The Southeast Strategy a Vision and Message of a Master Plan

Fort Wayne, Indiana city officials hosted a community forum to facilitate a discussion about the city’s master plan called” Southeast Area Development Strategy, for the entire southeast side of the city. Instead of touting their individual piecemeal project that never materializes into what was promise to the residents nor on time, the city has bundled all projects, together.

Community members were folded into themed groups headed by and crafted by city members of city government who were a major part of each group. Other stakeholders attended another earlier forum to discuss the project.
Both events lead by city officials but assisted and facilitated by Curt Davis, of the Rebuild it Collaborative, from Boston, Massachusetts. Together the focus groups’ orchestrated main objective, was o focus discussions on fostering quality development by investors, by identifying locations, priorities, and tools for new and current development.

This is the city’s attempt to sell a unified vision for improvement to the Southside to its diverse group of voters. After the information was gathered, the next day Mr. Davis, provided hope to residents and the business community that change could happen but both party must be willing to accept the change. Mr. Davis reminded those in the audience that the problem of Fort Wayne is like a gem in the rough, but by looking at Fort Wayne through others lens was a jewel in the waiting to be made. It is time to take action where portrayal and perception are in agreement, for example, treating the image of the Southside more as the asset it is to the community rather than over exaggerating the negative from years of neglect.

Ask yourself the two questions asked of the stakeholders' focus group. What are some of the positive reasons for developing and/or investing in the southeast and what does the City need to do to promote development/investment in Southeast? Answers these two simply questions may make you do something about the weeds growing on East Creighton Street and embracing a $6 million dollar low-income project ready to go on the Southside. But I’m not Mr. Davis, I see ghosts of the same old tired dreams deferred for those living on the southside.

Is it the African-American Community or Democrat Party Leadership?

Found this on AdvanceIndiana. Gary Welsh, attempting to compare African-American oppressions with gay issues, you be the judge, favored as a little colorblind racism. Gary Welsh says:

"Spaulding is right to emphasize the role anti-gay bigotry in the Alabama's African-American community is playing in the Democratic Party's actions, and that this issue is being downplayed in the media coverage. You can bet that if a group of white Republicans had taken similar action against an African-American candidate, the news media would have played up the race issue big time."

"The question now is whether Alabama's state Democratic Party, with encouragement from the DNC, will step in and overrule the local party leader's actions. If they don't, then our U.S. Justice Department should do its job in enforcing the Voting Rights Act and overrule the local party's actions. Somebody needs to act quickly; otherewise, we're simply allowing a bunch of bigoted sore losers to make a mockery of the very laws which were created to ensure fair elections for minorities."

People-Raced White Men--Get Out the Way

Have you ever tried to get on an elevator and lots of folks are already on the things. Folks move and shift their bodies, right? No, not today, remember, I'm back in Fort Wayne, non accommodating raced white men.

If there is room even for you. IF you would just move, single raced white woman, startled that I would say such a thing..give me a break. I am not entering the thing to rob you not a one..not a single one moved.. Okay John Stafford had something on his foot, Deputy Mayor, Indiana Economic Development Man and the rest of the dumb hicks did not move, did not move !!! But that sure as h-ll did not keep me from getting on that elevator. Fort Wayne, Indiana Gentlemen,please remember your manners or polish up on your manners when a woman wants to enter the elevator!!!!!!

SURVIVOR SHOW

The producers of the Survivor Show will have a racial theme. The show contestants will have 4 different groups competing against one another, African-Americans, Hispanic, Asians, and Raced White. Folks are in an uproar.

If anyone has ever watched the show knows that it does not take long, for the African-American, Hispanic and Asians to get voted off, after one or two shows. How the African-American sista made it for as long as she did was amazing. But we were are all pulling for her. If the average television watcher is African-American, what viewers do you think Survivors are targeting? If most African-Americans and Hispanics can not buy homes because of discriminatory practices but spend billions of dollars on consumer goods, who do you think the producers are marketing the show for those ads?

Book Review

On the trip back home, I decided to buy two books to read, 40 Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete and, Trauma and Recovery. My intentions are to read them both before getting home. But that does not happen.

I found a bookstore in the Washington, D.C. area, that had one of the books and could order the other one for me. I decided to purchase 40 Million and wait to get the other when I arrived home from the library in my hometown. At the bookstore, I sat down in the oversized chair. Sitting on the couches would have put me to sleep. Reading in the library is not as warm, cozy, or inviting, I think, as I crack open my book to read. I decided to read a chapter, and would read the rest on the airplane. On the airplane, it is so uncomfortable, I decide to read the rest when I got on the bus. I read a chapter on the bus, decide I read the rest when I got home.

After arriving home, I hightailed it to the library, to get the other book, Trauma and Recovery, nowhere near finishing the $40 Million. I had called a head to see if our library would have to order it and they didn't. I ran into a few folks, and we chatted. During and while chatting with folks, I am asked about the book that I am holding, Trauma and Recovery. I explain it is about domestic violence, and eyes light up. At least four or five folks asked me about the book. By the third person, I am thinking, how interesting, that in less than an hour, four or five people, including strangers asked about the Trauma and Recovery, but not one person, asked me about the the $40 Million Dollar Slaves. Not one person, I think the title should be changed to The Rise and Fall and Redemption of the Black Athletes: 40 Million Dollar Slaves to be continued

G-Itch New Orleans or Spike Lee's

Watched Act I and II of Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke, and was reminded of something so painful, you never want to forget.