Grimis
Scrapple Level: 135
Posts: 4074/4700 EXP: 28678234 For next: 656847
Since: 11.7.02 From: MD
Since last post: 4704 days Last activity: 3158 days
| #1 Posted on 8.10.04 1048.58 Reposted on: 8.10.11 1054.33 | It's amazing how many city councils do stupid stuff like this.
Originally posted by Bryan DeBose in the 10/8/04 Washington Times The Detroit City Council, in defiance of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, likely will move forward with plans to create an "African Town" in the tradition of Chinatowns and Little Italys nationwide, even though the issue has turned into a racially divisive economic-development proposal.
In July, the council resolved to build up a section of the city devoted to African and black American literature, cuisine and art, which Mr. Kilpatrick endorsed. He vetoed the resolution, however, when it became clear that the council's plan would allow only black businessmen and investors to use the $38 million earmarked for the project.
Mr. Kilpatrick argued that the resolution is both racist and unconstitutional.
"It's not the African Town proposal. We like the idea," said Howard Hughey, spokesman for Mr. Kilpatrick. "But what they are proposing is to create a publicly funded private entity and give one man $40 million to use and distribute to investors, and it is unconstitutional to do that based on race and [the resolution] says very clearly that it would be."
The nine-member council -- which has two white members -- voted 7-2 to override Mr. Kilpatrick's veto and passed the resolution. In addition, they resolved that Detroit is a "majority-minority" city that is underserved.
Council member Kay Everett, who is black, said the first resolution was "ridiculous" and opposed the African Town resolution for being illegal and divisive.
"It is reverse racism, and you can't right a wrong with another wrong. It's reparations with public money," she said.
The resolution isn't legally binding, and Mrs. Everett, council member Sheila M. Cockrel, who is white, and the Asian, Hispanic and Arab chambers of commerce are working to have the resolution rescinded during a third and final vote on Oct. 11. The three chambers said they will file a class-action lawsuit against the city if the council chooses to move forward beyond the resolutions.
The city's African-American Chamber of Commerce also opposes the bill, calling it unconstitutional, but has said it wouldn't file a lawsuit.
Typically, Chinatowns, Little Italys and other locales, such as Spanish Harlem in New York, were created by immigrants in a time when they were not accepted in other areas of the city and forced to build their own businesses and communities centered on their respective cultures.
Recently, several cities, including the District, mayors and developers have used the ethnic tag to promote economic development, but never to this extent and never in favor of one ethnic group over another.
The number of people offended by this proposal is impressive all in itself. Promote this thread! | | Malarky
Bauerwurst Level: 26
Posts: 100/104 EXP: 89690 For next: 12587
Since: 19.8.04
Since last post: 7101 days Last activity: 7098 days
| #2 Posted on 8.10.04 1052.30 Reposted on: 8.10.11 1054.37 | Aren't you glad we have such a high caliber of individuals handling the public purse?
BTW, isn't inner city Detroit pretty much Africatown already? ;) | DrOp
Frankfurter Level: 65
Posts: 693/859 EXP: 2267476 For next: 68164
Since: 2.1.02
Since last post: 5669 days Last activity: 4536 days
| #3 Posted on 8.10.04 1111.19 Reposted on: 8.10.11 1114.57 | Originally posted by Malarky BTW, isn't inner city Detroit pretty much Africatown already? ;)
I'd really appreicate it if you could refrain from making statements like that as I find it offensive. Thanks.
Grimis--I'm firmly behind you on the stance that this is a ridiculous idea. Totally ridiculous and not at all needed. | Malarky
Bauerwurst Level: 26
Posts: 103/104 EXP: 89690 For next: 12587
Since: 19.8.04
Since last post: 7101 days Last activity: 7098 days
| #4 Posted on 8.10.04 1120.50 Reposted on: 8.10.11 1126.30 | I assure you good sir I couldn't give two licks of a donkey's rectum as to what you may find offensive. | messenoir
Summer sausage Level: 49
Posts: 160/449 EXP: 854260 For next: 29629
Since: 20.2.02 From: Columbia, MO
Since last post: 3980 days Last activity: 3847 days
| #5 Posted on 8.10.04 1530.37 Reposted on: 8.10.11 1536.32 | I truly hope you didn't mean to respond like that to someone who didn't insult you or yell at you, simply asked nicely for you not to make jokes like that.
It was an offensive joke, and I hope you could make jokes that aren't offensive to people. | Freeway
Scrapple Level: 119
Posts: 2342/3504 EXP: 18679127 For next: 250219
Since: 3.1.02 From: Calgary
Since last post: 3739 days Last activity: 3427 days
| #6 Posted on 8.10.04 1549.56 Reposted on: 8.10.11 1550.06 | Originally posted by messenoir I truly hope you didn't mean to respond like that to someone who didn't insult you or yell at you, simply asked nicely for you not to make jokes like that.
It was an offensive joke, and I hope you could make jokes that aren't offensive to people.
I'm in an Urban Studies course in university and this basically reeks of the cities trying to reverse the gendrification process that's been taking place within cities throughout North America. Unfortunately, building areas like this only stigmatizes the areas and keeps things almost exactly the same.
Such a terrible idea.
EDITED: Because I didn't wanna sound like I was modding.
(edited by Freeway420 on 8.10.04 1537) | CRZ
Big Brother Administrator Level: 239
Posts: 5181/17694 EXP: 212286423 For next: 1874376
Since: 9.12.01 From: ミネアポリス
Since last post: 17 days Last activity: 8 days
| ICQ: | |
| Y!: | |
|
| #7 Posted on 8.10.04 1831.32 Reposted on: 8.10.11 1833.51 | Originally posted by Malarky I assure you good sir I couldn't give two licks of a donkey's rectum as to what you may find offensive.
Please take that attitude to some other message board. Your "second chance" is over. | asteroidboy
Andouille Level: 98
Posts: 2128/2241 EXP: 9542702 For next: 111685
Since: 22.1.02 From: Texas
Since last post: 4864 days Last activity: 429 days
| #8 Posted on 8.10.04 1957.05 Reposted on: 8.10.11 1959.03 | What's silly about this is that they're trying to re-create something that has sprung up naturally in other communities. And with public money.
If a group of businessmen got together and wanted to pool their own money to start such a district, more power to them... | Roy.
Pepperoni Level: 70
Posts: 451/1040 EXP: 2870885 For next: 144941
Since: 25.2.04 From: Keystone State
Since last post: 5792 days Last activity: 1756 days
| #9 Posted on 8.10.04 2116.21 Reposted on: 8.10.11 2117.11 | Originally posted by asteroidboy What's silly about this is that they're trying to re-create something that has sprung up naturally in other communities.
Right. I've been to Little Italy and Chinatown dozens of times, and the thing about them is that they feel historical. We took a field trip in high school to Little Odessa (a relatively new neighborhood) and it was amazing. An artifically constructed area funded by public money seems stupid and pointless to me. | StaggerLee
Scrapple Level: 161
Posts: 1986/7105 EXP: 53018500 For next: 1094733
Since: 3.10.02 From: Right side of the tracks
Since last post: 928 days Last activity: 928 days
| #10 Posted on 9.10.04 0017.33 Reposted on: 9.10.11 0018.33 | Kwame Kilpatrick? They got a Irish Mayor in Detroit?
Anyhow, I think if the business people want to group together, fine, but dont spend city cash on it. | Leviathan
Cotto Level: 17
Posts: 35/40 EXP: 21529 For next: 3214
Since: 20.5.04
Since last post: 6993 days Last activity: 6993 days
| #11 Posted on 9.10.04 0111.15 Reposted on: 9.10.11 0111.54 | Originally posted by Roy.
Originally posted by asteroidboy What's silly about this is that they're trying to re-create something that has sprung up naturally in other communities.
Right. I've been to Little Italy and Chinatown dozens of times, and the thing about them is that they feel historical. We took a field trip in high school to Little Odessa (a relatively new neighborhood) and it was amazing. An artifically constructed area funded by public money seems stupid and pointless to me.
Any resident of any maor city anywhere can, unfortunately, tell you how this neighbourhood engineering projects fail miserably. 99% of the time they end up creating dead-zones with no character and nothing to offer. | Freeway
Scrapple Level: 119
Posts: 2343/3504 EXP: 18679127 For next: 250219
Since: 3.1.02 From: Calgary
Since last post: 3739 days Last activity: 3427 days
| #12 Posted on 9.10.04 0121.46 Reposted on: 9.10.11 0122.05 | Typically, North American cities were founded as largely Anglo-Saxon communities. Immigrants tended to cluster together and live near work. Chinatowns & Little Italy districts clustered near the city centers are indicitive of this. The problem is that nobody crowded these groups together, they just clustered due to want of familiarity. Heck, most of these communities have institutional completeness to some degree, as there are Chinese schools & churches, Chinese shops and tons of other little touches in Chinatown that make it a distinct historical area. Calgary has no Little Italy, but I imagine it's fairly similar. Forcing groups to live in a certain area is illegal (or should be), but encouraging them to live in areas is good politics...if that group is in the minority. Urban sprawl has been a byproduct of fear. Fear of crime, and fear of groups different from the status quo (typically visible minorities), so everyone flees to the suburbs. So cities try to clean up the inner cities using programs like this one...and they don't work. | MoeGates
Boudin blanc Level: 100
Posts: 1727/2353 EXP: 10276968 For next: 77464
Since: 6.1.02 From: Brooklyn, NY
Since last post: 14 days Last activity: 7 days
| #13 Posted on 10.10.04 1715.30 Reposted on: 10.10.11 1718.53 | Originally posted by StaggerLee Kwame Kilpatrick? They got a Irish Mayor in Detroit?.
Never mind that, how the hell are there two white members of the Detroit City Council? | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |