The Projects
Projects and low income housing fail to improve the lives and economic stability of poverty stricken urbanites. Wealth communities force out low income families to the outskirts of cities. Locating these pockets at distances far away from the rest of the city segregates these communities and limits external commerce. This crushes the Projects' prospects for economic stimulus. Opportunities to emerge from poverty cease to exist when a community is disconnected from the outer world. Outside money doesn't magically trickle into isolated economies. It seems like the only penetrable trade into the city's economy is drugs -- with an inelastic, addiction driven demand. Keeping the Projects detached from cities cuts off their commercial capabilities and maintains the inescapable cycle of poverty.
The Projects are also politically neglected, underfunded, and over populated. The lowest class of impoverished people has the least amount of political sway (assuming money equals power). Lack of influence in political discussions limits the resources designated towards these areas. Thus, low income housing remains underfunded. Without proper funding, representation, or attention, a community must fill the void with its own systems of governance. Much like the old school mafias of Sicily, when oppressive governments ignored the needs of the people, local entities assume power over laws, banking, and policing. Loan sharks rise. Taxation of local businesses emerges. And violence becomes the way to enforce street codes and local law. When a power fails to govern, a new system naturally steps in. Therefore, without access to local politics, neighborhood gangs assume these roles for their people.
Inspiration for today's post stems from Sudhir Venkatesh's Gang Leader For A Day, a first hand account of a sociology student's journey into life in the Chicago Projects.
1 comments:
The same situation occured in South Africa, and happens all over the world.
The people who are forced into these situations no longer have the same rights as the rest of the population, and in a sense form their own goverment and set of laws. Although many of these laws are considered illegal by the rest of society, it is the only means of survival.
A more positive example than you have outlined is the black market, or the informal economy which is not recognized by any formal goverment but is so widespread that many believe people should become legal, allowing those involved access to the same rights and benefits as the population who works in the formal sector.
Just a thought... :)
Post a Comment