I like what this article emphasizes at the end: that home owners and community members "might have to roll up their sleeves and get to work." I think people spend a lot of time trying to fix government programs that have failed miserably in the past, and in doing so miss out on opportunities to make real change themselves. People being more invested in their communities could be the best start to revitalizing deflated urban economies.
This is what I am talking about, community reaching out and helping themselves out of the hole. We need to motivate and encourage more community involvement in every city, this really can make a huge difference in our economy.
I agree with Bridgett and Maureen, and they are right on target. It all depends on what the people want for their community and to what degree would they like to improve it.
That's really well stated Bridgett. It's always easier to criticize something than to actually make it better, and that's kind of become the American way.
As far as the article's proposal, it's a clever idea, but I wonder if a redevelopment corporation would be able to move the properties at a profit, even with repairs. It seems that there's simply an over-supply of housing currently, and there's not really any way around that.
The idea of partnering with Habitat for Humanity is really great though, it'd be a chance to make something good out of the whole mess.
The problem is self perpetuating. Dilapidated foreclosed housing brings down the value of surrounding homes lowering the taxable value of the home thus lowering a cities income. They then have less income to spend on fixing up these properties.
I agree fixing this problem needs to be a joint effort by all those affected. If not the self-perpetuating problem will continue.
It seems like our readings and the Kalamazoo City commission would confirm this, too, the biggest emphasis being on the fact that "local governments do not have adequate funding." They just can't do it on their own, so it's time that Americans get out of the mindset that they ought to.
Anyone else grossed out by the "President Trump" advertisement to the right of the article?
I like what this article emphasizes at the end: that home owners and community members "might have to roll up their sleeves and get to work." I think people spend a lot of time trying to fix government programs that have failed miserably in the past, and in doing so miss out on opportunities to make real change themselves. People being more invested in their communities could be the best start to revitalizing deflated urban economies.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I am talking about, community reaching out and helping themselves out of the hole. We need to motivate and encourage more community involvement in every city, this really can make a huge difference in our economy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bridgett and Maureen, and they are right on target. It all depends on what the people want for their community and to what degree would they like to improve it.
ReplyDeleteThat's really well stated Bridgett. It's always easier to criticize something than to actually make it better, and that's kind of become the American way.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the article's proposal, it's a clever idea, but I wonder if a redevelopment corporation would be able to move the properties at a profit, even with repairs. It seems that there's simply an over-supply of housing currently, and there's not really any way around that.
The idea of partnering with Habitat for Humanity is really great though, it'd be a chance to make something good out of the whole mess.
The problem is self perpetuating. Dilapidated foreclosed housing brings down the value of surrounding homes lowering the taxable value of the home thus lowering a cities income. They then have less income to spend on fixing up these properties.
ReplyDeleteI agree fixing this problem needs to be a joint effort by all those affected. If not the self-perpetuating problem will continue.
It seems like our readings and the Kalamazoo City commission would confirm this, too, the biggest emphasis being on the fact that "local governments do not have adequate funding." They just can't do it on their own, so it's time that Americans get out of the mindset that they ought to.
ReplyDeleteAnyone else grossed out by the "President Trump" advertisement to the right of the article?