Personally, I rent so I figure one of the only things I can do is make as big of a stink as possible... you know, the whole "make your voice heard" type-of-thing. And Unfortunately, they are citing "vast economical improvements."
Some of the problems I have are: There is plenty of room for development on the old Timken property and other abandoned areas nearby. I have no problem with that. However, it is my opinion, and I think it is well founded, that they want to raze our neighboorhood because of its proximity to 71, and also because of the high "ethnic" population. In their outline, it is proposed that displaced individuals will be compensated or moved to the other side of 71... a community that is NO different from ours. So basically, they want to get all the black people to the other side of the highway. "Out of sight, out of mind." The "improvements" to the lives of people currently in this community would be: relocation, travelling inconveniences, and jobs at bed bath and beyond. The largest part of the proposed development is a strip mall. There is more than enough room for something of that nature on the old Timken property. I am fairly certain that our neighborhood is considered little more than an eyesore, and a potential deterrent to people who may want to shop at their new stores.
Now I have problems with this, also. Sure, it is a bad neighborhood. But has anyone done anything significant to improve it in the past few years I've lived here? Obviously the answer is no. There are multiple boarded up houses that continue to stand and rot, and house who knows what. There are dealers and prostitutes walking the streets every day. If I had a badge I could literally walk out the door and arrest someone for soliciting sex. So how will these thing change if we're moved to the other side of the highway? They won't, but at least they'll be a little further out of the way.
As a minority myself, one of the things I plan on doing is writing a letter to Mayor Coleman to tell him that he needs to "rep him self" (not in those words, of course). I don't know how much good it might do, if any, but its worth the chance and effort.
BTW, the letter and proposal I've seen is from Jereme Solove... I'm not quite sure what his affiliation is.
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