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Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan
I don't want to hear anything about "equity" when POC pedestrians and cyclists are victims of vehicle fatalities at higher rates than the general population. Motorists are encouraged to speed on large, auto-centric roadways like Washington Avenue, putting the lives of those who cross it in danger. I'm also offended at the notion that non-white people are less inclined to desire pedestrian-friendly changes (as mentioned in the article), and that making the environment safer for pedestrians is somehow appeasing the wealthier, whiter residents. As a black cyclist and runner, I would love to feel safer while out on the streets. Whenever I set off on a run, the thought of being hit by a car is MUCH more prevalent than being the victim of a crime.
The city had a chance to make Washington Avenue safer for all users, but now it's all gone in the name of "equity". When will our brainless "leaders" learn to stop worshipping the automobile??
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Quote:
Originally Posted by allovertown
I think you've lost the thread here. Plenty of people in the "poor communities " that OTIS claims they're changing the plans for were involved in the initial process to change Washington Ave. Plenty of people in these communities want these changes. Most of them don't have time to get involved in this debate one way or the other.
You shouldn't assume that just because someone like Claudia Sherrod or Kenyatta Johnson claim to represent the will of the poor communities around Washington Ave, that they actually do.
And while Philadelphia is the poorest big city in America, you'd have to be living under a rock to think it's laughable for someone in Philadelphia to worry about gentrification. Have you not noticed the drastic and changes that have swept through so many Philadelphia neighborhoods in the past few decades? Can you really not understand that gentrification is a very real force in Philadelphia and a real worry for many residents?
The problem is that when most of the leaders in Philly do something they claim is designed to combat gentrification, they're really just furthering the will of their connected supporters. For as often as people in this city claim to be doing this and that in the name of fighting gentrification, nothing in this city has ever been done to actually address the issues that gentrification causes. Literally nothing. And that's because unfortunately, most of the people in this city who claim to be the champions of this city's poor, are some of the most incredibly shameless swindlers you could imagine.
I get that it's frustrating what is happening. But I hope everyone can see through the way that city leaders are basically holding poor people up as a shield for their unpopular decisions and are stoking very real fears of gentrification to push forward the will of the real people they support, not the actual people living in their communities, but the business owners and slum lords that support their campaigns and keep them in power.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown
Philadelphia doesn't have a gentrification problem. It has an income problem.
It's easier to blame new "gentrifiers" who come with 21st century jobs and skills, blame them, and do nothing to equip your constituents with those skills to participate in the new economy.
Said differently. Things have been so sh*tty for so long for so many people that even a neighborhood that looks completely basic and functions at a stable level is perceived as gentrified. Oh my god. The students can read at grade level!!! How dare they. Oh my god. Our park doesn't have trash in it? It must be the devil.
I mean. I understand the history but its also not normal to live in a neighborhood that looks like a war zone. Our politicians should expect that everyone would want to live in a stable, functioning neighborhood.
These people have Stockholm Syndrome.
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As a POC myself I can attest that yes poorer neighborhoods and minorities want better Schools, Roads, Parks, Safety and even cops.
The main issue at hand is the fact that a good amount of people hate the government/police and don't care or even want their help because well a lot of bad as happened from the same entities that say they are trying to help.
And a good amount of people want and welcome the changes and help.
So what happens is a rift in the neighborhood between NEIGHBORS and the entities that are trying to make the changes, it causes a cycle of back and forth which equals nothing happening.
The biggest issue is people not coming together as one to grow and protect their neighborhood, and when they do it's just not enough people as let's say Rittenhouse Square, Filter Square, Old City, Midtown Village, NoLib and etc.
Plus lets not even mention Gerrymandering and politicians using their constituents as pawns to get certain things through.
Let me put it this way, can you ride a bike if the links on the chains were broken?
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