This Tuesday is the second anniversary of the "new" State Theatre. I could use this space to tell you what you already know: that the State has lit up downtown Traverse City in a way no one ever dreamed possible. In just two years we've brought nearly 325,000 people to downtown TC who otherwise were not planning to come downtown. We have all seen the significant impact the State has had on our quality of life and on our local economy.
But I think there's more we can do. When I saw hundreds of people come together to rebuild the entire theater in fewer than six weeks, I knew that I lived in a special place where citizens, when they put their minds to it, can accomplish the impossible.
In the spirit of the State-Theatre-We-Can-Do-Anything attitude, I'd like to propose eight ideas for our next community project:
1. WIRE TC FOR THE 21st CENTURY. No one will bring their company here to create jobs while we have Internet connections from the last century and cell signals that don't work.
2. CREATE MIDDLE CLASS JOBS IN THE AREA. This must be the No. 1 priority. Someone needs to take on the role of "Jobs Ambassador" and woo the new 21st century high-tech companies to the region. You simply can't raise a family here working at the local Taco Bell.
3. MAKE TRAVERSE CITY A PLACE WHERE YOUNG ADULTS WANT TO LIVE. The arts, the culture, the overall level of intelligent discourse -- this is what attracts the smart ones in their generation to look for a place like TC. The next Steve Jobs or Bill Gates needs to be able to thrive in a place that is alive -- and cool. They won't move to a place that rolls up the sidewalks at 5 p.m. or flies the flag upside down the day after a black man is elected president.
4. TURN NMC INTO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE. Let's make TC a college town. College towns these days are not in deep recession. They don't have smokestacks that pollute. Plus, they create more smart people who may end up creating those jobs we need. They already call us "The Ann Arbor of the North." Let's make that come true.
5. BRING DOWN THE COST OF LIVING. Some places in this area need to lower their prices. It costs too much to live here. Rents are higher in TC than in East Lansing or (the real) Ann Arbor. My company's internet connection (the kind needed to make a movie) in NYC cost me $150/mo. In Traverse City, it costs me $850! A green pepper here costs $1.75. It's 89 cents in New York. New York is cheaper than TC? What gives?
6. SUPPORT A MICHIGAN GRADUATED INCOME TAX. We're broke. The wealthy in this state do not pay their fair share of taxes. If people who make more than $100,000 a year paid the same tax they used to pay pre-Engler, our deficit would be greatly reduced.
7. CREATE WHAT DOWNTOWN STILL NEEDS. A small grocery store. An affordable diner (where young people can go out on a date for ten bucks). Some green space. A public restroom. A cool place to hang out, go dancing, listen to comedy. Downtown needs a night life.
8. SINK OR SWIM TOGETHER. Democrats here need to acknowledge that there are a number of wonderful Republicans who care deeply about this area. Republicans need to turn off AM radio and give themselves permission to vote for a Democrat every now and then. We have more in common than not. We are all in the same boat. We can have our differences, but please, for the good of our town, let's all roll up our sleeves and get to work!
People of TC, you brought the State Theatre back to life when they said it couldn't happen. Last weekend was the 27th time, since we reopened, that the State Theatre has been the No. 1 grossing theater in the country for the movie that was playing. That's nothing short of a miracle. We could use a few more of those these days.
I'm ready if you are. Sometimes it only takes six weeks.
Michael Moore is the founder and board president of the nonprofit Traverse City Film Festival, which owns and operates the State Theatre. He programs the State's films each week. His film production office is also located in downtown Traverse City.
