However, in thinking about possible change for NYC, the question of what happens to the poor is a natural continuation. We have come to accept that poverty in America belongs in our Cities. There is now a strong demand by the middle class to return to cities and to a more urban environment. New communities that are being built are designed to replicate the urban environment. Why not give them the real thing? This would involve America making the decision that it was a worthy goal to encourage our cities to return to the middle class and upper middle class that they once were. It also would require finding an alternative to poverty.
The bottleneck of poverty in our cities can be cleared and I believe it would be in the best interests of all Americans - poor, rich and middle class. In addition, I believe it would be in the best interests of all Americans to try not only to empower those who are poor to improve their lives, but to allow for a degree of “wealth” by encouraging the ownership of real estate by as many Americans as possible, including the “poor”.
CleanupNYCgarbage.com - Clean Up New York City Garbage - New Yorkers have grown accustomed to the garbage. It is true, in midtown areas where there are active BIDs, the garbage is contained quite nicely. However, even in these neighborhoods, the problem exists that there is a constant abundance of large black garbage bags that line the sidewalk once, twice or three times a week waiting for pickup at some point in the future.
CFANA.com - Committee For a New America (Would it be moral to allow our American cities to become middle class again and, if so, what do we do with the poor? We have come to accept that, in America, we house and care for the poor in our great cities. My suggestion for change can be found on this site and a new one going up soon - CommunityLivingCenters.com.
SugarHillAC.com - Sugar Hill Art Center - History and photos of the Art Center I opened in October, 2001
(great timing!) in Harlem.
NoMorePennies.com - No More Pennies! Why do we need them? Why not get a final number, then round up or down to the nearest nickel? Get rid of them now.
WhyZoning.com - Why Zoning? - Paris and London do not have zoning! It is considered part of American culture. But it prevents natural change. Why not do as these two great cities do and allow existing property to be used for its best use. This allows for good development - the market knows best! To think, as in NYC, that someone 50 years ago knew exactly what was the best use of every space then, and 50 years later, is preposterous. New development should be “directed” by government.
CellPhonesandDataBases.com - Cell Phones and Databases - We are dysfunctional in America. In most other countries, including China, cell phones operate by satellite dishes - reception is excellent. In America, we use towers - reception is terrible! And calling information - T Mobil, Verizon, etc., etc. They all have their own data bases and do not share information. Clever! There should be a way to coordinate data bases so one can get a telephone number from whatever phone one is calling from even though the number listed might have been registered with another phone company.
BetterStreetSigns.com - Better Street Signs - How do we get around in our cars in America? Not too easily! New navigation systems might help those who can afford them, but shouldn’t we, as bearers of our own fate, help ourselves in giving ourselves good signs. It seems an impossible task. How about a toll free national number that would allow any motorist to call in an improper or missing sign with the location and the error. This information could be passed to a local authority that could confirm the suggestions and change it if needed.
DowntownLAgentrification.com - Downtown LA Gentrification - Downtown LA is the same as many American cities in many ways - it has seen its better day. The poor are the primary shoppers and occupy many of the once glorious hotels. Their presence on the streets is abundant. In many way, however, downtown LA is different from many other American cities. Most of the beautiful buildings are still intact. When they were built they were used by the “gentry” for shopping and offices. Upscale stores were common. Today the shopping still exists, but it is stores selling cheap merchandise to a primarily poor client. The buildings are used mostly for manufacturing.