|
| Author
|
Post |
 
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
Snyder can bring in all of the State Police he wants, but any reductions in violent incidents will be temporary. That is because he and his appointed managers, Mike Brown and Ed Kurtz, are perpetrating the systemic policies that helped foster disinvestment in the predominantly poor and miniority neighborhoods in Flint.
The state implemented a plan to ease jail overcrowding by paying to house prisoners in other communities. Then the state got tired of paying the bill. The state has reopened the Flint lock up and there is controvery already. When the Flint lock up worked was when it was used in warrant stings and child support stings. Money actually materialized when these people wanted out of jail. However it also stressed the county jail.
The state wanted to close prisons, so they released prisoners early. Sometimes these early releases had tragic results. Prosecutors plea bargain and violent individuals are placed back on the streets. Gun charges were routinely dropped to facillitate these plea deals.
But the core of this violence is the link between concentrated disadvantage in minority communities that precipitates the violence. The Chief Justice Earl Warren Institute of Law and Social Policies at the University of california Berkeley, released a study on April 2, 2011 titled "Consequences of Structural Racism".
In reading this document I was struck by the situations discussed in Andrew Highsmith's dissertion "Demolition means Progress" in which Highsmith discussed in great detail the racial policies of C. S. Mott and others during the development of Flint. Governor Snyder is perpetuating these racial policies.
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:52 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:46 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
In this research brief by the Warren Institute there is discussion of the the policies that encourage further disinvestment in the poorer communitis and actually remove jobs from those poorer communities. A strategic point raised in this work is "poor neighborhoods are often politically isolated" and they lack the networks to bring the public attention to their plight and their issues.
Talk to north end residents, especially the youth, and you will hear anger that the state, the local government, and other entities believe they have the right to direct taxes and resources to the exclusive benefit of their neighborhoods and their business ventures. When there is discussion of a regional economy that will distribute resources in an equitable fashion, these policeis are dismissed.
Look at the Neighborhood Stabilization Program that was designed to address the foreclosure crisis and help grow the local economy. The local minority community has to a great extent been left out of the process and had benefitted very little. |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:06 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
Under the Walling-Eason administration, in conjunction with the Michigan housing organization, MSHDA, they hijacked the NSP funding to build unnecessary housing and projects in the 2 mile area controlled by Downtown groups.
It is a crime to lie on a federal application for funding, especially projects such as NSP. Yet Operation Unification violated many federal rules and lied on more than one application. Alexandra Graemer of the Department of Justice ignored this complaint and the result was an unqualified builder screwed up Smith Village. More importantly there was little if any benefit to the local community that was supposed to be helped.
Lawsuits and leins have been filed for mismanagement. Flint is looking at more than one large repayment and local minority businesses and Flint business men did not benefit. There has been no boost to the local economy. The newest business entity Ginosko, placed the minority partner in the limelight during a television promotion. However, the non-minority workers come from Grand Rapids, not Milford, the home office of Amin Irving. They are housed in Grand Blanc and boost that economy, but provide little benefit to the Flint economy.
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:08 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:18 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
When Urban Builders was employed by Operation Unification, they paid their employees the prevailing wages as prescribed by the Davis-bacon Act regulating federal projects. I have known these individuals to be honorable contractors. Yet they went unpaid, pulled out of the project and were denied full payment. Charles Young Jr. threatened to sue them although he was a partner in Smith Village Construction that did not make payments.
The lawsuit by Smith Village Development stated Young was their agent and that Young and another partner conspired with Eason to take over the contract between them and Metro Housing. The original contract was approved by the administration, City Council and the Metro Housing board. Yet council allowed the contract ot be altered despite actions and expenses already encumbered by Metro Housing and Smith Village Development.
This housing and the quiet demolition of the Metawaneenee area by the Land Bank, Salem Housing and Hurley is not intended to benefit the surrounding neighborhoods. It is part of a long term plan to benefit Hurley employees with housing.
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:31 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
Walling once stated that 500 new homes were needed in the area surrounding downtown. Once again this was in response to more hidden politics as it was based on a study completed by the DDA or some other downtown group.
So once again community resources are going to be allocated for community improvement and new housing intended to provide access to jobs and the higher educational institutions for a select population, Flint is already announcing plans to provide these new homes with access to healthy environments, easy access to health services and safe places to live work and recreate.
Problem: These new taxes, assessments and fees are going to price a number of people out of their homes. Gentrification will not benefit those communities where people already live in the poorer neighborhoods. We need to improve the neighborhoods where people live and not only improve their basic services and well being, but provide a better education and job opportunities for our youngpeople who live in these disadvantaged neighborhoods. |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:45 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
Every night there are calls for shots fired and sometimes there are reports of individuals just walking down streets while shooting in the air. So because of the violence and the perceived violence, the State has sent us more State Police, State Police helicopters and money to house people. This is not addressing the underlying policies that lead to the violence.
This increased State Police presence and the impression of militarizing specific neighborhoods can lead to an unequal enforcement of laws. Already I am hearing of sometimes illegal behavior of the State Police and a disregard for the rights of some of those individuals they stop. I can't shake the image of the State trooper in lansing who knocked down an elderly man and raised his baton but was stopped when a fellow officer observed the camera. This probably saved the man from a nasty beating.
The State Police admit they are powerless to infiltrate the Flint gang culture and blame it on tight family and social units plus the use of cell phones that transmit their presence. It was local police with local ties that pulled off the RICO bust of the Cobras. However, organized gangs, such as those in California, have lawyers that fight RICO cases so new prosecution techniques have to be employed. |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:00 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
"Demolition by Neglect" is what is happening in a number of neighborhoods. These neighborhoods have been systematically disenfranchised , they have had the needed resources removed for projects that benefit political allies. Politcal leaders in these neighborhoods, chosen by skin color or family name, often misuse their political power or lack the understanding of the implications of their actions. Sometimes these leaders simply lack the power to bring about change.
Flint had ordinances on the books to combat blight, but the council and sometimes the administration refused to fund the process. Brown in his lame duck moves before Kurtz took over, dismantled all of the Citizens Districts Councils and laid the groundwork towards a taxpayer funded "urban park" surrounding the area of the Genesee Towers.
I am not convinced that the demolition of the Towers and the use of federal money towards that goal meets one of the three National Objectives for the use of that money. However, this move was on the drawing board for at least 15 years. Once again we have the wealthiest people believing they have the right to allocate services to their exclusive benefit.
"Structural racism occurs not only when institutional practices legitimate and perpetuate systemc disadvantage for racial and ethnic groups but also when relationships among institutions serve this end."
From the Chief Justice Earl Warren document.
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:18 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
The relationships between institutions becoms abundantly clear when you examine the relationships between Snyder, the Mott Foundation, Brown's affiliations, Uptown Reinvestment, the DDA and the regional chamber o commerce. Resources are being diverted to fund the Republican favored projjects while further disinvestment occurs in the minority and poor communites.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) had what is called Keynesian microeconomics as a rationale. The way I understand it is that during a time of recession, there will be an increase in public spending in an attempt to offset the loss of private investments and spending. This will hopefully save jobs and thus stop further economic deterioration. Paul Krugman, the Nobel Laureate ecomists is a keynesian economist.
Section 3 of the ARRA had as a basic statement of purpose the following:
1. To preserve and create jobs and promiote economic recovery;
2. To assist those most imacted by the recession;
3. To provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by
spurring technological advances in science and health;
4. To invest in transportation, environmental protection and other
infrastructure that will provide long term economic benefits;
5.
To stabilize state and local government budgets in order to minimize
and avoid reduction in essential services and counterproductive state
and local tax increases.
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:48 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:39 am |
|
|
Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
|
quote:
untanglingwebs schreef:
In this research brief by the Warren Institute there is discussion of the the policies that encourage further disinvestment in the poorer communitis and actually remove jobs from those poorer communities. A strategic point raised in this work is "poor neighborhoods are often politically isolated" and they lack the networks to bring the public attention to their plight and their issues.
Talk to north end residents, especially the youth, and you will hear anger that the state, the local government, and other entities believe they have the right to direct taxes and resources to the exclusive benefit of their neighborhoods and their business ventures. When there is discussion of a regional economy that will distribute resources in an equitable fashion, these policeis are dismissed.
Look at the Neighborhood Stabilization Program that was designed to address the foreclosure crisis and help grow the local economy. The local minority community has to a great extent been left out of the process and had benefitted very little.
]
Us North End folks have known for a long time that we do not figure in any plans to revitalize Flint. We know we're being deliberately ignored in the hopes that we'll just go away. |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:39 am |
|
|
Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
|
quote:
untanglingwebs schreef:
"Demolition by Neglect" is what is happening in a number of neighborhoods. These neighborhoods have been systematically disenfranchised , they have had the needed resources removed for projects that benefit political allies. Politcal leaders in these neighborhoods, chosen by skin color or family name, often misuse their political power or lack the understanding of the implications of their actions. Sometimes these leaders simply lack the power to bring about change.
A perfect description of the Civic Park area. |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:43 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
Lawrence O"Donnell of NSNBC mde an interesting point last wek on the miseducation of so many of our students in poor and minority schools. When discussing "children with inadequate support' he noted "you can't just put them at a desk and expect them to perform at th same level as children with the proper support".
The young people of Flint are aware of the disparities in their educational system and know they are not getting the best education. I have been told that some of these young people believe they are discriminated in their schools because of where they live, their last names and other factors.
You only need to look at Highsmith's work to realize how there has been a long term disparity in the treatment of minority students through the history of the school system in Flint. Overcrowded minority schools with inadequate supplies and yet new schools were built to accomadate white students. These new schools had very few minority children, if any. Separate and Equal was not even a consideration. Segregation was a long term issue.
Mott and other supporters of new home construction made sure that deed restrictions were included for these new homes that denied the purchase of these homes to minorities. Once the courts struck down these deed covenants, the white flight to the suburbs began. Eventually the Mott support of most education programs and after school programs ceased.
Add to the mix a Board of Education that appears mostly incompetant and a series of School superintendents that raided the schools and things could not be worse. I was near a group of educators at lunch as one lamented that he felt sorry for Flint students entering the Grand Blanc school system. He said they were often so far behind they could barely keep up.
Former Board Member Vernon Craig stated he believed Walter Milton Jr. financially ruined the Flint School District. School Board member actually went to Fallsburg New York to see his school system there before hiring him. But that was before his audit in NY was completd. That state audit showed extensive overpayments to Milton and his friend Julius Anthony.
The audit that covered July 1, 2004 to May 8,2006 found "extensive problems with District operations." "The audit reviewed financial controls and transactions related to Milton and the educational consulting firm Gateway Learning Incorporated headed by former school administrator Julius B. Anthony." Milton and Anthony once ran a business together.
The audit reveled the school district did not establish financial controls that ensured Milton was paid within the boaard approved structure and allowed him to make payments to himself and others.
He charged $7,000 on the district credit card and only partially reimbursed the district for charges related to his personal vehicle and meals. In addition he had $17,810 in credit card charges for purchases with no documentation.
The audit disclosed the issue of a failure to perform a fingerprint check on Anthony which "violated New York state law. and "put the students welfare in jeopardy."
Similar allegation surfaced in Flint. A new contract with Gateway was not competitively bid violating the districts policy . Anthony was paid $5700 not included in the contract. Anthony worked as a consultant from ecember 2005 to July 2006 before being hired as an executive. He initially had no background check but when one was performed after pressure was applied, it was revealed he had a sexual battery case from 1996 in Georgia. He is currently serving prison time in Georgia.
Milton had a controversial 17 months on the job here with overcrowded classrooms and no textbooks for the students, There were allegations that milton and Antony were investors in the company that later provided books that teachers stated were inadequate textbooks.
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Dec 19, 2012 3:05 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 9:43 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
And all the while there was a competant local candidate with a proven track record that was rejected because they were white. Flint did an incomplete background check on Milton and only later discovered he claimed degrees he had not earned.
Milton got behind in his taxes here, left for Springfield where similar allegations off mismanagement surfaced. Under Milton the Springfield School District is facing an $11 million deficit.
Now, after the majority of the school board voted to give Linda Thompson a raise, allegations of financial mismanagement are again arising. Where are the checks and balances. She has announced her retirement, but can we trust this school board to hire a competant replacement. And will they strengthen their financial controls. Will they this time look at conflicts of interest and family ties that can impede the integrity of the process.
And all of this mismanagement comes at the expense of our schools.
Last edited by untanglingwebs on Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:19 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 9:53 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
quote:
untanglingwebs schreef:
Lawrence O"Donnell of NSNBC mde an interesting point last wek on the miseducation of so many of our students in poor and minority schools. When discussing "children with inadequate support' he noted "you can't just put them at a desk and expect them to perform at th same level as children with the proper support".
The young people of Flint are aware of the disparities in their educational system and know they are not getting the best education. I have been told that some of these young people believe they are discriminated in their schools because of where they live, their last names and other factors.
You only need to look at Highsmith's work to realize how there has been a long term disparity in the treatment of minority students through the history of the school system in Flint. Overcrowded minority schools with inadequate supplies and yet new schools were built to accomadate white students. These new schools had very few minority children, if any. Separate and Equal was not even a consideration. Segregation was a long term issue.
Mott and other supporters of new home construction made sure that deed restrictions were included for these new homes that denied the purchase of thesse homes to minorities. Once the courts struct down these deed covenants, the white flight to the suburbs began. Eventuall the Mott support of most education programs and after school programs ceased.
Add to the mix a Board of Education that appears mostly incompetant and a series of School superintendents that raided the schools and things could not be worse. I was near a group of educators at lunch as one lamented that he felt sorry for Flint students entering the Grand Blanc school system. He sai they were often so far behind they could barely keep up.
Former Board Member Vernon Craig stated he believed Walter Milton Jr. financially ruined the Flint School District. School Board member actually went to Fallsburg New York to see his school system there before hiring him. But that was before his audit in NY was completd. That state audit showed extensive overpayments to Milton and his friend Julius Anthony.
The audit that covered July 1, 2004 to May 8,2006 found "extensive problems with District operations." "The audit reviewed financial controls and transactions related to Milton and the educational consulting firm Gateway Learning Incorporated headed by former school administrator Julius B. Anthony." Milton and Anthony once ran a business together.
The audit reveled the school district did not establish financial controls that ensured Milton was paid within the boaard approved structure and allowed him to make payments to himself and others.
He charged $7,000 on the district credit card and only partially reimbursed the district for charges related to his personal vehicle and meals. In addition he had $17,810 in credit card charges for purchases with no documentation.
The audit disclosed the issue of a failure to perform a fingerprint check on Anthony which "violated New York state law. and "put the students welfare in jeopardy."
Similar allegation surfaced in Flint. A new contract with Gateway was not competitively bid violating the districts policy . Anthony was paid $5700 not included in the contract. Anthony worked as a consultant from December 2005 to July 2006 before being hired as an executive. He initially had no background check but when one was performed after pressure was applied, it was revealed he had a sexual battery case from 1996 in Georgia. He is currently serving prison time in Georgia.
Milton had a controversial 17 months on the job here with overcrowded classrooms and no textbooks for the students, There were allegations that milton and Antony were investors in the company that later provided books that teachers stated were inadequate textbooks.
|
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 9:55 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
When you have young people that are aware they are being denied a proper education, that realize they are being denied access into an adequate paying jobs market, and that watches the advantages go to the downtown economy, why do you not expect social disorder.
When I first looked up social disorder, the webs sites I encountered discussed flash mobs and forms of riots. Flint has a different kind of social disorder. Just like art that "fools the eye", many of these more sophisticated groups enjoy fooling the police. The hi-tech world is not just for police agencies. As the State Police are aware, the gangs are using smart phones and devices to track police movements.
The police sent large number of individuals to prison. There are no jobs for our unincarcerated citizens, much less jobs for those returning from prison. Old grudges have to be settled, old territories need to be reclaimed from interlopers.
Nature is said to abhor a void and the same is true of a gang territory. When one gang is removed and incarcerated or killed, another is waiting to step in and fill the drug market or other another function of the area. The outcounty drug market fuels the Flint drug economy to a large extent.
Our current disorder is the fear elicited by these gangs and other criminal groups. Many believe a number of these shots fired calls are really devices to keep the fear alive. Some no longer report these calls because they never get a police response. They also don't believe that directed patrols ever come to their neighborhoods. |
|
|
|
Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:16 am |
|
|
untanglingwebs
El Supremo
|
REPUBLICAN ANGER AT "UNDERCLASS MINORITIES"
I watched the Hardball Show with Chris Matthews on MSNBC on 11-28-2112. Part of the discussion revolved around the ongoing Republican anger that they lost the election to Obama despite all their shenanigans. One clip involved former Virginia congressman Tom Davis when he attributed Obama's re-election in part to the turnout of the "underclass minorities". He was angry that Obama supporters pulled these voters out of the apartments and barber shops.
Salon's Joan Walsh was livid and called Davis out of touch because of his use of that term. |
|
|
|
Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:27 am |
|
|
|
Forum Rules:
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Register
Profile
FlintTalk.com Forum Index
> Political Talk
