Concentrated poverty is a consequence of discrimination in the housing and job markets, especially the exclusion of African-Americans from the better neighborhoods and jobs. But very little is being done by the government at any level to enforce fair employment and housing laws.
The plan to "deconcentrate poverty" on the Near North side that was legitimized by the Hollman Consent decree is, in reality, a gentrification project which harmed the people it was supposed to help. About 900 dwelling units were destroyed, which produced an alarming increase in the number of poor African-American families taken into homeless shelters in Minneapolis. A lot of housing that is affordable to poor people could be created by building on vacant lots and renovating or replacing uninhabitable dwelling units in some of the city's poorest neighborhoods. This is not being done because it would not be very profitable for private developers to do this. If a property is in a bad location, its market value can fall below the cost of acquisition and development. It is possible to deconcentrate poverty in the poorest neighborhoods, and at the same time increase the supply of "affordable housing" in the poorest neighborhoods and citywide. But that's not happening because the politicians in this city are owned by people who have an interest in preserving the status quo. That's why there is no interest in aggressively enforcing fair employment and housing laws and making all of the public schools good schools. A multitiered educational system with most African-Americans on the lower tiers helps to perpetuate discrimination against African-Americans by restricting access to many of the better jobs. It also reinforces negative stereotypes and prejudices that contributes to race-based discrimination. -Doug Mann, King Field, the new 8th ward School Board Candidate in 2002 Web site: educationright.tripod.com TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
