Rahm Emmanuel's new proposal for Chicago Public Schools

[turk]

I'm not blaming anyone. What happens there is not my business. I don't know what's happening there. I worked in Gary, Indiana today. Now there's a very poor community, but the people are sweet. I took lots of pictures. I can post some. I actually like the area for its incredible 20th century history and the massive industrial landscape, that now looks somewhat like the moon on a hangover. Weirdly beautiful though, with huge tracts of natural prairie and dunes amidst urban decay, and surprising copious natural beauty too. I would like to move there. Maybe buy a house. I'll spend some more time there soon. But as far as Benton Harbor, I don't know enough to really have an opinion on the EFM and breaking contracts. Gary is probably 20 times the size of Benton Harbor.

[ruckman101]

Curious, because it's the underlying principal of government overreach that is my concern. When it happens to your town it will be your business, but too late.


neal

[turk]

And you may be right. I don't know. From what I read, there are many who agree with you. There is also the basic problem of a town that's in bad shape. Honestly, I don't know what the solution is. There's ten thousand living there according to what I read. I never spent time there. All around there it is pretty diverse I think. It needs an economic intervention I think, or it will continue to get worse. Detroit is a huge city on the skids. Urban truck farming where neighborhoods flourished in the sixties was suggested as a solution. I've never spent time there either -- too bad, I'd like to. There are solutions to all problems. Let's continue to discuss.

[ruckman101]

When the solution strips democracy from the people, I have a problem with that.

Think about it. Average, average mind you, with poverty offsetting those incomes above the average to average out to $10k a year. That's a slim survival. What are you going to do, for like recreation, can't afford to drive that extra hour for a true wilderness camping experience, especially when you own no camping gear, or kayaks, or cars. You go to the park and barbecue, picnic, toss a frisbee, wonderful waterfront park, the closest your sorry broke ass is going to get you to nature, but now will become upscale housing and a golf course for those upscale denizens. There goes the neighborhood, the whites are moving in, they'll bring their next of kin.

My apologies to the Busboys.


neal

[turk]

I have no idea what any of that is getting at except something vaguely racist it seemed.

[RussellK]

Yeah Neal. Whats up with that? Hadn't you heard lamenting gentrification is racist? Sheesh.

[turk]

ztsss. is that what it's about? "Lamenting gentrification". Whoever knew?

[ruckman101]

The racist is always the last to know.

Racism is a ruse to divide. It's a class struggle.

My apologies to The Busboys.

"Too many faces that are not just like mine.
I see them moving in two at a time,
And, oh-oh-oh; it doesn’t look too good to me!
Give them an inch and they will take a mile.
I only want to see them once in a while.
And, oh-oh-oh; it doesn’t look too good to me!
There goes the neighborhood!
The whites are moving in – they’ll bring their next-of-kin. Oh boy!
There goes the neighborhood!
Boy! Boy! Bo-o-o-oy!
I ain’t movin’ out for no “Carol and Bob”!
The inner city is too close to my job.
And, oh-oh-oh; it doesn’t look too good to me!
I don’t no want fight – no family feudin’!
But ‘round here, **** will make your mouth grin.
And, oh-oh-oh; it doesn’t look too good to me!
There goes the neighborhood!
The whites are moving in – they’ll bring their next-of-kin. Oh boy!
There goes the neighborhood!
Boy! Boy! Bo-o-o-oy!

There goes the neighborhood!
The whites are moving in – they’ll bring their next-of-kin. Oh boy!
There goes the neighborhood!
Boy! Boy! Bo-o-o-oy!"


And that would be there your gentrification, taxed, priced out of family owned houses and kicked to the crap multiplex apartments in the 'burbs.


neal