinion). The last thing anybody needs is another 'mozzerella slinger' in town. In a perfect world, I like to think that the market forces would control the amount of corporate retailers in communities. But this is not a perfect world. Corporations have a lot of buying power, as well as backing capital. They can afford to take loses for extended periods of time, undercutting there competition. So maybe commercial ecologies should be protected. I don't know. My principals and my pragmatism are in conflict right now.
There is also another reason I feel hypocritical in this case. One cannot deny the fact that corporate and chain-business are already represented in the local retail economy. Foot-locker, CVS, Store 24, 7-11 (which you could argue is a franchise), and corporate banks all blight the privately owned and operated JP landscape. Its not that I mind 'mom and pop' shops, but we do allow certain business that have corporate, or chain structures to open here. I whole-heartedly agree with the not wanting a corporate entity in JP (especially Dominoes), though I can't stop and think where is the line? Is there one? Are some corporate businesses ;necessary evils'? If so, then which ones?
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