In a recent piece by independent columnist Chris Powell, he mentioned that the only things that will restore the city of Hartford are middle-class housing and middle-class schools. This means a growing middle-class population, and all that it entails. It was one of several observations in the Powell column, but I would like to grab that one, raise it, and shine the light on it as the whole deal for Hartford, the central answer. Using a Latin term I learned long ago, the sine qua non – without which, not. Unavoidably necessary.
People who are knee-deep in Hartford politics and its seemingly intractable social issues might roll their eyes and have no use for the observation by an out-of-town suburbanite like me. An observation as useless as saying that all sad people need is happiness. I am sympathetic with that reaction, but if ever there was a case in which the expression, it’s not about who is right, but about what is right, applies, it’s this one.
The situation is clear. The collection of people who make the decisions that will determine the future of the city of Hartford – municipal officials, state officials, business leaders, social leaders – face three possible outcomes: continued drift and decline; outright failure and take-over by the state or a court; and a path to real recovery and prosperity.
Some of those decision makers seem to be OK with the first or second of those outcomes and to find a way to make a living from them. That’s discouraging, and may be the biggest obstacle, but if the collective will turns out to be the third, a path to recovery and eventual prosperity, the only way to proceed will be with a growing middle-class population, through housing, good schools, safe streets, and convenience. All the rest of the things that make city life enjoyable – local jobs, restaurants, stores, entertainment, sports and culture, leisure activities – will follow and take care of themselves.
The people who emerge and take the risk of leading a recovery campaign will need to have cement in their nose and not put up with “questions” that intend to obstruct and not to help. “Questions” like, Well, what do you mean by middle class? Isn’t that code for racism? Answer: Shut up, no it’s not. Racism is your hang-up, not ours.
And “questions” like, Isn’t this totally naïve? If we knew how to create good schools and safe streets, don’t you think it would have been done? Answer: Evidently not. The recovery road for Hartford is not like finding a cure for cancer or for the use of nuclear fusion. We already know how to do this. We know what good schools are, and we know what safe streets are. These are not obscure ideas. All we have to do is to decide to have them.
It means standing up to the enemies of those things, which will take guts, faith, and commitment. But we know how to do it. And I believe that, collectively, the people who want recovery for Hartford are stronger than the opponents. Or, if they are not stronger, then the city can always quit and settle for failure and a take-over. Recovery will not be easy, but it is simple. It just needs to begin. It will be a long road, but signs of eventual success will come early.
Middle-class housing, good schools, safe streets, convenience. Start to make those things happen and watch the recovery begin to take hold. Avoid those things, look for shortcuts, follow the charlatans, or just chicken out, and wait for the take-over. No other choices. I hope recovery is the chosen path. The whole state needs our ‘Cap City’ to get back on its feet.
Brian Burke lives in Branford.
