The above simple title seems like common sense, but because of rumors and distortions that common sense notion is not widely accepted in many areas of Baltimore.
In Baltimore there seems to be an underlying belief in certain communities that new residents who fix up their houses and take care of their properties only bring increased property taxes and displacement of longtime residents. Do not believe the hype and rumors. We desperately need new responsible residents in Baltimore. The following is a post from the Reservoir Hill message board that sums up everything:
“In Reservoir Hill we have an incredibly high concentration of very unstable families that are confronting problems that we can’t even begin to understand.
Early teen drug use, early teen pregnancy, physical and sexual abuse of minors from the adult men who spend time in their homes. For many, the only person who enforces discipline or provides structure is the grandparent who is an infrequent presence in their lives. As much as we can hope that the school can provide some of these things, teachers need to teach lessons on math, science and English and American schools are not designed as a substitute for the family.
The best thing we can do for the children of Reservoir Hill is to bring more stable households this neighborhood. More citizens out walking around NOT carrying the black Linden-Liquor plastic bags, more parents who send their children to schools and participate in their education and most importantly more examples of good citizenship.
Schools can’t do that and American government isn’t designed to do that either, thank goodness. We only get that by having a healthy community with more stable households than unstable households. There are small pockets of stability in Reservoir Hill, but it’s not enough to turn the tide.”
Adam is the most recognizable face of the recent resurgence in Reservoir Hill. He has appeared on many national and local radio shows, in several news publications, and at numerous events discussing his innovative urban redevelopment ideas and his unique lifestyle. Adam is a successful entrepreneur, community activist, and a local political guru who ran for city council in 2007. He is the founder and director of the TechBalt.com Buy a Block Project and BaltimoreHourly.com. His fearless local political commentary has rocked the local blog scene for most of this decade and he plans to take it to the next level in the next decade here on Charm City Current.
Someone should study Albemarle Square, just north of Little Italy, to see the actaul effect of mixed income housing. I’m not being sarcastic here; nor am I saying I know the answers. Just that I know where the experiement is currently taking place.
Those born on the wrong side of the tracks will not remain there much longer. The free flow of information on the Internet and the globalization of commerce will shortly make each of us a citizen of the world rather then only of one nation. There will be a fairer distribution of wealth due to the disappearance of the sharp line between the rich and poor nations. It will not be utopia, but only the evolution of civilization in a positive direction.
I totally agree with the post!
The reason that unstable communities stay unstable, is because there is no middle class element there to “show” them there is a better way.
I moved to my Harlem Park community, and have to admit that I was terrified. The cost of a great home and great location overtook those concerns, but I was concerned that there was not a large enough middle class or stable element in the neighborhood. Then I remembered some of the areas in Washington D.C. where I “missed the boat” and how those areas are beautiful now…stable. I remembered that someone had to be first, and I decided that being first is sometimes the best thing to do for a neighborhood that is not only unstable, but invisible.
I did try to get involved with some groups in this community, but there is an extreme amount of distrust and harshness to what are deemed, outsiders…Great suspicion. I have learned to simply be a good neighbor, and that seems to have a positive effect.
If we want these neighborhoods to change for the better, we have to not only take a chance in move in them, but the residents need to be less suspicious and more welcoming…It is a compromise for the health and well being of the entire city.