New Haven Independent

Posted by: Mr Good Rights | December 17, 2009 9:08 AM

I love to see this happening now all the points listed were valid. And the honest truth is there has been a blind eye as to whats the source of the guns and drugs, what the source of the lack of representation. Its seems its easy to blame a community that lacks power to change what they know they want changed. Voting for a person or persons who don't even believe that the community has been targeted from so many angle for so many years helps no one but the status quo continue to drop the ball on laws that are rational and fair. In terms of politicians they have been passing laws that widen the gap since the emancipation so people really need to look at the structure and whats been the incentive from past to present to support the urban community. The institution of slavery is foundational in american racism and policy. The past will tell a story that has been ignored for too long as those in our modern day community struggle with a lack of knowledge and support just like the plantation as those who profit continue on with the finger pointing

Posted by: Norton Street | December 17, 2009 10:55 AM

Powder and rock cocaine were something that pushed struggling, decaying, and isolated inner cities across this country over the edge in the 80s. But the problems stem from conscious decisions decades before. Addressing the drug problem has been a 2 decades long tangent that has blinded us to deep seeded problems that have existing way before drugs took over. New Haven used to be a city defined by its motivated, civically active, and involved working class. After World War 2, the federal government subsidized a move for the white working class from the slums of industrial cities into newly federally funded housing tracts just outside central cities, which are today the suburbs. This marked the shift from investing in urban places to investing in suburban places, this is the core problem which caused the chain reaction of degradation in inner cities. Solutions to this problem are plentiful and realizable, unfortunately no politician has the balls to tell the suburban middle class that their little party is over, and its time to restore balance to our human habitat and rebuild our culture from the rubble of materialism and selfishness.

Posted by: Rashad | December 17, 2009 12:35 PM

What I found to being interesting was the absence of someone in the education field.

I personally don't think the issue are guns as much as it is the lack of good character, which isn't taught. Where there is no good character, you will always have anti-social behavior. So the solution, I believe, is making good manners part of the education that the children are getting. It has to be made the foundation to produce the type of people who will not commit crimes. Without good manners the 3 Rs loses value. This is one of the basic components we have to add to to the development our children or adult community members as well.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | December 17, 2009 1:32 PM

Norton Street,

I agree with you about systemic support for suburbanization. When the white exodus happened, these new suburbanites blew up the bridges behind and in their place erected local zoning ordinances that discouraged racial and economic diversity. With such strong town & local control, our state grew into a very segregated society which btw accounts for the paradox that the wealthiest state in the nation is home to several of the poorest cities in the nation.

I hope that beyond what the consensus was as to the main cause/or symptom of the problem, that the group recognized that the most promising solution is equality through education. So far, and early in his political career, Rep. Holder-Winfield has shown a real understanding of the issues. To that point, he is working with an exciting new group on the school reform horizon called CT. BAEO (Black Alliance for Educational Options)

Under the leadership of Danielle Smith, and with the support of Rep. Holder-Winfield and others, BAEO promises to make some real trouble for those who would hang on to some of our more shameful steady habits.

Posted by: john | December 17, 2009 1:40 PM

I am perpetually frustrated by unproductive statements that post WWII incentives for whites to move out of the inner cities are somehow relevant to *solving* the current problem. (Let it be known that blacks also moved out then and continue to--and why not, given the violence that plagues the community.) It may be true that the GI Bill happened, but by mentioning it what do you hope to achieve, that suburban whites (and blacks) should move back into cities? Great idea, given the level of gun violence.

But the history lesson creates an opportunity, because it clarifies that the origins of the problem cannot be undone and that the solution for the black community is to be found there, i.e., in the black community.

Its leadership (despite the good Rev) does not have to be united for the people to be. In fact, his very statement is the same abdication of responsibility that seems to plague the black community here. (How can we act if they don't? That's paralysis.) That is why What Ms. Rountree says makes sense: get more people out voting. Of course, any proposals or candidates have to make real sense. Decriminalization is foolish and impractical (not to mention a hard sell) and is as ethically wrong as would be the disproportionate prosecution of black men.

But I have to say that (cf. Ms. Fair's suggestion that the black community has been targeted for prosecution) there is a reality that her point fails to address: there is a cycle in which young black men get swept up in the drug trade disproportionately, too. (If it can be proven otherwise, I'd love to learn how.)

Posted by: heckyea | December 17, 2009 2:52 PM

With all due respect to everyone who participated in the forum I would like to address one issue- the socialization of children in this case black children. There wasn't representation from the social services field to give input on how children from birth to 5 years old are not socialized positively by their mothers. Yes MOTHERS!!!!! Values are not instilled in children anymore.I can tell you how many homevisits I went on to find toddlers 2-3 years old watching tv and their mothers too depressed or too worried about their own issues to take the time to interact positively with their babies.When i would conversate with them what i heard was "he's just like his father" or some very negative descriptions of a baby that has done no wrong. By the time a child is school-ready much of the damage has been done. There are many of us who grew up with absent fathers. But our mothers made the difference in our lives. Sure nothing will ever replace having a dad around but until we as WOMEN step up as well and start loving our children spiritually, psychologically and emotionally nothing will ever change. We need to see children as an extension of ourselves if we don't have the self-love and self-worth to be positive role models are children will the lack those things as well.

Posted by: Seth P. | December 17, 2009 3:06 PM

All of the points made in last night's panel discussion and conversation were valid and worthy of consideration. Attorney Jefferson was a very effective conductor for such an event. Too many lives have been affected by the alleged "War on Drugs," and subsequently the rise in gun violence over the last 3+ decades. As was evidenced in last nights event, emotions run high and fingers get pointed. We, as a people, need to realize the three fingers pointing at ourselves when we are seeking people to blame. It is true that New Haveners leave for college and do not return in adequate numbers to promt a change in counterproductive ideals. The city shows its own no love, so the cycle of nihilism is a revolving door.

What was evident in yesterday's discussion is that there are a great deal of men who want to prompt change. With our women beside us, ANYTHING is possible.

There is Black leadership in New Haven, and they are not always wearing suits and ties or sitting in the pulpit casting judgement.

Side bar- Is anyone else upset about receiving a parking ticket downtown after 6pm last night? I smell a RAT!

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | December 17, 2009 3:52 PM

FIX THE SCHOOLS

To that point, he is working with an exciting new group on the school reform horizon called CT. BAEO (Black Alliance for Educational Options)

Under the leadership of Danielle Smith, and with the support of Rep. Holder-Winfield and others, BAEO promises to make some real trouble for those who would hang on to some of our more shameful steady habits.

And look were there money is comming from.

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Black_Alliance_for_Educational_Options

That's right load with corporatist money, Check out there Board of Directors.

Norton Street

After World War 2, the federal government subsidized a move for the white working class from the slums of industrial cities into newly federally funded housing tracts just outside central cities, which are today the suburbs. This marked the shift from investing in urban places to investing in suburban places, this is the core problem which caused the chain reaction of degradation in inner cities. Solutions to this problem are plentiful and realizable, unfortunately no politician has the balls to tell the suburban middle class that their little party is over, and its time to restore balance to our human habitat and rebuild our culture from the rubble of materialism and selfishness.

Politician don't have to do anything to get the suburban middle to come back to investing in urban places. they are all ready on there way back. All of the country they are moving back in. A friend of mine in told me that this was once a urban area and look at this area now.

http://www.eya.com/The_Brownstones_at_Park_Potomac

If fact he owns two of these Brownstones. Look at Harlem My family owns Brownstones and you should see all of the suburban middle class people who come to buy these Brownstones. so they are on the
way back to the urban areas.

Rashad

What I found to being interesting was the absence of someone in the education field.

Not just the absence of someone in the education field. Hoe about mental health, The mayor police chief criminal justice.

John

But the history lesson creates an opportunity, because it clarifies that the origins of the problem cannot be undone and that the solution for the black community is to be found there, i.e., in the black community.

I agree wtih you. In fact what I call our true leader,They have been saying this for years.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=7154086

That is why What Ms. Rountree says makes sense: get more people out voting. Of course, any proposals or candidates have to make real sense.

I disagree with her due to the fact that most of the Politician of today are nothing more that political prostitutes. Where are the politician
like Adam Clayton Powell who past more bills that any Politician as of this day. We need to follow the blueprints from leaders like this man.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_Harrison

I will tell you what a person told me years ago.

Never trust Banks, Politician and Prechers. He told me they go hand and hand. and if you think that what he said is not true, Look at what has put this country in the mess it is in today.

Last my solution to this problem is Stop calling it a Problem based on lack of Dads and The Drug War? It is pure genocide like what happen in Rwanda and Khmer Rouge of Vietnam.Groups of people
who don't agree with each other. and if you think
it is just happing in this country, Check out this
out.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/eveything-and-anything-virgin-islands/right-under-our-noses/91570562220

It a problem all over the world.

Posted by: Rashad | December 17, 2009 4:26 PM

You have to pay for parking up to 8pm I believe.

Posted by: Norton Street | December 17, 2009 4:37 PM

John,
You are 100% wrong. Crime levels in New Haven at the beginning of white flight were lower than current crime levels in most New Haven suburbs.
US cities historic crime rates:
http://www.library.yale.edu/thecitycourse/Data_Tables/Crime/Crime_Violent_Comparison_of_Cities_1940_1990.xls
New Haven historic homicides:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs011.snc3/11855_1187419920752_1085910074_30474487_1469725_n.jpg
population of New Haven during this time, showing how urban flight (population loss) occured, then high crime rates followed:
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs031.snc3/11855_1187420000754_1085910074_30474488_3642474_n.jpg
this site shows Milford's(50,000 pop.) 2006 violent crimes were double what New Haven's(160,000 pop.) pre-urban flight were:
http://milfordct.areaconnect.com/crime1.htm
Orange's (13,000 pop.) number of violent crimes every year between 2002 and 2008 was higher than New Haven's(160,000 pop.) pre-urban flight numbers:
http://www.idcide.com/citydata/ct/orange.htm
Same for East Haven:
http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=East+Haven&state=CT

In conclusion, New Haven with a defining working/middle class base and 160,000 residents and a high density had less crime than our heavenly, much less populated and much less dense suburbs do today. Crime did not cause people to leave cities, federal subsidies, racism, overcrowding, the automobile and some other things allowed and encouraged the suburbanization of this country, which is based on an inefficient, increasingly expensive and illogical system of design, construction and zoning. Its true that black families do live in suburbs today, but at mid 20th century when urban exodus began, practically all blacks and hispanics were kept out of suburbs through flat out racism, which continued for decades. Whats ironic is that the construction of roads, sidewalks, street lights, sewers, electrical lines, and everything else that makes suburbia possible was originally paid for with public money from city dwellers including those that would evenutally move out to the suburbs and those that did not move to the suburbs which were some white and nearly all blacks and hispanics. These are historical events that occurred, they are in books, pamphlets, and other documents; its entirely public information that simply is not reported on that often.

Fix the schools,
I am convinced that schools are a byproduct of neighborhoods and communities, they always were and I believe they always will/should be. I think first the issues that affect neighborhoods and communities-isolation, lack of jobs, lack of investing, segregation, poverty, crime, etc-should be addressed locally, regionally and nationally. In turn, schools will naturally fix themselves once all neighborhood become ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse places, which will naturally be made up of small communities of similar people because this is how cities existed in the US for all its history prior to World War 2. Certain cultural and civic organizations will attract certain demographics, but neighborhoods should, can and used to be made up of several of these communities.
Perhaps there is a way to first improve schools in a way that would eventually lead to diverse neighborhoods with schools within walking distance of children. However, most improvements I've heard include continuing and/or expanding the type of schooling that requires elaborate, expensive, and unnecessary private busing systems or private chauffeurs(parents) for children, which creates many problems. More, smaller schools are not necessary; children should not be warehoused in enormous schools, but we also should not sacrifice our built environment to keep making new schools (Hill Regional destroyed two blocks in the Hill, as did John C. Daniels, and this act has been repeated with many other schools). There is a balance between NYC schools and current charter school numbers that worked perfectly well in New Haven for most of its history, it is only in recent decades that schools have degraded so badly to the point that we began creating tiny little schools, which I see as being a direct result of degrading neighborhoods more than anything. Some specialty schools are great, but reliance on them or seeing these types of schools as anything but an exception seems misguided to me.
Schools are not a particular strength of mine, can you clear some things up for me if I've presented anything incorrectly? Am I accurately representing a common view on schooling? And is the view I've presented yours?

Posted by: John Chase | December 17, 2009 5:00 PM

It's like believing water can flow uphill, but ending the drug war would be a good thing. It would take the profit out of the street market, and when the profit goes away, a lot of the violence goes away.

We should know this because it happened back in the 1920s, when America tried to stamp out alcohol. For 13 years we tried, and then gave up. When we re-legalized alcohol the murder rate dropped by half in 3 years and stayed low until 1973 when the drug war cranked up.

Problem is, the guys who sell drugs wear their prison time as a badge of honor... brothers who find approval among their peers. To them law enforcement is the enemy. It took YEARS of selective enforcement of anti-drug law to get to this point. The drug war has brainwashed us all, and it's gonna be hard to change it.

We gotta do 3 things: (1)Take out the profit, (2)Change our attitude toward addiction, and (3)Give the sellers something else to be proud of.

It is a medical problem, not a moral problem. The Swiss understand that. They actually provide free drugs to addicts who'll register with the state. Along with the drugs comes free counseling and, if they ask, free treatment. It sounds crazy. but it has dried up most of the street market. Giving the former dealers something else they can do that they can be proud of will require the dads, the community, and more.

If the criminal justice system can sign up to these three things, they can help, but if not, there is no role for them.

Posted by: Shell | December 17, 2009 5:10 PM

Parking ticket! Someone must think that will be a deterrent the next time the inner city community decides to have a valuable, frank conversation about their issues. We must stop feeling sorry for ourselves and accept the hand that life has dealt us. We need to get over not having a father, being poor, living in low income housing, being molested, being mentally and physically abused. All of these things should incite a rage of wanting to do better. You cannot change your circumstances by blaming someone else for them. The best solution to racism and any other ism is education. No one is going to level the playing field for you because you happen to be some other color than white. Blacks have been educating themselves for 100s of years. Slaves taught themselves how to read. They did not sit around and mope and self destruct because they were be beaten and forced to work for free. They did not give up hope when their babies were ripped from their arms. Every day we blame our circumstances for why be cannot excel we are not turning the clock back we are simply giving up. You lose when you stop trying. It is always easy to do nothing and blame everybody else. It is a weak excuse and frankly it is getting old. Love yourself, love your children, and be the great role model. Children learn from watching what you do, not you telling them what to do. Man/Women up! Do what you have to do so you can do what you want to do. These are simple words they are a way of life for many of us and personally I say many of them every day. Because every day I will be black and proud of that fact. I am and will always be proud that I am not and will not allow any person of any color to set my bar. I control my bar and how high it goes is 100% up to me. It helps when you have people in your life that love you. If you don’t have anyone that loves you. Get away from those that will hurt you, hate you, and bring you down and find someone that will love and encourage you. I saw at least 150 of them last night.

Posted by: malcolmkyle | December 17, 2009 6:11 PM

Do you really want to overcrowd the courts and prisons with mostly African Americans, thus making it increasingly impossible to curtail the people who are really hurting and terrorizing others.

Do you really want to support the black market economy that funds most of the terrorist groups in the world today. Including the Taliban and alQaida.

Or do you want a regulated and licensed distribution network that would put responsible adult supervision in between children and illegal street dealers. What we need is legalized regulation. What we have is a non-regulated black market to which everybody has access and where all the profits go to organized crime and terrorists..

Posted by: Norton Street | December 17, 2009 7:10 PM

Shell,
I have the exact opposite opinion as you. You think that the solutions come from where the problems are located and from whom the problems currently most directly effect, while I believe the solution comes from where the problems began, the class of people they began with and the decisions that lead to the problems. I feel that I have history and the future on my side. History shows us that suburbs are an extremely new living arrangement compared to cities and towns which have been around in one form or another for thousands of years. Many changes that will occur in the near future like peak oil-the process of global excavation of oil inevitably decreasing exponentially-in coming decades with prevent the suburban living arrangement from existing in the way that it has for the last 50 years.
However, the solution is likely somewhere in between own two opinions. Changes will have to be realized on both sides; the sub culture of crime and violence will have to become more self aware, responsible and contributing AND the middle class has to reinvest in urban centers through long term residency and local living to restore the middle class values that have been largely absent since the de-industrialization and de-centralization of our country.

Posted by: Shell | December 17, 2009 10:51 PM

Norton Street
I am glad that we can respectfully disagree. I see your point but I will always hold me responsible for me. I would much rather take personal responsibility for my family and myself than rely on others to do so. As a people we are where we are. How we got hear is somewhat debatable. I say to you, let us not waste of time rehashing the road that has been traveled. I do, however, agree that changes to our environment will inevitable submit change to our cities. It would be my hope that minorities would spend their time understanding the business opportunities that will come with it and learn the skills necessary to better themselves and take advantage of the those opportunities. With a focus on ?themselves.? I accept and appreciate any support that I can get but handouts, curves, and any other adjustment is unacceptable and unnecessary. It merely perpetuates that nonsensical theory of ?I need extra help because of my circumstances and the color of my skin.? I say to you sir/madam. No thank you. I also say to you that I appreciate the respectful way that you addressed me. Let us agree to disagree.

Posted by: FIX THE SCHOOLS | December 18, 2009 9:46 AM

Norton Street,

In general terms, my feeling is that you have it backwards on schools. Some folks think we won't fix the schools unless we solve social inequity (poverty) first. I believe that we will never eradicate poverty and all of the inequity it brings UNTIL we fix our urban schools.

I am a fan of ConnCAN. Check out their website and their principles.

And I disagree with my good friend 3/5...all corporatists are not bad!!

Posted by: Ned | December 18, 2009 10:13 AM

In addition to all of the money to be made from private prisons, expanded police forces, general graft and corruption and the diminution of personal freedoms (that come with criminalizing crimes of "vice"):

Drug money saved banks in global crisis, claims UN advisor
"Drugs and crime chief says $352bn [that's 350,000,000,000] in criminal proceeds was effectively laundered by financial institutions"

Posted by: Norton Street | December 18, 2009 11:00 AM

Shell,
I do not like the amount that welfare, food stamps and handouts have been relied upon by so many people. It is my hope that these things will become mostly absent in coming decades. Throwing money at poor people does nothing. Purpose is the ultimate currency for a thriving community. Purpose comes with careers. New Haven used to manufacture goods that went all over the world, now our factories are empty, decaying reminders of what used to be. If the suburban middle class moved back into inner city neighborhoods (the same neighborhoods that their parents or grandparents grew up in before moving out), jobs, adequate retail, and community involvement would follow, just as these things followed this same class out of the cities a half century ago. This is the way to make the current underclass in our country into productive and contributing citizens. However, I understand that changes will have to be made on both sides.

3/5s,
I'm a little weary about that kind of investment in urban places. This represents an unfortunate trend in real estate where prices are astronomically and artificially high. People involved in real estate have an amazing ability to give much more worth to homes than is reality. This practice also prices people out of their neighborhoods and turns them from black mono-cultures to white ones. I don't really see it as a good thing. The federal government needs to get temporarily involved by massively subsidizing the rehabilitation of aging urban housing, retail stores and office buildings so that these places are affordable to many income levels. After this initial phase, the private market can take over.

Posted by: Prez1 | December 18, 2009 1:58 PM

What we have here is a systemic problem that has disproportionately affected the black community. What do I mean the systems that have been put into place to give us all a better quality of life have failed us. Here are the systems educational system, judicail system, and our government systems but here's the kicker why have they failed us(black community) because we have continuously failed ourselves! When do we as a people say enough is enough and, become accoutable to our own issues? Let's start being truthful to ourselves take a look in the mirror and began to tell ourselves we have the ability to change our circumstance it's called self help people. I believe we inately have this in each and, everyone of us to cure and rid ourselves of whatever ills us in our community. To be perfectly honest with you we are the only ones who can fix what is going on in our neighborhoods we have the solutions we have the answers but do we want to initiate and, began the task ahead of us the answer has to be yes. If I can say this the task that is ahead us of will never be greater than power behind us!!!

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | December 18, 2009 4:05 PM

Norton Street

3/5s,
I'm a little weary about that kind of investment in urban places. This represents an unfortunate trend in real estate where prices are astronomically and artificially high. People involved in real estate have an amazing ability to give much more worth to homes than is reality. This practice also prices people out of their neighborhoods and turns them from black mono-cultures to white ones. I don't really see it as a good thing. The federal government needs to get temporarily involved by massively subsidizing the rehabilitation of aging urban housing, retail stores and office buildings so that these places are affordable to many income levels. After this initial phase, the private market can take over.

I don't agree wtih this type of kind of nvestment in urban places. I was just trying to show you that the suburban middle is come back to investing in urban places.

I do not like the amount that welfare, food stamps and handouts have been relied upon by so many people. It is my hope that these things will become mostly absent in coming decades. Throwing money at poor people does nothing. Purpose is the ultimate currency for a thriving community. Purpose comes with careers. New Haven used to manufacture goods that went all over the world, now our factories are empty, decaying reminders of what used to be. If the suburban middle class moved back into inner city neighborhoods (the same neighborhoods that their parents or grandparents grew up in before moving out), jobs, adequate retail, and community involvement would follow, just as these things followed this same class out of the cities a half century ago. This is the way to make the current underclass in our country into productive and contributing citizens. However, I understand that changes will have to be made on both sides.

Where you talk about the poor people on welfare, food stamps and handouts. Which ones are you talking about because we have a new breed of poor people, like the seven on my block who worked for
AT&T and got laid off. Are you talking about Regional Water who laid off some of there workers. We have a new breed of the poor which is called the end of the middle class. The middle class that you talk about comming back is done. They are the ones who are get these handouts that
you don't agree with.Suburban middle class they have there own problems check this out.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200803/subprime

http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/WalkingAway1029.pdf

That right they can't afford to come back.

You see this crooked system is the main problem. Look what new york is doing. In fact other states are looking to do this.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/29/new-york-homeless-ticket-leave

When this is done a person can now apply for the pubilc Assistance in the state that they move to. It is call Hoboing. Rember money is made off of keeping people poor.

FIX THE SCHOOLS

And I disagree with my good friend 3/5...all corporatists are not bad!!

Tell me this how if all corporatists are not bad!!
How come the Bad ones are puting up the money for school reform. Check out this you tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXKW8Za0hYw&feature=player_embedded

But to stay on track with what this post is about
Blame The Dads? Or The Drug War? As I said this is a genocide problem which there is a need to have some expert who know how to deal with this problem.

Posted by: streever | December 18, 2009 8:38 PM

Parking Tickets/Shell,

the tickets are issued after 6, per what it says on the meters, and articles in this very paper. Members of many organizations who hold meetings at City Hall have been ticketed, it's definitely not being done to punish people for attending this meeting. Sheesh.

Posted by: Consti2amend | December 19, 2009 12:57 AM

Please read:

http://www.city-journal.org/html/15_3_family.html#

Cut/paste/read! This is an article "explaining" the "great liberal" thinker, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and his study of the "welfare system" back in the 1960`s.
Basically, it makes the point that what welfare DID DO, was make a "primary bread winner" in the family, OBSOLETE! The mother could have money without having a man around. Also, men took advantage of this as well!
With the destruction of the "family unit" came the downfall of the family! Without a "strong leadership" at the head of the family, the children were doomed! There was no one left to train up the children, as the mothers were getting younger and younger. Until, as now, we have children raising children! How sad.
And, as you can imagine, the inner-cities WERE hit the worst! With the problem in overcrowding "the system", Money fell short and programs needed to be cut.
A secondary problem with this was, without an educated parent {yes the parent did have an education, but NOT as high a level as their counterpart in the suburbs}, they were NOT prepared to help their own children! If their own children were neglected, how could the children "learn of their own potential"?
Potential in a child is NOT something that many people are born with! It MUST be nurtured!
And where does this nurturing come from? A close knit family unit! One that has the resources {financially, spiritually, and emotionally}, that can see and identify a course of training/helping with their families needs! Without this, the children ARE DOOMED!
Why did this NOT happen in the suburbs? At least to the extent seen in the inner city? Because the people in the suburbs usually married before having children! They also took advantage of the FREE bus to the FREE school. So with a higher level of education, AND closer family ties, they, the unmarried mothers, had people around who COULD help! And they were less apt to look for government handouts! Without the government handouts, AND the "stigma" of being pregnant/parent in their teens, the suburban youth gave their children up for adoption more readily than those in the city.
I need NOT go into a discussion about abortion on this.

Anyway, read the article with an open mind, and the "counter claims" listed with the article, and see if you agree. By the way, for those of you who may NOT remember, DPM went on to be the speaker of the house/senate, and VOTED on raises for welfare recipients! Now that's IRONIC!

After reading the article, as well as other data, I firmly believe it was a government conspiracy, foisted on us by our "elected politicians" to try to put a wedge between the races! But as for the "white migration" after WW II, it was really the start of the "baby boom", and people needed housing. The houses were being built in the suburbs, because the "racist politicians" were separating the classes! Remember, it was NOT until the 1960`s, that minorities were wining the court fights about "racial profiling" in the suburbs, by the Real Estate Brokers AS WELL AS the bankers!
Historical FACT, and YOU know it!!

Posted by: john | December 19, 2009 4:00 PM

@norton street:

i am not 100% wrong. you 100% read what you wanted to read and ignored what i actually said, which (in my opinion) pretty much typifies why things never change in new haven. let it be known.

i don't disagree that "white flight" was correlated with higher crime in cities; never did. (whether it strictly "created" it is another story, as is the reasons for its occurrence.)

i didn't say that crime *caused* people to leave cities. but i did suggest that, given how crime in cities is higher than the suburbs *now*, it would be a hard sell. yes, urban living has many, many advantages, but i submit that a sustained and meaningful urban rebirth (as regards small cities) in cities that are less fortunate than new haven in terms of cultural activities, is unlikely unless crime is reduced.

but never mind that. just go ahead having the argument you want to have.

Posted by: Norton Street | December 20, 2009 9:29 PM

John,
"But the history lesson creates an opportunity, because it clarifies that the origins of the problem cannot be undone and that the solution for the black community is to be found there, i.e., in the black community."
In the most struggling neighborhoods in this city, there are simply not enough resources to solve these deep-seeded problems. The residents in these neighborhoods do not have the ability to make enormous changes from within the community. Help from outside is needed, so the question becomes where does this outside help come from? I say it should come from the people who facilitate the decay and degradation that occurs in these neighborhoods by continuing to invest in a living arrangement that is enormously expensive, destructive and counterproductive.