Our Views: Support for arts a good investment

The Island Now

Asked by Playboy Magazine about the possibility of living in Albany during his run for governor, then New York City Ed Koch expressed reservations, to put it gently, about living in the suburbs or rural areas.

”Have you ever lived in the suburbs? Koch asked. “It’s sterile. It’s nothing. It’s wasting your life, and people do not wish to waste their lives once they’ve seen New York!”

Koch completed his campaign message by criticizing rural life as “wasting time in a pickup truck when you have to drive 20 miles to buy a gingham dress or a Sears Roebuck suit.’’

At the time, Koch was the prohibitive favorite to become governor.

Afterward not so much.

Koch, who acknowledged in the interview that he never lived in the suburbs, would go on to lose to some guy named Cuomo, Mario that is.

But at least in discussing the suburbs in 1982 Koch did have a point.

Many suburban areas were cultural wastelands, serving mainly as bedroom communities for the big cities they encircle.

The North Shore did not fit this stereotype, though, thanks to a population that included many famous and talented stars of stage and screen and residents, who not only took advantage of their proximity to New York City, but wanted to enjoy the arts closer to home. It has shaped what the North Shore is today.

Over the years, residents and local governments have supported local art groups.

But that support seems to be on the decline.

The Gold Coast Arts Center in Great  Neck, which offers everything from film previews to singing lessons, has seen a decline in support from both the town and surrounding villages in recent years — after receiving a big boost from the Town of North Hempstead on its building.

Other arts groups face similar challenges.

The timing of this decline in support could not come at a worse time for the arts groups as well as local business districts, struggling to compete with shopping malls, each other and the internet.

The power of the arts to power economic development is well documented.

Just look at the trail of development in New York City from Soho to Tribeca to Greenpoint. All were led by artists, lured by low rents and open spaces. Restaurants, coffee shops, clubs and retail and pricey apartments followed — led by young professionals.

This point was recently underscored in a story that appeared in the New York Times about the speculation of where an expected exodus of financial-service professionals would go in the wake of Britain’s decision to the leave the European Union.

Among the requirements, according to the story, were good restaurants and cultural offerings.

The Town of North Hempstead encourages seniors to stay in their homes through Project Independence, which provides a variety of services including free transportation – with no income requirements.

Why not make a similar investment in artists, starving and otherwise, to set up shop in the Town of North Hempstead.

One possible problem with this scenario is that while local officials say they would like to attract young professionals, it is not clear that the officials or the communities they represent would actually be willing to make the changes needed to accommodate younger residents.

Villages across the North Shore have been busy regulating vape shops and e-cigarettes.

This does not bode well for changes in regulations to permit clubs and other venues that generate noise, traffic, and stay open until the early hours.

This does not preclude greater support for local groups that promote the arts and entertainment.

All that is needed is greater appreciation by town and village officials for the role that arts can play in stimulating commerce and making the North Shore a more enjoyable place to live.

Otherwise, local business districts will suffer and we will need to make the trip to the Big City to enjoy the arts more often.

At least we don’t have to drive 20 miles to buy a gingham dress.

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