IndulgeGR, the self-proclaimed “hip, informative, and entertaining” magazine promoting a hedonistic and largely apathetic approach to life, has finally commented on some of the controversies surrounding development in downtown Grand Rapids. In a response to a letter, Indulge takes the position that they cover enough politics with their recent stories on Iraq and corporate greed and that issues pertaining to low-income residents (residents who are frequently displaced by the upscale development promoted by IndulgeGR) in downtown are consequently not worth repoting. The aforementioned issues are “reported in the Grand Rapids Press each day” and thus do not need to be covered in IndulgeGR Moreover, David Szostek, the Managing Editor, actually had the audacity to tell a downtown resident to “…go out and enjoy yourself. There is a lot to do in GR without getting too worked up about the problems that plague every city.”
Here is the original letter to the editor:
“Ever since I started reading your magazines since the day they came out, they are focused to the ‘high class’ preppies and yuppies about the ‘big’ changes Grand Rapids has been ‘improving’ over the years. I have lived in Downtown GR for two years, and frankly, the only thing that changed about Grand Rapids, is more bars and such, but there’s no help for the residents who live there over the years (and not necessarily have o be high class) who are middle to low class. Why don’t you focus on other issues, like homelessness (very common in Downtown), drug abuse, unemployment, depression, alcoholism and other issues that don’t have anything to do with how to dress nice and what the best spots to visit are to forget reality and pretend everything is fine?”
IndulgeGR’s response:
“I can appreciate your comments. Grand Rapids does have problems. Unfortunately some people are losing their jobs. Unfortunately some people are homeless. And, unfortunately some people have substance abuse problems. But, none of these problems are lost to the GR media. These problems are reported in the Grand Rapids Press each day.
We have run articles on abortion, how corporate greed affects people, how your friends’ smoking habits slowly kills you, as well as numerous critiques of recent government decisions and their affect on everyone, not just the ‘high class’ preppies you speak of.
Please keep in mind that we are a new publication with only nine issues under our belt. In the near future you will see coverage of many of the issues you touch on. In the meantime, go out and enjoy yourself. There is a lot to do in GR without getting too worked up about problems that plague every city.”
Related posts:
- Clinical Services for Low Income Residents Lacking in Grand Rapids
- Study: Low Income Residents in Grand Rapids Missing Millions in EITC Money
- Proposed Downtown Development Targets Low to Middle Income People
- New Agency Providing Referral Service for Homeless and Low Income People in Downtown Grand Rapids
- IndulgeGR is No More
