NYT & (Some) Bronx Residents Like Poverty (Morris, Fine: real estate, 2013)
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I don't get why the NYT and (some) local residents would oppose jobs and opportunity coming to their community. Who do you think will bring you out of poverty? Some would rather complain about who does and doesn't take food stamps than get off of food stamps.
I think the woman in this article is a hero. I also think many other "community leaders" don't really represent their community--and want members of their community to remain in poverty, as political pawns.
I don't get why the NYT and (some) local residents would oppose jobs and opportunity coming to their community. Who do you think will bring you out of poverty? Some would rather complain about who does and doesn't take food stamps than get off of food stamps.
I think the woman in this article is a hero. I also think many other "community leaders" don't really represent their community--and want members of their community to remain in poverty, as political pawns.
Nice find Wes. I have to say that some years ago I met Majora Carter, she is a very enigmatic and out spoken woman. I give her thumbs up for trying to uplift her community as a whole, sad thing is that they are educated people who come out of the South Bronx, but 99% of them end up leaving the area for good and invest their expertise in other parts of the state and country, but I can't blame fellow Bronxites for doing this over the years and now because of better employment and housing climate in other parts of the county as well trying be a role model for youths in the area especially male youths who have no guidance and who's role models are NBA, MLB athletes and Hip-Hop artists, note not everyone makes it to the big leagues or will sing at a sold out crowd at MSG, Barclays or Yankee Stadium. And yet again a vicious generational cycle that has been in placed in much of the South Bronx for nearly 100 years will still persists.
It is flattering that Majora Carter is trying to bring business to the South Bronx, especially since the area suffers from high unemployment rates along with having a lack of education, constant pregnancies, and criminal records. Hunts Point and Mott Haven suffers from the highest rates of Asthma in the country, when you have diesel powered trains which pass through the neighborhood, ships the pass by its waterways, cars and trucks that zip up and down the Deegan and Bruckner Expressways, airlines that take off from LGA in Queens and fly over Huntspoint, Mott Haven and Port Morris during and after take off dumping jet fuel exhaust and chemtrails onto the neighborhood, it becomes an environmental and health issue. Adding more trucks of fresh direct to feed Yuppies and others who have no time to shop will slightly increase problems for the area, however I question whether Fresh Direct will help lift people out of poverty or on the flip side continue the path of poverty? Some people who earn living income cant even afford to pay rents and often may have to seek government assistance, assistance from family and friends, and last resort to criminality in order to get by. Me personally I'm kind of mixed about Fresh Direct. I just wish a major none warehouse business would come to the area.
Note, not all Bronx residents like poverty, and not all of the Bronx is poor, hell not everyone in the South Bronx is poor. The people in the areas residents suffer from entitlements, too inflated egos, to low self esteems and local politicans like the Riverias, Espada, Diaz and congressmen Jose Serrano fights for votes in return of disillusion patronage. One way to represent you community is by living in your community, sending your kids to schools in the community, shopping in your community and not doing it from hip and trendy Manhattan nabe. it's all about showing example, but everyone wants what's best for themselves. Lets not forget that Hunts Point feeds NYC, but Hunts Point cant feed its own residents.
Last edited by Bronxguyanese; 04-05-2013 at 07:48 AM..
I don't get why the NYT and (some) local residents would oppose jobs and opportunity coming to their community. Who do you think will bring you out of poverty? Some would rather complain about who does and doesn't take food stamps than get off of food stamps.
I think the woman in this article is a hero. I also think many other "community leaders" don't really represent their community--and want members of their community to remain in poverty, as political pawns.
That's just it, some "community" leaders would want people to remain in poverty, so that they are dependent upon them getting them welfare.
The other thing is, Fresh Direct moving to the South Bronx will put it on the top, and attract other investment. I remember the late 90s, when Fresh Direct and some other firms opened up in LIC. And look at LIC now, with major corporate investment including Jet Blue's headquarters.
Fortunately, Fresh Direct will ultimately prevail. Everything that brings ecomomic advancement or increases real estate profile is also opposed. Barclay's Stadium in Brooklyn, Columbia's expansion in Upper Manhattan, building of the casino in Queens, subway expansion, etc. Fortunately, the courts always rule in favor of economic expansion.
I know that I wouldn't want Fresh Direct in my community. Imagine if the proposal were made to put the facility on the Upper East Side? Would there not be huge protests? The South Bronx already has the highest rates of asthma in the nation as far as I know - this should not be the type of economic development that the neighborhood is pursuing, especially given that Fresh Direct didn't even deliver to the Bronx before this proposal.
Poor communities get more than their share of stuff that on one else wants - this is undeniable. It was great that Carter took a stand to help the community in the past, but in this instance, I do feel like the money is corrupting her ideals.
I know that I wouldn't want Fresh Direct in my community. Imagine if the proposal were made to put the facility on the Upper East Side? Would there not be huge protests? The South Bronx already has the highest rates of asthma in the nation as far as I know - this should not be the type of economic development that the neighborhood is pursuing, especially given that Fresh Direct didn't even deliver to the Bronx before this proposal.
Poor communities get more than their share of stuff that on one else wants - this is undeniable. It was great that Carter took a stand to help the community in the past, but in this instance, I do feel like the money is corrupting her ideals.
Except no one is really concerned about the environment, are they? There could be things done to reduce emissions. Electric trucks, biodiesel, maybe even natural gas trucks (the city has natural gas buses). So if it was just concerned about emissions, why not petition Fresh Direct and the government to be mandated to use cleaner technology?
Because they want to use environmentalism as an excuse to block economic development, keeping the South Bronx poor. After Fresh Direct moves in (this is already all over the news) so will other businesses and investment. That substantially changes the area, and would move the Bronx much more in the direction of East River neighborhood parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
As for the UES, it doesn't have the empty space to house Fresh Direct, so why would they ever consider there?
And do keep in mind clean expansions, such as Columbia expanding in Harlem and Barclay's building a stadium had considerable opposition from advocates for the poor as well. You can't build anything in town without these people wanting to stop it. Fortunately, the courts always side with developers. Fresh Direct will move to the Bronx in a couple of years or so.
Why would you assume that no one is concerned about the environment? Get back to me after you have a child with asthma. I'm concerned about the environment yet I haven't gotten around to petitioning the government about cleaner technology.
Regarding the Upper East Side - ok, imagine there was space on the UES for the Fresh Direct Facility - residents there would be fighting tooth and nail against it, don't you think? Personally, my vision for the South Bronx would not replicate that of northern New Jersey.
Neither the Columbia expansion nor the Barclay's development pertain to this discussion as far as I'm concerned. I personally was not against them.
There are legitimate concerns about Fresh Direct in the South Bronx. To say that those against it "like" poverty is silly. There are obviously other concerns.
And it seems like a bad deal for the city. They get close to $128 million in cash and tax subsidies for agreeing to create 1,000 jobs in 10 years time? The math doesn't add up.
And it seems like a bad deal for the city. They get close to $128 million in cash and tax subsidies for agreeing to create 1,000 jobs in 10 years time? The math doesn't add up.
Its not just about this deal. Its about putting South Bronx on the map for corporate investment. Like I said, once they got a few companies to come to LIC in the 90s, it eventually took off big time. So the city and state are now encouraging investment in the South Bronx, and Fresh Direct is again one of the earlier pioneers, like it was in LIC.
Why would you assume that no one is concerned about the environment? Get back to me after you have a child with asthma. I'm concerned about the environment yet I haven't gotten around to petitioning the government about cleaner technology.
Regarding the Upper East Side - ok, imagine there was space on the UES for the Fresh Direct Facility - residents there would be fighting tooth and nail against it, don't you think? Personally, my vision for the South Bronx would not replicate that of northern New Jersey.
Neither the Columbia expansion nor the Barclay's development pertain to this discussion as far as I'm concerned. I personally was not against them.
There are legitimate concerns about Fresh Direct in the South Bronx. To say that those against it "like" poverty is silly. There are obviously other concerns.
Its quite clear the environment is not a concern, because if it was the first thing to do is to insist on better emission standards, including electric fleets if need be. Or natural fleets like the MTA uses. Or hybrid fleets or biodiesel.
The Columbia expansion and the Barclay's development partain to this discussion because those against development will use any excuse they can to try to block development, all the name of perserving a neighborhood before poor and full of welfare tenants.
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