Most negative perceptions of downtown Lewiston are unwarranted, but sometimes they seem all too justified.

Like Tuesday, when a passerby was randomly shot by an ignoramus with a pellet-gun from an upper-floor window on Pine Street. James Casey, 24, was charged for allegedly shooting Paul Hodge, 43.

Hodge, after the shooting, said his residence was “Lewiston, but not for long.”

We can’t blame him. Nobody should reside where it’s possible to be peppered by pellets in broad daylight.

Downtown Lewiston has made great strides with redevelopments and renewal, but incidents like this obscure this progress. Although it was random idiocy, perpetrated by a halfwit, the aftershocks for the neighborhood are powerful, as all the old stereotypes get reinforced.

“People who live outside of downtown often have a very different view of the downtown neighborhoods than we residents do,” says the People’s Downtown Master Plan, released recently by the Visible Community. “We recognize there are problems, like in any community, but the negative myths persist.”

These perceptions are hard to shake, despite work by advocates like the Visible Community and others. But these efforts are hurt when the neighborhood shoots itself in the foot. Or, in this case, when somebody is shot in the arm.

The people’s plan makes several sensible policy recommendations: Better public transportation offerings, more housing investment and rehabilitation, targeted economic development and community building.

Most important, the plan admits changing downtown starts by changing perceptions of downtown: “We see downtown as home – a place that holds our hopes and dreams for a better future and a better quality of life for us and our families,” the plan states. This message should be bellowed from the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Thinking like this will turn corners in downtown, better than even the slickest, innovative transportation, housing or economic initiative. These latter policy goals are easy pickings, compared to reversing downtown’s reputation.

There are many people who love living downtown, and want it to flourish. The neighborhoods have committees, volunteers and advocates all working for community betterment. There is political will in Lewiston to effect change.

But outside forces cannot change downtown the way those within downtown are capable of doing.

This is the crux of the people’s plan: “When we work together,” it states, “we have the power to change these things and believe in a better future for our community.” It’s a simple truth.

For the downtown to thrive, people who live there must realize they are a key contributor, but also an obstacle, to success. Downtown’s greatest challenge isn’t found in transportation, the economy or government.

Rather, it’s the sentiment behind five words and a comma: “Lewiston, but not for long.”