Thanks for weighing in. I know what you mean.

It’s an extremely unfashionable take: the regional approach- which sees Providence as a node -the central node- in a net of settlements that wrap around Narragansett Bay, a spread-out populace that has a place to come together, specifically Providence, specifically downtown.

Vs. the current medieval-revival orthodoxy that trims Providence’s metropolitan ambitions down to a more insular vibe, where downtown is for Providence residents who live within walking, biking, or scooting distance. (RiPTA, let’s be honest, is not used routinely by those with any other practical options.)

I’m not here for upvotes.

Reddit seems like it sometimes can appreciate actual conversation. I know I’ve benefited from reading different takes on issues on forums like this.