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Originally Posted by 777
Had a chat with an old friend the other day regarding parts of town, and how they look like something out of a second or third world country. Neighborhoods that have been neglected and left in disrepair. Bad ones. The kind you hear about on the 11 0'clock news regarding the latest shooting or other violence. Although we're not here to talk about the unlawful acts that may go on in such places, we are hear to talk about why they remain being that way.
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I disagree that bad neighborhoods stay bad. In my life time I have seen many neighborhoods go through cycles. The cycles often correspond to economic conditions and demographics. I grew up in a neighborhood in the Midwest, a blue collar neighborhood. While the jobs were plentiful the neighborhood was good. When good jobs left things got worse. Young educated people who grew up in the neighborhood left. The criminal element took over. However, in the past 10 years, conditions have started improving with new business investment and attractions to the downtown area. The last time I was there I was amazed with how much had changed.
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Is it the government's responsibility to renovate and rebuild them up to a higher set of standards, private individuals who have left their original homes after becoming successful, or should they be left as they are?
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I think it is local and in some cases state government's responsibility. Not the Federal government. The Federal would have no clue on how to effectively managing local issues that would lead to renewal. It seem to be inefficient to send a tax dollar to Washington only to have a portion of that dollar come back for local issues. there is no State in this country that is so poor that they can not manage these issues.
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Is there something else going? Can it be true that banks are redlining these areas to keep poor cities poor?
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Banks don't call it "redlining", but they are not going to take a risk unless they thin it is going to be profitable. Good banks have no agenda other than longterm profitable growth.
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Are companies profiting from this area in this state, or are they avoided like the a plague that causes a loss of status and growth? Are we missing something more sinister, or is there a simple answer here?
Any thoughts?
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People make the difference. People have to fight for what is best for their community. When people get involved in the fight, everything improves, from police protection, business investment in the area, and government being more responsive to community needs.