If I needed to describe Stamford’s culture I feel I’d begin with the meals. We’ve received actually good meals on this metropolis. What’s extra, we’ve received many native, impartial eating places which have stayed the identical for many years. These locations don’t strive too laborious. They’re enjoyable. They do what Anthony Bourdain known as “easy, good issues” actually, rather well. And so they’re distinctive. They solely exist right here. That’s a standard theme operating by Stamford’s id. You may see it on the buildings, the righteous griminess, the no frills, zero pomp perspective that contrasts starkly with its counterparts within the rich suburbs that encompass it. Like many nice, multicultural cities, there’s a spot for everybody in Stamford. You may be completely different on this metropolis. We prefer it that method. We choose it. That perspective’s produced a singular tradition, a dignified tradition. Most significantly, it’s a tradition that undoubtedly doesn’t suck.
Studying Arthur Augustyn’s latest op-ed, you get none of that. In Arthur’s world, Stamford is a barbarian kingdom, a hive of feral Neil Diamond followers whose solely redemption lies within the civilizing results of latest bike lanes and condo buildings. The piece argues that there’s nothing in Stamford value saving, that the shiny and new has an ethical crucial to annex the tried and examined. Taken to its pure conclusion, Arthur’s argument ends with all of Stamford’s great social and financial range diminished to the city equal of a soulless strip mall, stacked with the identical 10 shops that seem all over the place else within the nation. And look, that’s not an argument in opposition to density, removed from it. As a substitute it’s a name for extra group pushed improvement, for higher communication on the problems in order that Stamford’s inhabitants isn’t pitted in opposition to one another each time a controversial zoning software arises. It additionally helps to not dehumanize anybody who disagrees with you as an immoral troglodyte. I get that Arthur is making an attempt to be provocative, however you may’t assign worth to a complete group primarily based on a vote on the Board of Representatives. Stamford, in all its complexity, is a lot greater than that.
In the end, its not my duty to clarify to Arthur and other people like him why Stamford’s tradition deserves to exist. His criticisms are primarily arbitrary. As such, I hope he can forgive me for being arbitrary in return. Stamford is a superb place, dare I say the best. I don’t need to show it, I don’t need to justify, as a result of Stamford’s worth can’t be counted on a spreadsheet or measured in tall buildings or bike lanes. It seems extra subtly, like a deep sigh if you return from an extended journey, a breath of aid that asserts you’re dwelling. It’s seen within the lives and actions of the 1000’s and 1000’s who’ve known as Stamford dwelling, who’ve lengthy toiled to construct a metropolis meaning a lot to so many individuals from so many various walks of life. It’s a lovely factor. It’s a fragile factor. And in the long run, it’s a factor that ought to be celebrated, not dismissed so carelessly.
Steven Kolenberg is a former member of the Stamford Board of Representatives.