How do you save a small town? (Brooklyn: crime, unemployment rate)

[Johnny Ray]

Originally Posted by ofrashop

Brooklyn, Illinois, is one of the oldest towns in America. It was incorporated in 1873. It is circling the drain. What can be done to save it?

Clear a spot right downtown for the Super Walmart to be built. NOT out by the highway. Don't allow a prison to be built anywhere close. Keep a curfew in effect. Keep a good grip on the crime rate. Have block parties. Love thy nieghbors. Respect everyone, and teach your children well. The future of ANY small town will be in the hands of your children,,,,,,,,and then theirs.

[jojojohnson76]

Originally Posted by Manigault

I have been to Brooklyn. Per the reprinted information, most of town revenue comes from strip clubs and speed traps for the unwary.

Now, if you are trying to preserve its existence, try to make the casino hire some area residents, improve the schools and insert some industry. It won't be easy.

Sure, but the casino is in ESL, not Brooklyn. ESL needs the jobs just as bad or worse than Brooklyn.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ray

Clear a spot right downtown for the Super Walmart to be built. NOT out by the highway.

That's ludicrous. No one would go. There's too few people that live there to frequent the place and no one else is crazy enough to go there. Besides, don't Wal-Marts kill small towns. This is what I've always heard.

[linicx]

Originally Posted by jojojohnson76

^^ If you've never been to Brooklyn, visit there, and then re-visit your suggestions.

Ever been to Brooklyn, MO or Commerce, OK? Maybe San Jose, IL or Eagle Butte, NM?

Lewistown in Fulton county has a pop of 2700. Pekin at one time had less than 1000. Towns can survive, but it takes more than a strip club mentality to see dreams become a reality. Mine was a valid answer.

Where or not the city fathers have the will to do anything different is the real question.

[jojojohnson76]

^^ Brooklyn will not only have to clean up its image, but also that of Washington Park (good luck), Venice (good luck), and........East St. Louis (hah! Good luck!).

On top of that, who is going to frequent a Wal Mart there other than its very small number of residents? (there is already a wal mart in ESL).

No one would visit there but Brooklyn/Venice/Wash. Park residents, because everywhere else that is of decent size and decent population (and...ahem...a lot of decent people) already has a Wal Mart, Target, 4 grocery stores, etc, etc.

[hsobi]

Well, Well, Well
Look at us now. We are moving forward despite the venom that you have spat on us. Brooklyn, Illinois, now has a historical society. A historical ordinace is now in place to save our historic structures. Archaeologist from University of Illinois have conducted test and determined that the original homestead sites of our Founding Families are intact. Excavation will begin soon. Our historic cemetery is now under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and has been recognized as one of the oldest Free African American cemeteries in the state of Illinois.

[linicx]

If you want to save Brooklyn you stop telling people not to come thee and crete an environment hwre people want to live. One proeson cannot do it alone. Peoria is the oldest city in Illinois. But the first building errected by Europeans in the 17th century was on the opposite side of the river. The first bridge that crissed the river to connect the two counties was wooden and affectionately called "Old Toothpick". Go study your city history and see what you can learn. .

[skipcromer]

Originally Posted by hsobi

Well, Well, Well
Look at us now. We are moving forward despite the venom that you have spat on us. Brooklyn, Illinois

Has the unemployment and crime rates gone down recently?

Have the test scores in the schools recently gone up?

I hope something is done to improve the town, but adding a 'historical society' is a very small step towards improvement.

[loogz23]

The major problem is that this area relies on bars, strip clubs, and liquor stores for its revenue. The first step is to diminish the dependence on these establishements. (and get rid of the prostitutes). Its sad because there are many great people in these communities that do take pride in the place they live, but they are overshadowed by the thugs, drug dealers, and corrupt governments.The easiest place to start is just to literally start to clean up the area. The streets are lined with trash, fields are overgrown, and the streets are filled with potholes. Also, the abandoned houses need to be torn down. Its just takes one group of people to say enough is enough. The other day i was driving through ESTL and a guy threw his McDonoalds bag out the window into a field then literally drove 20 feet to get to his house. Its stuff like that, that just doesnt make sense. They just built a new park in ESTL and I just wonder how long it will be until it is trashed. Also, get the kids involved so they learn to respect the community and not view as a place they are stuck in until they can find a way out. I understand the economic plight of the area, but it doesnt cost any money to pick up trash, report crimes when they happen, or just plain be a good citizen.

[hsobi]

Our numbers are small but, we are trying. Are you willing to come out and support us? We are having a Freedom Walk June 20, 2009. This event (and others planned) are intended to bring attention to our town and the positive changes that we are trying to implement