Gentrification at its finest in Austin (affordable apartments, condo, townhouse)

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by austinaggie

My comment is not an attitude, it is a statement of reality. Also, it seems like 40 partner agencies serving these communities is quite a lot. Seems like there is quite a bit of funding and support. Am I missing something? A real question, not trying to be snarky.

Most likely volunteers and private donations from people who actually care about kids as opposed to politics. Volunteer/private programs tend to be much smaller and more fragmented that government programs, hence the large number, maybe?

[austinaggie]

Not an attitude, just a statement of reality. You say that East Austin is underfunded and unsupported yet go on to mention that there are at least 40 partner agencies serving certain zip codes with goals of helping empower and educate these students and parents and even helping them presumably find jobs. That sounds like a lot of support to me.

[austinaggie]

Sorry for the two posts. The first did not seem to be going through.

[sojourner77]

It's not the attitude of Austinaggie that's the problem, it's the attitude of the working class and immigrant populations that's the problem. My kids went to a Title I school in AISD years ago (even though we weren't poor), and the lack of involvement and non-existent support from the parents was appalling. We stayed in AISD, but moved into a school zone with upper-middle class parents, and the difference was night and day. I feel bad for the teachers at the Title I schools in Austin. Most of the poor parents just drop their kids off early for the free breakfast, and then leave. The parents at the wealthier schools drop their kids off early too, but the kids study, direct traffic, meet with their clubs, work as greeters, etc. The poor parents think that just bringing their kids to school means they are good parents, because that is the low bar that has been set by their communities and their culture. Many parents of Title I students come form quasi-socialist cultures in Latin America, and they assume the state will educate their children for them. They don't feel they have to be involved because it's "not their job". If their kids don't get good grades, they automatically assume it's the school's fault, but honestly a lot don't even care, just as long as their kids are somewhere and someone is watching them.

[austinaggie]

Thanks Trainwreck, I understand that may be the case. I guess my question was how can someone say that these communities are unsupported when they then turn around and say that at least 40 agencies are there helping them? I understand they may be underfunded by the government so perhaps I should not have thrown that word in there. However, just because they are underfunded by the government does not mean those communities are not being served.

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by austinaggie

Thanks Trainwreck, I understand that may be the case. I guess my question was how can someone say that these communities are unsupported when they then turn around and say that at least 40 agencies are there helping them? I understand they may be underfunded by the government so perhaps I should not have thrown that word in there. However, just because they are underfunded by the government does not mean those communities are not being served.

Unsupported by those not in the community. How many times have you heard people here at CD say "I've heard not to live east of 35...." it's the stigma that is passed down from generation and generation and there are organizations that are trying to assist the community in reversing that trend. But, until the community as a whole knows about the services and changes that are happening the generalizations and stereotypes will continue.

Originally Posted by sojourner77

It's not the attitude of Austinaggie that's the problem, it's the attitude of the working class and immigrant populations that's the problem. My kids went to a Title I school in AISD years ago (even though we weren't poor), and the lack of involvement and non-existent support from the parents was appalling. We stayed in AISD, but moved into a school zone with upper-middle class parents, and the difference was night and day. I feel bad for the teachers at the Title I schools in Austin. Most of the poor parents just drop their kids off early for the free breakfast, and then leave. The parents at the wealthier schools drop their kids off early too, but the kids study, direct traffic, meet with their clubs, work as greeters, etc. The poor parents think that just bringing their kids to school means they are good parents, because that is the low bar that has been set by their communities and their culture. Many parents of Title I students come form quasi-socialist cultures in Latin America, and they assume the state will educate their children for them. They don't feel they have to be involved because it's "not their job". If their kids don't get good grades, they automatically assume it's the school's fault, but honestly a lot don't even care, just as long as their kids are somewhere and someone is watching them.

Please search for "community school" and AISD. Many of the schools in the mentioned zips are working with the parents to change the perception that parents can just drop off their kids and not do anything else as you have stated. While I believe you wholeheartedly that there are parents that have that attitude (I'm sorry that you had that experience in a Title I school) there are people within the district that are working from the ground up (parents to district and back) to change that. Also there is the fact that many of the parents are working those jobs I mentioned, $9/hr and maybe two or three of those $9/hr jobs to support their family. They can either help get their kids to school early or pick them up late for a club...or be fired from their job. I mean, it's a give and take that many of us have not had to struggle with (although I don't doubt some here have).

[austinnative69]

Originally Posted by sojourner77

Most of the poor parents just drop their kids off early for the free breakfast, and then leave. The parents at the wealthier schools drop their kids off early too, but the kids study, direct traffic, meet with their clubs, work as greeters, etc. The poor parents think that just bringing their kids to school means they are good parents, because that is the low bar that has been set by their communities and their culture.

I cant believe you just said this. This is the privileged drivel i used to hear from wealthy private school moms who were on their way to their mid-morning yoga classes after finishing their room mom activities.

Every Urbanist screaming about the "missing middle" housing situation in Austin should be up in arms against developers tearing this type of complex down, not in bed with them.

Edit: Thank you Ashbeeigh for being a concerned citizen, its so easy to label these hard working fellow Austinites as "invaders".

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

Unsupported by those not in the community. How many times have you heard people here at CD say "I've heard not to live east of 35...." it's the stigma that is passed down from generation and generation and there are organizations that are trying to assist the community in reversing that trend. But, until the community as a whole knows about the services and changes that are happening the generalizations and stereotypes will continue.



Please search for "community school" and AISD. Many of the schools in the mentioned zips are working with the parents to change the perception that parents can just drop off their kids and not do anything else as you have stated. While I believe you wholeheartedly that there are parents that have that attitude (I'm sorry that you had that experience in a Title I school) there are people within the district that are working from the ground up (parents to district and back) to change that. Also there is the fact that many of the parents are working those jobs I mentioned, $9/hr and maybe two or three of those $9/hr jobs to support their family. They can either help get their kids to school early or pick them up late for a club...or be fired from their job. I mean, it's a give and take that many of us have not had to struggle with (although I don't doubt some here have).

This right here was the first thing that came to mind when I read that - how can someone who thinks at all NOT recognize that inescapable fact?

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by austinnative69

I cant believe you just said this. This is the privileged drivel i used to hear from wealthy private school moms who were on their way to their mid-morning yoga classes after finishing their room mom activities.

Every Urbanist screaming about the "missing middle" housing situation in Austin should be up in arms against developers tearing this type of complex down, not in bed with them.

Edit: Thank you Ashbeeigh for being a concerned citizen, its so easy to label these hard working fellow Austinites as "invaders".

Where's the wild applause smilie?

[Aquitaine]

Every Urbanist screaming about the "missing middle" housing situation in Austin should be up in arms against developers tearing this type of complex down, not in bed with them.

I confess I haven't been following this issue too closely, but isn't "the missing middle" referring to middle class housing, e.g. SFH or else townhouses/condos/3+ bed apartments that aren't 20 miles outside the city and that can be had for $200k?

I'm not sure I see what bearing this complex has on that discussion.