CHICAGO | General Discussions

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by BrinChi

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As a white guy who lived in Garfield Park for 9 years and now Bronzeville for the last 2.5 years, it's just laughable to me when I hear people justify not going to certain parts of the city (or paying twice as much for housing to live in certain neighborhoods) because of the crime stats. I'm privileged and unlikely to be involved in a random act of crime, but the biggest frustration of my neighborhood is when litter gets out of control -- seriously that is the worst part of living in the less affluent parts of the city imo. (Recognizing that even the wealthy parts of a dense city often get badly littered, but it's usually taken care of quicker.) That's been my focus of neighborhood initiatives because most places stop looking scary when the trash is cleaned up and the grass/foliage is trimmed... even if the area has some empty lots with old foundations and crumbling sidewalks. If the city wants the south and west sides to continue attracting investment and filling in, it's essential to keep them clean. It should be a low-cost, high-return investment. This *especially* includes the neighborhood parks.

Yeah appearances go a long way, but being saddled with poverty has a way of exhausting people and reducing the mental space for people to care or think about these things.

I took it upon myself to landscape my parkway this year. It was a patch of weedy grass. Dug it all up, put in natives, stepping stones, bunch of trees. You wouldn't believe the amount of people in my neighborhood who come up to me to thank me for what I'm doing, or to ask about a particular plant. I was worried about it getting trampled given the condition of other aspects of the neighborhood, but everyone respects it.

One older woman on the block came up to me one day and just kept going on and on about how she loves nature and how were blessed because "god loves those who love nature." Her son is a Latin king on house arrest with an ankle bracelet (I know this because I have to pass him every day in the alley). I imagine her life is incredibly overwhelming and stressful. But she went out later that week and planted a tiny little tree in her patch or parkway. Later she put in some flowers. Honestly, the tree probably won't survive the winter but that's not the point. She saw someone else value a place that's always been neglected, and it gave her a sort of permission to see it differently. At least that's what I hope. But the fact she went out and bought a little six inch tree and put it in her patch of dirt was a touching gesture. It can be suffocating living in some of these areas, and something as simple as trees and flowers can begin to change perceptions

I'm also not implying I'm some savior, I just have more time and resources to dedicate to this kind of thing compared to my average neighbor. All of us can only control the things that we actually can control, and just have to try to lead by example. I pick up the trash because I have the time to do so and I see it. If other people don't, that's also understandable because everyone is dealing with different circumstances and burdens.

[The Lurker]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

Yeah appearances go a long way, but being saddled with poverty has a way of exhausting people and reducing the mental space for people to care or think about these things.

I disagree. Filth is not a byproduct of poverty. Wealthy neighborhoods aren't immaculate because rich people with lots of time on their hands pick up trash and plant trees. Sure that helps but its mostly because people are hired to landscape and maintain the grounds. Chicago has one of the most beautiful downtowns in the world partly because the city spends tons of money maintaining planters on all the sidewalks. Why is no money spent to maintain appearances in the poor neighborhoods which desperately need the investment and could benefit from the jobs? If you ask me its a city leadership problem.

[galleyfox]

Originally Posted by The Lurker

I disagree. Filth is not a byproduct of poverty. Wealthy neighborhoods aren't immaculate because rich people with lots of time on their hands pick up trash and plant trees. Sure that helps but its mostly because people are hired to landscape and maintain the grounds. Chicago has one of the most beautiful downtowns in the world partly because the city spends tons of money maintaining planters on all the sidewalks. Why is no money spent to maintain appearances in the poor neighborhoods which desperately need the investment and could benefit from the jobs? If you ask me its a city leadership problem.

I mean, there is genuinely more littering and private property neglect (even when money isn’t a factor) on the South Side.

I’ve lived in a corner lot near West Town and now live in a corner lot in South Chicago. And in South Chicago, I have to pick up bottles and other litter every single day from my property.

The North side has priced out most people who deliberately litter or vandalize a block except for maybe say Wrigleyville, but it is a real issue on the South side. Service levels as far as street sweeping and road repair seem to be the same as West Town, to be quite honest.

I think it’s unfair to compare a neighborhood to the Loop considering the Loop is everybody’s first impression of Chicago and needs to be immaculate for economic growth. Also a lot of North side business strips are private money from special assessments and neighborhood chamber of commerce initiatives.

[moorhosj1]

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7

It pains me to think of the 80 year old south/west-side residents who must live amongst filth, while, not to mention, sheltering from gunfire each summer evening, because most of the youth in these communities are such terrible citizens.

In my early 20s, I was poor, with a negative bank account balance, but would lug my empty Doritos bag over to a nearby trash can every time, because it was simply the right thing to do.

Can you provide a reference for your assertion that "most of the youth in these communities are such terrible citizens"? That seems like a stretch and part of the existing (incorrect) stereotype this entire thread has been about.

For the record, I see people on the North Side throwing trash out of their car windows all the time. You were a hero in your 20s, but you've hardly proven anything with your broad assumptions about others and simple anecdotes about yourself.