Article April 23, 1979 Issue

Making the city our own

STEVEN LEE FAIR

We sometimes hear people say that a certain city is more than just its buildings and locale—it's also a state of mind. The collective attitudes and feelings of people largely determine the kind of city they live in: whether it is clean or dirty, well managed or corrupt, safe or dangerous, compassionate or insensitive.

This being so, can the city dweller have a more vital civic responsibility than to admit that his or her city responds to the state of mind of its citizens? And then to check on the quality of his own thought? Discovering the mental dimension of city living can have a transforming effect on both our city and our city life, as I found myself.

When I moved from the southwestern United States to an eastern seaboard city, I was enthralled by the discovery of its vitality, cultural richness, and convenience. Sure, I saw some dirt, some deteriorated neighborhoods, and some evidences of crime and corruption, but I confess I largely ignored them. The advantages of city life seemed to outweigh the disadvantages.

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