A Republican who understands the importance of cities...

[Obama 2012 1,714]

What are you going to do with the ghettos that plague the cities? Realistically this is something that should have been done years ago as Jersey now has a stigma. It's a positive step but there is along way to go.

Fort Worth kicked them out and tore down the housing projects a few years ago and let Radio Shack build a new Corporate HQ. Quite nice actually.

Of course, this is the beauty as I've said about privately owned land vs. city/government owning it.

[Heracles 417]

Come on BY, don't be coy. Just admit that you want to lead a gang of racist thugs to beat the black people out of the city and burn their homes down.

Well it certainly wasn't hooded KKK clowns that turned every US city into a sh-thole. You cannot even admit who caused American downtowns to have crime levels akin to the old country. Certainly was not Japanese, Canadians or Aussies. After all, just look at our countries.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Booyah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well it certainly wasn't hooded KKK clowns that turned every US city into a sh-thole. You cannot even admit who caused American downtowns to have crime levels akin to the old country.

again with the "old country" (Africa?). Is this your favorite buzz phrase of choice.

Your problem is that you're always looking for someone to blame, when the reality is a little more complex. Who cares about the issues so long as you can isolate one group and lay blame regardless of any consideration of the issues.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Its a MADHOUSE

[Heracles 417]

Fort Worth kicked them out and tore down the housing projects a few years ago and let Radio Shack build a new Corporate HQ. Quite nice actually.

Of course, this is the beauty as I've said about privately owned land vs. city/government owning it.

Actually Paul, when it comes to cities, this attitude is exactly why America is behind every other industrialized country. Rather than learning from the actual leaders, you still want to do what you think is the best thing.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Well it certainly wasn't hooded KKK clowns that turned every US city into a sh-thole. You cannot even admit who caused American downtowns to have crime levels akin to the old country. Certainly was not Japanese, Canadians or Aussies. After all, just look at our countries.

It was all those aussie immigrants. Fvcking criminal gene, they couldn't help it.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What are you going to do with the ghettos that plague the cities? Realistically this is something that should have been done years ago as Jersey now has a stigma. It's a positive step but there is along way to go.

A smaller scale example- Jersey City from the 1970s vs Jersey City today. They gentrified the waterfront, tore down public housing projects and put up corporate and market-rate condo towers. Where did the poor minorities go? They spread across the region. The new model is to build developments all over the state and mandate that a small % of them be "affordable" (i.e. for lower-income residents of NJ). This spreads the poverty around and gives families the ability to raise their children in nicer towns where they might actually have a chance. And by avoiding the concentration of poverty in one area (or one apartment building), there is less crime. The model works, as has been proven on a smaller scale in places like Jersey City, New Brunswick and Perth Amboy.

Now they're trying this in Camden and are going to try this in Newark... let's see how it pans out. The sheer numbers of people in those cities may pose a problem. Time will tell.

[Heracles 417]

again with the "old country" (Africa?). Is this your favorite buzz phrase of choice.

You're problem is that you're always looking for someone to blame, when the reality is a little more complex.

You're right Pike. No one is to blame that they turned their neighborhoods into no-go zones that literally look worse than a present day war zone: Baghdad.

Funny how I see so many in ghettos have the money for Louis Vuitton bags, iphones and $3k rims on their Lexus but apparently cannot afford to spend $50 on

• can of paint
  
• a paint brush
  
• a broom
  
• some nails
  
• a hammer
  

Placing trash in the bin is free.

[The_Dude 1,142]

A smaller scale example- Jersey City from the 1970s vs Jersey City today. They gentrified the waterfront, tore down public housing projects and put up corporate and market-rate condo towers. Where did the poor minorities go? They spread across the region. The new model is to build developments all over the state and mandate that a small % of them be "affordable" (i.e. for lower-income residents of NJ). This spreads the poverty around and gives families the ability to raise their children in nicer towns where they might actually have a chance. And by avoiding the concentration of poverty in one area (or one apartment building), there is less crime. The model works, as has been proven on a smaller scale in places like Jersey City, New Brunswick and Perth Amboy.

Now they're trying this in Camden and are going to try this in Newark... let's see how it pans out. The sheer numbers of people in those cities may pose a problem. Time will tell.

They do this in California. However, what ends up happening is that cities will basically force that upon all new development. What the builder will do is they will build 1 or 2 tiny apartments on each level and charge what is the designated "low rent" fee. I've seen some of them and they are basically the size of an office. Maybe 200 sq/ft. They lay vacant a lot of the time, but they have technically fulfilled their obligation to build an equivalent amount of low income housing.

[Heracles 417]

Where did the poor minorities go? They spread across the region. The new model is to build developments all over the state and mandate that a small % of them be "affordable" (i.e. for lower-income residents of NJ). This spreads the poverty around and gives families the ability to raise their children in nicer towns where they might actually have a chance. And by avoiding the concentration of poverty in one area (or one apartment building), there is less crime. The model works, as has been proven on a smaller scale in places like Jersey City, New Brunswick and Perth Amboy.

Funny you say that because I have started to notice a lot of _{cough cough} undesirables in my neighborhood.

If you are going to do something, at least learn from the best when it comes to this: Aussies, Canadian etc. And yes you are correct, spreading them out does mitigate the problem. They also offer the option for the person to buy their place after taking care of it for 15 years; which gives them the incentive to take care of it. Government housing towers are no longer built. Nor are concentrated ghettos.

Though like in most other industrialized cities, it's a different ball game there. Young professionals want to live close to the city where the jobs are. Whereas, over here because of white flight, companies have moved to the burbs or exurbs; which to me is just silly. But hey this is America. To buy an inner-city house (5 miles of the CBD) in Melbourne or Sydney - you are looking at $1.3 to $1.6 million.

Personally, I don't know what the fixation with burbs is anyway. They are bloody boring and I absolutely hate living here. Where else are we going to do? Downtown DC where we can get shot daily because the criminals have more rights than we do.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Booyah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A smaller scale example- Jersey City from the 1970s vs Jersey City today. They gentrified the waterfront, tore down public housing projects and put up corporate and market-rate condo towers. Where did the poor minorities go? They spread across the region. The new model is to build developments all over the state and mandate that a small % of them be "affordable" (i.e. for lower-income residents of NJ). This spreads the poverty around and gives families the ability to raise their children in nicer towns where they might actually have a chance. And by avoiding the concentration of poverty in one area (or one apartment building), there is less crime. The model works, as has been proven on a smaller scale in places like Jersey City, New Brunswick and Perth Amboy.

Now they're trying this in Camden and are going to try this in Newark... let's see how it pans out. The sheer numbers of people in those cities may pose a problem. Time will tell.

Agreed. It makes sense to address the underlying conditions. And no hint of "blame" in sight.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

They do this in California. However, what ends up happening is that cities will basically force that upon all new development. What the builder will do is they will build 1 or 2 tiny apartments on each level and charge what is the designated "low rent" fee. I've seen some of them and they are basically the size of an office. Maybe 200 sq/ft. They lay vacant a lot of the time, but they have technically fulfilled their obligation to build an equivalent amount of low income housing.

Affordable housing here has to be built to the same spec as market rate units.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Actually Paul, when it comes to cities, this attitude is exactly why America is behind every other industrialized country. Rather than learning from the actual leaders, you still want to do what you think is the best thing.

Fort Worth's re-urbanization over the past decade is actually a great thing and we've been doing things right for awhile.

That's because people want to invest in the downtown/surrounding area due to the freedom provided by it being mostly privately owned. It's very attractive to residents and businesses alike.

Also the awesome thing in comparison to other cities, is there's FREE parking downtown after 6p every weeknight and on the weekends. You got to most other cities, you're going to pay a hefty fee to park in garages, etc. - There again, due to it being privately owned and not a city that's just trying to make money in every way possible, they care about a thriving downtown versus one that people will think twice about going.

That's not evening mentioning how well lit everything is, and on top of the Fort Worth police having a Presence, the Sundance Square Association always has bike security riding around at all hours.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Funny you say that because I have started to notice a lot of _{cough cough} undesirables in my neighborhood.

Do you wake up in cold sweats at night and lightly whisper "i see colored people" into the wind?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Affordable housing here has to be built to the same spec as market rate units.

If that is how it is done with market-level pricing model, you're going to keep rents low. Nobody wants to live next door to someone on Section 8 housing.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You're right Pike. No one is to blame that they turned their neighborhoods into no-go zones that literally look worse than a present day war zone: Baghdad.

Funny how I see so many in ghettos have the money for Louis Vuitton bags, iphones and $3k rims on their Lexus but apparently cannot afford to spend $50 on

• can of paint
  
• a paint brush
  
• a broom
  
• some nails
  
• a hammer
  

Placing trash in the bin is free.

Pointing the finger at people doesn't solve the underlying problems.

The idea AJ suggested is at least a positive way forward. You just want to stigmatise people.