Village Idiot of the Day, June 7, 2009: darby214

We're late today with our awards. I Hate Canton spent the day watching Fritz Lang films on Turner Classic while trying to fix a malfunctioning computer. We lost track of time and the computer still malfunctions.

We could not, however, ignore this malfunctional observation by local cultural critic darby214, about downtown Canton, its residents, fans, and public art. Responding to a letter by former Downtown YMCA Director William R.. Cumler, Both Children and Adults Need Y in Downtown Canton, darby informs us:

darby214
Like all of downtown, the Y became a crack den and a hangout for all the scum that frequent the area. The best solution would be to open up only for 'first Friday' so all the artsy fartsy winos dont kill someone on their way back to the richy rich sections of the county they came from after sucking down all the free wine designed to bring people to our beautiful downtown area. PLEASE some abandoned building with a bunch of art one step above finger painting and kindergarten ceramic ashtrays does not a artistic community make.

I Hate Canton is always puzzled by this kind of remark. We have spent long hours downtown and never been accosted by more than an occasional bag lady or reckless bike rider. We do however, remember sexual deviants acting out in the streets of Ridgewood and Harter Heights. Perhaps darby214 was lost and was actually watching antics at The Strip. We were much heartened, to see Ed March stumble upon the scene with this wonderful rejoinder.

Ed March
Gosh, I went to the downtown YMCA quite often and I'm not sure I would know crack if somebody threw it at me. I went there at least five times a week in the years before it closed and wasn't ever threatened with death or bodily harm. I didn't encounter one person I would call scum, and that includes several of the resident men there. I suppose that shows an experience is what you make of it.

Obviously, Mr. March hangs with the wrong crowd. Or he's mighty lucky. Whatever, the truth, he's our new hero!

We proudly name darby214 the Daily Village Idiot for June 7. 2009.

Furthermore. we believe that Ed March is a worthy winner of our first and probably rare Canton Patriot Award.