It was quite an interesting meeting last night.

The good:

• The City Council is dissatisfied with the poor state of relations between the artists and the city staff. Very likely, there will be change.
• The City acknowledged that there hasn't been enough input from all "stakeholders" (including the artists). The City's plan calls for more inclusion of the artists in discussions about the future of the Torpedo Factory.

The sort-of good:

• The purpose of this petition has been to send a message: don't kick out the artists. This is as close as we came to a concession on that point:
  the plan "retains a place for Torpedo Factory artists as the facility evolves."
  The artists will have "a place." This is intentionally vague language and it does not rule out displacing artists from desirable spaces where their businesses thrive and where they bring the most benefit to the public.

The bad:

• the "Action Plan for Vibrancy and Sustainability" is still in effect. The City Council's agenda to remake the Torpedo Factory as they see fit is still very much a reality.
• The Torpedo Factory is going to be part of something bigger - the "Old Town North Arts District." Haven't heard of it? It doesn't exist - yet. It was suggested that this is where some artists could end up in they city decides they want them to step aside.

Proceedings during the meeting bordered on the farcical at times.

In spite of reservations and uncertainty about the course of action the council voted unanimously to move forward with it. It was puzzling to see people choosing not to exercise their right to vote "no" or abstain as if they had no choice but to approve the plan.