Jason asks a very good question, and Barb provides several interesting and relevant comments.
We have not, however, even begun to address the real problems. The activities that occur at the so-called "hood stores," are not, I repeat NOT created by the existence of such stores. These problems are, in my estimation, merely one small illustration of the plethora of larger sociological phenomena occurring in poverty-stricken areas. (Which are, as we all know, areas which reflect continuing institutional segregation.) These issues go way beyond Minneapolis-specificity, and so I will not expound on them at length. I will simply say that poverty, drug abuse, racism, and to some degree classism, are most definitely at play. The idea that closing or otherwise regulating small business is somehow going to rid us of all sorts of social ills is, in my view, utterly simplistic. Closing "hood stores" will not end poverty. It will not stop prostition or drug dealing. It will not magically give people cars with which they can drive to Cub and buy cheaper food. One thing it *will* do is hurt the handful of legitimate business-people who try to run a decent operation... In short, I think that restricting small business in impoverished areas is heavy-handed, ignores the real issues which are poverty and racism (among others) and will do little or nothing to help neighborhoods. Connie Nompelis Ventura Village __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
