Fiber to the home is in phase one in Lafayette, Louisiana and I’ve been contemplating what this really means to the community—in particular the “creative class.”

The assumption has been “if we build it, they will come” which is a short-sighted strategy and fails to realize “if you build it, exactly who will come?”

The best analogy I can think of is the current film industry influx in Louisiana. Most of the jobs have primarily been production oriented rather than concept driven, in other words the scripts and screenplays are still coming from Hollywood.

I know of a few scripts submitted from Louisiana to Hollywood that are later intended to be filmed here. We connect to the operator when we can go direct.

Sure the tax credits are beneficial, however, are we cultivating the right talent? The focus has been to concentrate on the production of the ideas and not the ideas themselves. Where are all the acting and directing classes? Shouldn’t we have a major film school? Why focus on just animation, focus on the concept artists.

Why the creative class? Better income, quality of life and more job security are the major benefits of nurturing a creative class. Considering the creative class consist of 30% of the workforce; why not cater to it locally?

Cities and the Creative Class, Dr. Richard Florida

Basically, for a city to become a magnet for the Creative Class, it must be an example of “the three ‘T’s” of Talent (have a highly talented/educated/skilled population), Tolerance (have a diverse community, which has a ‘live and let live’ ethos), and Technology (have the technological infrastructure necessary to fuel an entrepreneurial culture).

Unfortunately I find the three “T”s are subjective and open to interpretation. Technology and tolerance means something different to each person. Moreover, I ask that we raise the bar for talent.

Let’s have the concepts and then produce them.

Down Rodeo, Rage Against the Machine:

Fuck the G ride, I want the machines that are making them.