The Downtown Voices Coalition is all for making sure that all things good in downtown stick around. They’re pro-mom and pop shops, pro-kitschy goods and art on the first Friday of every month and they’re pro-letting Phoenix grow but making sure it doesn’t get out of control. Now, I’m all for one-of-a-kind gifts and making sure Phoenix stays sustainable, but unfortunately the Coalition’s communication strategy mostly appeals to like-minded people.
Their messages need to appeal to businesses, all kinds of legislators, city planners and investors. They need to speak to the values behind growing Phoenix in a responsible and smart way that will appeal to people across the board. Some of those values could include:
- Fairness and Opportunity – instead of selling off the land to massive corporations and big builders, provide opportunities for all variations of businesses.
- Cooperation – working together with the existing community (who inevitably will be customers of the businesses that are looking to set up shop there) and the businesses and developers looking to move in.
- Diversity – providing all types of businesses (small and big) to cultivate customer choice.
- Common good – retaining the culture, arts and building upon public spaces to help build a stronger, more sustainable community.
They do touch on these issues, but often the communication is slanted towards people that already want to ensure small businesses thrive, the culture is maintained, and building a sustainable city.
