What happened to my city (Baltimore)

[jimjim5]

Originally Posted by leon

People who have no measure of worth beyond immediate material possesions have no pride or opportunity for pride. No work, nothing to work for, nothing to earn, no constructive reason to be, no civilization to build/protect/serve. Too many people and not enough meaningful purpose in life = decay.

Yep.......

[Chesterthomas2]

Quote:
Originally Posted by leon
People who have no measure of worth beyond immediate material possesions have no pride or opportunity for pride. No work, nothing to work for, nothing to earn, no constructive reason to be, no civilization to build/protect/serve. Too many people and not enough meaningful purpose in life = decay.

Yep.......

But dem G unit outfits, bling and grills are what life is all about. My 401 k plan is based on 20 inch spinners for my '87 Olds 98.

[jimjim5]

Originally Posted by Chesterthomas2

Quote:
Originally Posted by leon
People who have no measure of worth beyond immediate material possesions have no pride or opportunity for pride. No work, nothing to work for, nothing to earn, no constructive reason to be, no civilization to build/protect/serve. Too many people and not enough meaningful purpose in life = decay.

Yep.......

But dem G unit outfits, bling and grills are what life is all about. My 401 k plan is based on 20 inch spinners for my '87 Olds 98.

It is much more pervasive than just ghetto folks Chester.

[Chesterthomas2]

Originally Posted by jimjim5

It is much more pervasive than just ghetto folks Chester.

True. The whole world has become very materialistic. Maybe the recent economic mess will help get folks out of that mindset. But I have not seen any inkling that that is happening.

[mikeynag]

Originally Posted by Webmommy

Very true. Several times I've posted this and have never gotten an answer. I can show you forty YEARS of photographs of my neighborhood in Gardenville. Immaculate lawns, prized gardens, clean, well kept houses and vehicles. Families out at night, working together as a community. Moms and dads in every home, mom waiting for the kids to get home from school and having supper on the table by 5:30. In TEN YEARS the neighborhood was reduced to cars on blocks, trash everywhere, gangs in do-rags on the corner, groups on porches, middle of the day drinking out of brown bags, garbage thrown all through the alley. So, how did THAT happen? Why was it OK for decades and now is a trashed junk heap? We didn't need blue light cameras on Belair Road. Why do we need them now? I was so naive. I thought I would buy a house there when I got older and raise my family there, close to my parents. I can't even drive through there; the last time I did I was threatened to "get out of their neighborhood".

Still working in the streets especially when I work in Gardenville, I am fascinated with the much charm of the homes in and around the area. Still many remnants of farm homes and still a small farm on Hamilton Ave. Frankford, Anthony, Plainfield, Woodlea and Hamilton Aves once wonderful safe neighborhoods. True that the practice of "blockbusting" was racists, creating a fear for whites to flee , I think there are many factors as to "why" Gardenville has changed. Lets startoff around mid 1070's ( St Anthony of Padua was the largest parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore). Around that time Baltimore City Public Schools would implement a desegregation plan. Dr Roland Patterson stated the City of Baltimore was inelastic with no place to move students. He resigned to go to NY and the new head carried out the plan. Thus the old school boundaries of Patterson & Northern HS changed to Lake Clifton High. Ultimately white families began to migrate to Parkville, Overlea and Perry Hall. Many older families after they died sold their homes to working middle-class African-Americans families, Still a stable neighborhood. Around the mid 90's unfortunately investors bought many homes and began to rent them to anyone. Section 8, drug-dealers and junkies moved in. Many African-American families began to move out to the county as well. Now like you said there are police cameras, closed up shops and many vacant houses. and crime followed the course.