Faith in Action

2 Responses to “ I walked through Park Heights today… ”

1. # 1 Rev. C. Solomon Says:
   January 30th, 2008 at 5:28 pm

   Caveat Emptor -

   Ultimately, the source of the problems falls right back into the hands of the black community, in my opinion. All across this land, buildings that could be utilized by minorities sit empty in urban areas. Minorities should come together and create their own businesses that can service consumer needs in their communities (which assumes that they would not engage in similar predatory practices), then the predators would not be there.

   Also, if minorities stop supporting these businesses they would have to close down. A friend just spoke with his contacts in New Orleans this morning. Three individuals who are unemployed received 10K each from the government. Instead of pooling a portion of their resources and creating a business, each one went out and purchased a car. Er herm!!.

   I took an intentional drive down International Parkway aka Fourteenth Avenue in Oakland just 48 hours ago. The fact is that International Parkway is also being gentrified. But having said that, many of the same storefronts sat empty for years, blacks had the opportunity to open businesses in their communities that could have engaged in fair business practices.

   In the Fruitvale area of ‘Oaktown’, non-blacks moved in and opened a thriving business where a burrito costs $8.00, high by most standards, and coupled with a 9 cents state tax on top, the thing almost costed 9 bucks. And what do blacks do, they go in an purchase the burritos, and talk about the proprietors once they get outside? Er herm!!

   In San Jose California, a couple of decades ago southeast Asians came in and gentrified a section of Santa Clara Street. These individuals were former refugees. Granted, they received a little assistance after they arrived, however, non-english speaking have created commerce in a once blighted area, put their kids to work, purchased homes and some of their kids are attending Harvard and Stanford. There is money in them thar’ black communities, and everyone is getting it - and then they get out of town before sundown. Well, that is until they decide to gentrify the once blighted area and price minorities out!

   What did one leper ask the other, ‘how long shall we sit here until we die?

   Ron Dellums appears to be doing a good job in Oakland by the way. BTW, am I condoning the nefarious behavior of some of these predators? The answer is no, however, we must take responsibility for our own inaction.

   BTW the Rev has learned how to prepare several Chinese, Latino and Indian dishes - get my drift?

   Speaking of predatory practices, some years ago drug dealers in Oakland, moved next door to adjacent San Leandro. Why? They reported that conditions in Oakland had gotten too bad for business. In other words Oakland was too dangerous of a place to conduct business. Er herm!!!

2. # 2 Faith In Action | 5119 Park Heights “Check Cashing/Porn” Biz Must Go! Says:
   February 8th, 2008 at 1:06 am

   [...] I walked through Park Heights today [...]

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