Wednesday, 12.16.15 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net views VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] PAGE 4 PRESS&DAKOTAN The Press Dakotan THE DAKOTAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPER | FOUndED 1861 Yankton Media, Inc., 319 Walnut St., Yankton, SD 57078 CONTACT US OPINION PHONE: (605) 665-7811 (800) 743-2968 NEWS FAX: Downtown Area (605) 665-1721 ADVERTISING FAX: (605) 665-0288 And Future Options WEBSITE: www.yankton.net owntown Yankton has a lot of past behind it, but however ––––– much future is in front of it looms as an intriguing question. SUBSCRIPTIONS/ On Monday, the Press & Dakotan began a three-part CIRCULATION series on the past, present and future of the downtown dis- Dtrict, which — like downtown business areas in so many communi- Extension 104 [email protected] ties across the country — has seen better days. CLASSIFIED ADS To really appreciate the story, you have to remember what the Extension 116 downtown district used to be, which was the focus of the first story. [email protected] Yankton’s downtown was a vibrant center of shopping activity, with NEWS DEPT. grocery stores, clothing stores, drug stores, shoe stores and many Extension 114 other outlets. It drew in a lot of people, to be sure. Downtown Yank- [email protected] ton was a regional shopping hub and something special. SPORTS DEPT. These are different days. With the arrival of the mall and other Extension 106 large stores, plus expansion to the north and west, the downtown Robert B. Reich [email protected] district is no longer the heart of the community. Indeed, for some ADVERTISING DEPT. people, it is a chore just to come downtown when they live only a Extension 122 couple blocks away from the stores on the north end of the city. [email protected] Yankton’s Historic Downtown District can be magnetic and excit- BUSINESS OFFICE ing again. The Revolt Of Extension 119 However, while city officials and downtown boosters examine [email protected] the past to figure out how to cultivate the future, they must remem- NEW MEDIA: ber they can’t recreate the past. The downtown district will never Extension 136 be “what it used to be” — but it can be different and, in some ways, [email protected] perhaps even better. The Anxious Class COMPOSING DEPT. To do that, the downtown must play to its strengths and advan- Extension 129 tages. BY ROBERT B. REICH who influenced those decisions. Their conclu- [email protected] The biggest one is the fact that the riverfront area is developed Tribune Content Agency sion: “The preferences of the average American far more than it ever has been since probably the steamboat days of * * * appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, the late 19th century. For instance, what we now know as Riverside The great American middle class has be- statistically non-significant impact upon public MANAGERS Park was once a dumping ground and, as recently as 30 years ago, come an anxious class -- and it’s in revolt. policy.” Gary L. Wood an undeveloped vacant tract. Why such prime property sat virtually Before I explain how that revolt is playing It was only a matter of time before the anx- Publisher dormant for so long is perplexing (although the fact that it was once out, you need to understand the sources of the ious class would revolt. Michele Schievelbein part of a “red light” district in the early 20th century may have had anxiety. They’d support a strongman like Donald Advertising Director something to do with it). Now, it is a tremendous green space and Start with the fact that the middle Trump who’d promise to protect an alluring park that serves as the center for Riverboat Days, a huge class is shrinking, according to the them from all the chaos. Who’d save Jim Gevens festival which, like the park, also did not exist during Downtown Pew Research Center. jobs from being shipped abroad, slam Circulation Director Yankton’s halcyon days. The conversion of Meridian Bridge into a The odds of falling into poverty Wall Street, stick it to China, get rid Tonya Schild pedestrian walkway and the addition of a plaza offer even more new are frighteningly high, especially for of people here illegally, and block Business Manager benefits for the downtown area. the majority of the population who terrorists from getting into America. A The other big factor serving downtown is, of course, the his- lack college degrees. strongman who’d make America great Tera Schmidt Two-thirds of Americans are living again — which really means make Classified Manager tory. Yankton has more history going for it than most places in the region, and it needs to capitalize on it. The downtown area can paycheck to paycheck. Most could average working people safe again. Kelly Hertz lose their jobs at any time. Many are It was a pipe dream, of course — a be part of it; in fact, any marketing of Yankton’s history would be conjurer’s trick. No single person can Editor impossible without it. part of a burgeoning “on-demand” workforce -- employed as needed, do this. The world is far too com- James D. Cimburek But these are only parts of the answer. paid whatever they can get whenever Robert B. plex. You can’t build a wall along the Sports Editor The bigger solution is going to be the businesses that locate in they can get it. Yet if they don’t keep REICH Mexican border. You can’t keep out all the district, whether they are startups — as per the winning On- up with rent or mortgage payments, Muslims. You can’t stop corporations Beth Rye ward Yankton idea — or fresh retail outlets. As far as the latter goes, Digital Media Director or can’t pay for groceries or utilities, from outsourcing abroad. there are some things happening in the district: some specialty they’ll lose their footing. Nor should you even try. Kathy Larson shops, a looming discount grocery store and several other venues, The stress is taking a toll. For the first time Besides, we live in a messy democracy, not a Composing Manager including, of course, a number of pubs. But more is needed. As in history, the life spans of middle-class whites dictatorship. Sarah Lynde we’ve stated here previously, people generally won’t come down- are dropping. According to research by Nobel- Still, they think maybe Trump is smart District Manager town for one place to shop, but they may come for six places to prize-winning economist Angus Deaton and his enough and tough enough to pull it off. He’s shop. Providing a diversity of options is the key co-researcher Anne Case, middle-aged white rich. He tells it like it is. He makes every issue * * * Yankton’s downtown could be something like Omaha’s Old Mar- men and women in the United States have been a test of personal strength. He calls himself DAILY STAFF ket, if the right opportunities can present themselves. Our district dying earlier. They’re poisoning themselves strong and his adversaries weak. Reilly Biel certainly has the character and the location to make it work. with drugs and alcohol, or committing suicide. So what if he’s crude and rude? Maybe that’s Cassandra Brockmoller People are not averse to coming downtown; they simply need The odds of being gunned down in America what it takes to protect average people in this Brandi Bue reasons to do so. That’s easier said than done, of course, but the by a jihadist are far smaller than the odds cruelly precarious world. Rob Buckingham building blocks are here. The history is here. The riverfront is here. of such self-inflicted deaths, but the recent For years I’ve heard the rumbles of the anx- Caryn Chappelear tragedy in San Bernardino, California, only ious class. I’ve listened to their growing anger Randy Dockendorf The components are ready. Here’s hoping that a vision to revitalize this district can be brought into tantalizing focus. heightens an overwhelming sense of arbitrari- -- in union halls and bars, in coal mines and Jeannine Economy ness and fragility. beauty parlors, on the Main Streets and byways Rachel Frederick kmh Jeremy Hoeck The anxious class feels vulnerable to forces of the washed-out backwaters of America. Nicole Myers over which they have no control. Terrible I’ve heard their complaints and cynicism, Robert Nielsen things happen for no reason. Yet government their conspiracy theories and their outrage. Diana Smallwood ABOUT THIS PAGE can’t be counted on to protect them. Most are good people, not bigots or racists. David Stephenson They work hard and have a strong sense of The View page provides a forum for open discussion of issues and Safety nets are full of holes. Most people Cathy Sudbeck who lose their jobs don’t even qualify for unem- fairness. JoAnn Wiebelhaus interests affecting our readers. Initialed editorials represent the opinion ployment insurance. Government won’t protect But their world has been slowly coming Brenda Willcuts of the writer, but not necessarily that of the PRESS & DAKOTAN. Alissa Woockman their jobs from being outsourced to Asia or apart. And they’re scared and fed up. Bylined columns represent the view of the author. We welcome letters on being taken by a worker here illegally. Now someone comes along who’s even more current topics. Questions regarding the Views page should be directed to Government can’t even protect them from of a bully than those who for years have bullied * * * Kelly Hertz at [email protected]/.