Question of the Week?

Do you think the government perpetuates economic disparities among communities?

Why should anyone care?/ My takeover plan

In the past semester of graduate school I wrote a research paper in my Planning History course aimed at focusing attention on the economic effects a suburban area has on an urban area. Specifically, how the wealth of the suburban area perpetuates itself, as the urban area declines in relation to it. My professor's response was, "Why should anyone care?". I felt insulted initially by this question. I am admittedly naive enough to think that we all realize that we are in this together, and that we are responsible for each other. My error.

So I talked this notion over with a few friends over wine (where most good convos start) and I got a few good responses. One person suggested that, "it only effects people if it effects their money". How can I to do that exactly? What does my community have can that influences money, what was its resources? Answer: people. Not just any people either...Black people. So how it this important? Well, Blacks are perceived to spend more, and whether this is true or not is an area worth maximizing on.

Here's my proposal, in my classes they teach us about sprawl and how its fueled by transportation. What they rarely say is how it has become further solidified by radio, internet, and other means of communication that keep us quietly tucked into the blanketing comforts of suburbia that luxuriates space. I said all that, "those who can sprawl, will sprawl". So f*** 'em. Focus on those who need better but can't afford to do so themselves. In my opinion the government is not likely to solve this particular issue anytime soon (I'm not that naive), it has to be privatized. So, that means encourage big businesses (i.e. clothing retailers an to see that the houses of the future are in urban areas. Help them see the New Urbanism picture. Require visibility in the community in lieu of some taxes; encourage them to see the it as a long term investment and familiarize the community with those businesses.

Then just as property values are rising pass legislature that grandfathers in home owners who within a certain range of paying off their mortgage. This should help to prevent total gentrification. Businesses and people are happy...(my definition of "community").

Why I Blog…

"A boy is born in hard time Mississippi
Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty
His parents give him love and affection
To keep him strong moving in the right direction
Living just enough, just enough for the city...!"

This song was written in 1973. Today it still paints the picture of many cities in America. Prichard, AL; Detroit, IL; Washington, DC. This matters because people are shaped by the same cities that they themselves create…

...What kind of people/cities are we making?

To encourage discussion on this and other topics in the field of Community Planning I'll be 'Blogging For The City".