Comparing NYC Neighborhoods and Chicago Neighborhoods (Washington, Humboldt: apartments, houses, taxes)

[temp2290]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Oh please. There is a black man in the White House.

This does not even come close to disproving my points.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by temp2290

It, however, is OUR responsibility (as I am assuming most people posting on the internet are on the wealthy side) to make sure the playing field is level for all people with respect to housing, jobs, etc and to correct the mistakes of the past to aid them as much as possible in their development.

How would you accomplish these goals in actual practice? Can you give some examples and how you would address any possible failure points (e.g. for jobs, lack of qualifications due to lack of adequate educational background)? Just trying to figure out what my responsibility is here

[lastonestanding]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

You're not arguing that modern gentrifiers and the people of Oak Park are some kind of specially enlightened and morally superior group, are you? That puts me in mind of Baby Boomers who think a person who drives an Audi is different in some important and fundamental way from one who drives a Buick.

No actually Im not, but that is a funny comparison. Really all I was doing was supporting the OP's preference in what he was looking for in a neighborhood in New York compared to Chicago. I personally feel that if the city of Chicago stood behind the people you mentioned in Austin then it would have been similar to Oak Park and we would see a different Austin.

And yes the part of Oak Park that is closer to Chicago isnt the best, but if I had to choose between living in Oak Park versus living in Austin, I will without a doubt choose Oak Park.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by temp2290

This does not even come close to disproving my points.

You never proved your points to begin with.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Oh please. There is a black man in the White House.

Thank you! That's exactly what I was thinking while I was reading that rather long screed.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by lastonestanding

I personally feel that if the city of Chicago stood behind the people you mentioned in Austin then it would have been similar to Oak Park and we would see a different Austin.

I can't disagree with that. I'd love to still be living in Austin, it was one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city.

[lastonestanding]

Originally Posted by Irishtom29

I can't disagree with that. I'd love to still be living in Austin, it was one of the nicest neighborhoods in the city.

Thats the same thing I heard from one of my relatives who used to live there, it was a really nice neighborhood back then.

[temp2290]

Originally Posted by BRU67

How would you accomplish these goals in actual practice? Can you give some examples and how you would address any possible failure points (e.g. for jobs, lack of qualifications due to lack of adequate educational background)? Just trying to figure out what my responsibility is here

This is the tough part with all the broken pieces of our system. These are a few things I try to do:

a.) The core of the disparity in wealth is unregulated capitalism, so not participating in it is a start (working at non-profits, co-ops, worker owned businesses etc.) Also, too many people out there are trading around meaningless pieces of paper (financial institutions) instead of creating real tangible value for society. Wealth is not "created" in this fashion, it is almost always taken.
b.) Try to get regressive taxes (sales tax, sin taxes) abolished. These taxes disproportionately hurt the poor.
d.) Support strong taxes for the rich (incl. capital gains tax), so that the funding can go toward important after school programs, community outreach, and aging urban infrastructure instead of going towards new yachts. Where is that sweet, sweet "trickle down" money? Certainly not in the Chicago ghettos.
e.) if you make decent money yourself, live a simple lifestyle and volunteer your time/money back to the community.
f.) Support local candidates on these issues. Your vote makes a lot more difference on the local level, don't buy into the national game that the media has you hooked on.

I hope I'm not looked at as the crazy liberal (I hate that term) around here. I myself am constantly researching and questioning my own assumptions/opinions.

[3divina]

What about Washington Heights?

[chicago103]

Southwest side near Midway and northwest side near O'Hare would be like parts of outer Queens near JFK and LaGuardia airports.

East Side and Hegewisch along the Indiana border would be like western and southern Staten Island just across the river from New Jersey.