Jackson Free Press

We're glad to see the ‘Creative Class' concept catching on: "Without suggesting that one caused the other, the authors concluded that tolerant, funky, hip, diverse cities were also rich ones. ‘The losers are the cities that don't let these people organize and be themselves and express their energy,' Mr. Florida said in a telephone interview. ‘A city that allowed a gay community to emerge 10 or 20 years ago, set up its own retail stores and clubs, a city that allowed a music scene to happen, a city that allowed an arts community to emerge — there's something in the ecosystem of that community that allows individuals to get there, to be themselves and to mobilize resources. That of course is the same thing that high-tech entrepreneurs do,'" the New York Times reported Thursday, using Memphis (the 11th more dangerous city in the U.S.) as an example.

Remember to read Todd's cover story about Jackson's great "creative class" potential (and high ranking) from our preview issue published over a year ago in October 2002. Every word is still relevant today! Please click there to comment on this story.