We here in the poli forum go about our day saving the WORLD with our political jibber jabber but what can WE really do. Not much.

This is a case of "local" politics that has hit home. My home.

Tonight I'll be attending a meeting of concerned citizens that will be opposing a Section 8 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_8_(housing)) housing project that is planned to be built in my neighbor hood.

What is Section 8 housing? Well it's basiclly "Federal housing assistance programs." It's meant to give poor families a decent place to live. People/families that live in these houses/apts have very little or no income whatsoever. That's why they are living there. Many of these larger projects have a high notorious history of crime rate. Many end up as run down property fairly quick.

Ol jack will be on the stump tonight and argue his case against building this apartment complex in his neighborhood.

So what would you do ... ?

I lived in Section 8 housing while in college with my daughter. Fortunately most of my neighbors were elderly.

How many units is it supposed to be?

How many units is it supposed to be?Proposed 100 units to begin with possibly more in another stage of development.

Oh and this would be directly across the street from an elementary school.

I guess that could be seen as good or bad depending.

100 units as in 100 dwellings? 100 families?

What does it do to the value of the property in the area? I imagine it puts it down.. if that were so, I'd do as you're doing. :yes:

I'm sure the big U S of A has enough space to place such apartment blocks.. like away from elementary schools...

You're lucky. Space is what WE don't have.

I can't tell you how immensely interested I am jack!

:rolleyes:

100 is serious business!

I don't mind if things just "end up that way" for independent reasons.

What I do mind is when government planners aim for "social equality" and "racial balance" by deliberately mixing these places in neighborhoods where they don't belong. And that is all too often the way things go.

They have no respect for things as they are and natural social and neighborhood rhythms and values. To them, those things are just evidence of "inequality" that needs to be manipulated out of existence.

Of course, what really happens is that the neighborhood is eventually abandoned by its inhabitants if things are bad enough. So the races and classes end up not mixing after all.

Because nobody is going to sacrifice their family and safety to the cause of social engineering.

100 units as in 100 dwellings? 100 families?

What does it do to the value of the property in the area? I imagine it puts it down.. if that were so, I'd do as you're doing. :yes:

I'm sure the big U S of A has enough space to place such apartment blocks.. like away from elementary schools...

You're lucky. Space is what WE don't have.Yes it "could" go down.

I can't tell you how immensely interested I am jack!There are other threads ... Threadlike :rolleyes:

But this thread is really more about "local" politics. Something that each and everyone one of us could have a direct impact on even in some your countries ... or maybe not.

Another example would be if there were plans to run EHV (extra high voltage) lines across your property would you get personally involved to stop them.

Hence the title ... not in my backyard!

Fight like hell Jack.

Hate to sound this way, but it will only be a matter of time before crime goes up and property value goes down. If you are a home owner, this could especially be bad if you wanted to sell your house and bug out. As for a alternative solution, I wouldn't know where to begin. These people need a low cost place to live but unfortunately, no one wants it to be near them.

Hi Jeff,

There was a minute when I thought you were making an analogy about the creation and subsequent history of Israel when you wrote the following........!

When you wrote the following, theremWhat I do mind is when government planners aim for "social equality" and "racial balance" by deliberately mixing these places in neighborhoods where they don't belong. And that is all too often the way things go.

They have no respect for things as they are and natural social and neighborhood rhythms and values. To them, those things are just evidence of "inequality" that needs to be manipulated out of existence.

Of course, what really happens is that the neighborhood is eventually abandoned by its inhabitants if things are bad enough. So the races and classes end up not mixing after all.

Because nobody is going to sacrifice their family and safety to the cause of social engineering.

It is unfortunate that you have some undesirables in section 8 housing but there are those (like me who was on welfare and going to college and held two jobs) who saw section 8 as a godsend. I think police checks need to be made on anyone who wants to live in such places and weed out those who have criminal histories.

marianna,

No doubt that Section 8 housing has helped MANY. In no way am I saying that we shouldn't help our less fortunate fellow citizens. No way am I saying that. You are shining example that many will pull themselves up by their boot straps given a helping hand and do the right thing.

The meeting seem to go good. The "elected" mayor, all "elected" city councilmen/councilwomen and a few other city officials were there.

Joe, Jane and "Jack" Q PUBLIC had the opportunity face to face to question the actions of their elected officials, voice their greviences and just make a comment if they wanted to. Each speaker was given unlimited time to speak. By the time I got to speak most of what I wanted to say had already been said so I quickly said my peice with emphasis that if this does happen come election time every person in this room will be working day and night to assure that all sitting on that podium ( the elected officials) would not be sitting there after the next elections.

The meeting went good IMO that it was unaimous against any Section 8 housing apt complex be placed in single family neighborhoods. There was a proposal for that but the mayor and council said they had refused permits for that to be built. We were assured that would not happen.

There is going to be several new subdivisions built in my area with city/HUD partnership. These will be single family homes that will be on the tax roles but given "some" subsidies by HUD in financing of these homes.

I can live with that.

ps: there were no riots, death threats not even a single bloody nose ... imagine that