"It’s time for the rest of the community to step up, offer ideas and provide support in any way it can."
I find that offensive. It's not up to the RG editors to dictate where and when citizens support anything. 
The City has created or allowed, has contributed to the decline of downtown. Shall we all shop at Buy2 as a show of support? Eat Voodoo donuts? Take the kids to Broadway Plaza? There is nothing downtown that is a must, no "go to" place that makes the experience of downtown worth while. Not for me, anyway.