Recent Comments
Re: “IQ: Parks and recommendations”
Jake- Relax, buddy. Springs has less Police per capita than the U.S. average for a city of this size- http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=…
Posted by
Pete
on 02/23/2010 at 11:31 AM
Re: “Is closing centers racist?”
Kimbra- Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question.
Not being a parent, I can't claim to know much about District 11, but I really don't think closing schools has anything to do with discrimination based on race or socioeconomic status, intentional or otherwise. Schools closing in older neighborhoods has more to do with lower enrollment levels as the neighborhoods' population ages than anything else. I live about four blocks away from Ivywild Elementary, and it's a predominantly white, middle-class neighborhood; so it's a pretty big stretch to try to claim racism of any kind based on it's closure. Same with the other school closures. The neighborhood of Ivywild, like many of the others impacted, is not exactly full of school-aged children anymore, and the school building is almost 100 years old. District 12 recently closed Canon Elementary in the middle of one of the wealthier parts the city as well- nothing to do with discrimination, just enrollment levels and attempts at efficient usage of their limited resources.
I understand that people are impacted negatively by school closures, but that isn't discrimination, just an unfortunate part of a budget-restricted reality in a large, underfunded school district. I don't think that qualifies as "disproportionately cutting resources" by any stretch.
The neighborhood that you work in, Hillside, is within a mile or so of the Penrose Library downtown. If you want fresh vegetables, check out Rancho Liborio on S. Circle- my favorite place to get good produce, as well as being a full line supermarket not far from Hillside. Memorial Park in Hillside is by FAR the best park in the city as far as resources, with a lake, playgrounds, aquatic center, sports centers of all kinds, and a beautiful new skatepark. They have recently relined the lake, put up new picnic tables, and are currently building another new playground in the park. Hillside is blessed for community resources compared to most any neighborhood in the Springs, not deprived, Community Center or not.
Now that you are probably fairly annoyed with me and my opinion, let me say this- Hillside, and any other neighborhood you might choose to defend, is lucky to have you and people like you fighting on their behalf. The current city budget situation is going to cause a some cuts that will hurt. One deserving program will lose to another deserving program for very limited funding. I just feel like your passion would be better applied without unnecessarily accusatory terminology like "racist" entering the conversation. This isn't "us vs. them"; it's "us vs. us". No matter what, city services are going to be reduced. It's just a matter of which ones survive. Keep up the good for the ones you feel are most important.
Posted by
Pete
on 02/21/2010 at 9:53 PM
Re: “Is closing centers racist?”
Kimbra- Do you have any real evidence of this- "We are increasing the discrimination against certain sectors of the city by disproportionately cutting resources to those areas,"
That's a pretty bold and possibly irresponsible claim if you don't back it up, and you didn't back it up with anything in your article.
Posted by
Pete
on 02/18/2010 at 11:31 AM
Re: “Homeless respond to new ordinance”
Bree- Many of them ARE abusing drugs and alcohol. That's one of the main reasons people end up living in a tent by the river. No one here has said "ALL homeless people are abusing drugs and alcohol" so why do you act like they have and play the offended card? No one has said that here.
Drug and alcohol abuse IS one of the main causes of homelessness. Go ask the CSPD's Homeless Outreach Team if you don't believe me. Last time I was down at the camps, they told me about an alcoholic who froze to death passed out in front of his tent a couple nights before. You can't just ignore the facts in an attempt to be more sensitive to people's feelings. That's counterproductive. This is about helping people in a matter of survival. Enough with the sensitivity training already.
Anyone who reads an offer of support from a charity ending like this...
"There is no doubt that our community has tremendous compassion and concern for everyone who is without a home or living on the edge of homelessness. Springs Rescue Mission has been helping those in need for 14 years. Regardless of local legislation, we purpose to be a hub and connecting point where the people of our community and local church can learn about the issues, learn how to offer real help to those in poverty or homelessness, and walk along side someone in need of honest love, help, and support.”
...who comes away from reading it fixated on attacking the author for using the term "habits of homelessness" for whatever insensitivity they think it may imply, needs to reexamine what they think they are accomplishing. If their intention is to be part of the solution, attacking charity workers is not the way to do it. If you think you can do better than the people who are currently helping the homeless then by all means, go volunteer, or start your own charity.
Posted by
Pete
on 02/18/2010 at 9:31 AM
Re: “Get outta here (or, don't park at Denny's)”
Three comments, two hint at racism (one each- black and white). C'mon people.
Posted by
Pete
on 02/17/2010 at 7:51 PM
Re: “Homeless respond to new ordinance”
radical 1- That's great, but did someone say homelessness was something people ask for? Pretty sure no one did. Who are you arguing with, exactly?
jakeredwing- That's really nice of you to spend a some time helping homeless people. Why all the bitterness towards the management of the Rescue Mission, though? The letter above is an offering of help from a charity. Fill us in- Why the need to get all bitchy?
I might sound like I'm just picking a fight, but I honestly don't understand how this letter offering help to the homeless generates negative attacks from anyone. I don't know a lot about the Rescue Mission, other than having made a couple donations to them, but they seem like the last people who deserve to be attacked, especially when all they seem to be doing in this letter is offering help. They should be thanked, not criticized.
Am I missing something here?
Posted by
Pete
on 02/17/2010 at 10:48 AM
Re: “Homeless respond to new ordinance”
Selinaalethia- The concept of drug and alcohol abuse was brought up because the Springs Rescue Mission helps people with those issues. It matters because it's a barrier in many people's lives that needs to be dealt with for them to be able to help themselves.
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
Chinese Proverb