Dennis asked: Is there any truth to the contention that most of the "affordable housing" either being built, or in the planning stages to be built is located in what might be called "impacted neighborhoods"?
I say: Yes, there is absolute truth to it. If the developments listed in the Skyway News are correct than all but 16 of them are being built in "impacted" neighborhoods. There is an official map drawn for the city of Minneapolis that shows the "impacted" (a federal term) neighborhoods in Minneapolis. You can obtain the map by contacting your council member and requesting it or by contacting CPED directly. If calling CPED, you should ask for Multi-Family Housing. If necessary, you can obtain it under the freedom of information act. The U.S. constitution does not allow for such classifications as "lower class" neighborhoods. Those were labels placed on society by our white ancestry who subscribed to the notion that people should be segregated by the color of their skin and their income. I believe the U.S. constitution guarantees that we are all equal no matter where we live, what we look like, how we worship or don't and how much money we have. In a real world if the constitution was truly being applied fairly EVERY community should be providing "affordable" and "service related" housing units within their boundaries. I have been "bashed" more than once for my efforts to show that the placement of "affordable" and "service- related" housing units in this city has been done in a way that segregates people of color and low income people. Was this intentional? You be the judge. As a white middle class person I have always had the privilege to choose wherever I want to live. I do not believe that persons who are income limited and require "affordable" housing or persons who require "service related" housing have been afforded that same privilege. At least not in this city. I think they call that segregation and discrimination. I also believe it's illegal. In all fairness to Hennepin County, I have seen many suburban developments that contain "affordable" units in them. I credit Ted Mondale, Gail Dorfman and other leaders for this trend. I think it's highly appropriate for a white person to speak out against current city policies that appear to perpetuate segregation and discrimination. It was white people who made these policies in the first place. Blacks and other people of color have been speaking out about it for years. It took moving to an inner-city neighborhood for me to smarten up and learn how these neighborhoods are treated differently than the ones I grew up in. If I hadn't moved to Whittier years ago, I might still be living in ignorance. The blinders are off now. Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead 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
