Welcome to Hell

[chasingtides]

Welcome to Hell: Philadelphia Has a Serious Case of Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderNorris Square is both lovely and out of place-a park interrupting trash-strewn streets and dirty concrete with a sudden surprising burst of green. Elegant decaying townhomes surround the square and convey the neighborhood’s history-its prosperous origins and decades

Comments

[babysinclair]

This is literally down the street from my house. Honestly it's worse 10 blocks north.

Re: More than just traffic congestion

[brother_dour]

I did not mean to. Most people have absolutely zero understanding about urban poverty- as we discussed ad nauseum above, most people are content to blame the victim. The post I referenced to you was a verbatim response to a related question on another website entirely- a Q&A op/ed website, actually. I assumed that you were like the typical person and did not understand these factors- after all, I don't know you personally at all, nor any details about yo other than a) you live in Philadephia, very near the neighborhood the article talks about. And you have some understanding of colloquial Spanish- and a sense of humor. I do apologize for assuming that you needed the typical explanations about urban blight cause-and-effect, but I bet you that the policies I mentioned did affect your neighborhood just the same (for example, the Affordable Housing Act of 1934 makes it just as difficult to obtain an improvement loan on an inner-city property in Philly as it does in any other similar neighborhood. Federal policies tend to do that).

Re: More than just traffic congestion

[chasingtides]

I'm not inclined to feel "grateful" to someone who seems intent that a) he knows these issues better than the folks living in the city and b) who just called my city a potentially unfixable problem. If you infused compassion into your words instead of tossing out academia like pure reasoning - without a dose of humanity or understanding - can help this issue, it might be a world of difference.

Re: More than just traffic congestion

[brother_dour]

You obviously did not read Rittel and Webber. You have absolutely no perspective on that article or what the authors really mean beyond the title.

Please read it.

Also, I do not profess to know the issues specific to Philadelphia. I only know the events and policies that contributed to urban poverty and 'blight' (I really hate that word) nationally in a very broad sense. Again, please show me where I claimed to know how to solve Philly's problems- or even what they are.

I understand that you and puta_estupida are frustrated and angry about these know-it-all professionals like you perceive me to be. But that understanding thing goes both ways- if you perceive all of us as know-it-all academics and never as real people with honest intentions, we'll never be able to do our best job for you because any outreach or partnership we may attempt will be plagued with distrust.

Re: More than just traffic congestion

[chasingtides]

As I've already stated, I think you're being a dick (and I think throwing around "You didn't read the academic article I linked you to, therefore you're being unreasonable" is a dickish move). I think that you're trying to throw your weight around without actually acknowledging the problems discussed in the article. I think you appear to be more invested in looking smart than discussing the problem/solutions. And I think it's foul that you think I'm "ungrateful" that I'm willing to call you on the carpet for what appears to be a superiority complex over people living in a neighborhood plagued with real live problems (that aren't solved by you throwing out the names of laws that hurt our city).

So yeah, I'm not reading your academic article on my day off. And I'm not going to be grateful that you're willing to link me to them (or whatever reason you think I should be grateful). Until you're willing to see us as real people and treat us with respect, I'm not sure this conversation can move further.

Re: More than just traffic congestion

[brother_dour]

I don't think so, either.

Edited, x3: Because I have been a stubborn, defensive, reactionary dick- guilty as charged- up until now. I should have just shut the Hell up and listened to y'all instead of launching into professional mode- and then staying in professional mode despite what you, ennifer_jay, and puta_estupida said to me about it. Repeatedly. That was a terrible reflection upon myself personally and professionally. And to make the shitty even shittier- I got to this after you messaged the mods, so now my apologies look insincere. All I ask is that you give my profession another chance- please don't hold all planners to my terrible, insensitive, bullheaded example.

Re: More than just traffic congestion

[ennifer_jay]

mte tbh

Re: More than just traffic congestion

[bestdaywelived]

Where are the citations?

Re: More than just traffic congestion

[brother_dour]

Which ones, specifically? I'll be happy to dig those up from my old class notes.

[ennifer_jay]

I lived in Point Breeze over the summer (long story) - 21st and Tasker to be specific - before I moved down to Maryland. My block was pretty legit and helped me out so many times (my car broke down and there was a mechanic who lived next door, etc.). I miss the camaraderie :(

[babysinclair]

There's some great blocks in Point Breeze, but 21st and moore was horrible!