I've been thinking about a comment made by a young woman at the city council meeting. She mentioned how everyone keeps talking about how we need to "revitalize" downtown, but in her view it already IS vitalized -- as in, full of life.

I happen to share her view. I've lived downtown for a long time and I love it here. Almost everything I need (with the notable exception of affordable groceries) is just a few blocks away. Any time I walk down the street I cross paths with someone I know, or at least recognize. Community isn't just an abstract concept here, it's something you can see and feel. And hear... like the folks who saw fit to bang drums and sing songs at the top of their lungs on the street near my building tonight while I was trying to sleep. But hey, it's better than the pile driving that will wake me up tomorrow -- at least those people were enjoying themselves.

Anyway, what I'd like is to hear what people think is wrong with downtown Olympia. I'm especially curious about what the pro-condo crowd thinks, since they're such big fans of revitalization and all.

To be accurate, this person is not a panhandler, he is a street performer. Go check him out most evenings along 4th Ave!

Name: Richard

Age: 29

Hobbies: Music and Cooking. "Soon I'll be in an apartment and I want to go to SPSCC to study music first, then cooking. I already have 6 months of community college from Seattle, so I have a head start."

Favorite Books: The Bible, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit, Grimms Fairy Tales and poetry by William Blake and Jim Morrison

Favorite Movies: Apocalypse Now, Young Guns, Maverick, Last of the Mohicans, Legend, The Princess Bride