Downtown has, and will always, be the first to feel the effects of city government decsions, good, bad or indifferent. The further a community is removed from the city's focus (sometimes the city having their eyes focused on a part of town is not a good thing), the less likely they are to care. Meaning, 'if it doesn't affect me, what do I care' is the mentality.
I'm glad that this became an issue and has opened the eyes of yet another group of people in our city. I wish it didn't have to happen at the expense of their community, but glad nontheless.