More Pudding Proves Cunning Linguist Camp Wrong (again)...

[zoo]

Economic integration works "spectacularly."

The below article by Leonard Pitts was reprinted in the Viewpoint section of the T-U today (3/7/10) under the headline "Saving young people in crisis; Violent crime has dropped 96 percent, 78 percent of kids passed the state math test." The proof is in the pudding:

A purpose to build homes, lift spirits
BY LEONARD PITTS
LPITTS@MIAMIHERALD.COM
NEW ORLEANS -- Warren Buffett leads a troop of officials, reporters, and a guy with a boom mike into the just-finished new apartment.

Five years ago, after the levees failed, this area was ten feet underwater. Now, on this bitterly cold morning early in March, it is a construction zone ringed by chainlink fences, and one of the richest men in America wanders around what will eventually be some family's home. Model furnishings have been placed just so. The smell of new is still in the rooms.

This is part of the inaugural meeting of the Purpose Built Communities network, to which civic leaders from around the country have come. And, it is an attempt to export ``What Works.''

As in my 2007-2008 series of columns by that name, about programs that have shown success saving young people in crisis. One of the most ambitious of them was the East Lake Foundation in Atlanta, founded in 1995 by developer Tom Cousins.

Cousins achieved near miracles -- violent crime down 96 percent, 78 percent of kids passing the state math test when only 5 percent could do it before -- in what had been one of the worst and most dangerous public housing projects in the country. There were many elements to that success: offering better schools, creating an early learning center, building a YMCA, evicting felons.

But the centerpiece was that in the airy new apartment complex Cousins built to replace the housing project, half the units are held for middle-income families, the other half for poor, government subsidized families. The idea being that middle-income people would, just in their daily doings, model for their neighbors the habits and behaviors of a successful life.

It worked, spectacularly.

And Purpose Built Communities is the outgrowth. Founded by Cousins, Buffett and philanthropist Julian Robertson, it offers expertise, guidance and partnerships to those seeking to replicate East Lake's success in their own blighted communities. Its member network includes projects in Rome, Ga., Jackson, Miss., Indianapolis and Memphis. There is no charge for its services.

Vice-president Carol Naughton says community leaders in other cities who want to learn more should visit www.purposebuiltcommunities.org. Or, she says: ``Give me a call. It's that simple. Give me a call (404-591-1400) and we'll start the conversation. We can kind of coach you about how to build this initial organization, about who your partners can be, who can bring resources to the community and advocate for the community. And who those resources are within the community, too.''

It is not easy and it is not magic. It takes time, tears, toil and setback to grow hope in places where it has not grown before. But do it, says Cousins, and ``you will see the children that would've been lost in the normal process become stars, become bright.''

``There is,'' says PBC President Chuck Knapp, ``a difference between a project and a movement.''

They want this to be a movement.

``Whenever you have something happen like East Lake,'' says Buffett, ``people say, `That's just because one guy had a passion for it, wouldn't stop and went through a brick wall, made it happen.' But the real test is whether it's replicable. Once you do it beyond where the founders started it, it becomes evident to other communities: if the community cares enough about getting it done, it will get done.''

And this, he says, needs to get done in dozens of communities.

[zoo]

East Lake video on CNBC Business Nation:
http://www2.cybergolf.com/sites/courses/view.asp?id=346&page=27971

I don't see the "insert video" tag button, so maybe one of your more savvy post-ers can post it in this thread?

(and I'm not advocating golf in Springfield .

[ChriswUfGator]

Funny, in a recent thread, you made it obvious you weren't such a big proponent of having those pesky lower-income residents running around. Change of heart?

[Miss Fixit]

Can we PLEASE talk about what was just posted and not waste everyone's time with a bunch of accusations and discussions based on what appear to be misinterpretations and incorrect assumptions about previous posts?

The statistics cited here are amazing - I'm going to call Carol Naughton and get more information.

[ChriswUfGator]

Can we PLEASE talk about what was just posted and not waste everyone's time with a bunch of accusations and discussions based on what appear to be misinterpretations and incorrect assumptions about previous posts?

The statistics cited here are amazing - I'm going to call Carol Naughton and get more information.

I'm sorry, what exactly am I "assuming" again? Did she or didn't she post these little gems? And MANY others...

When a community is 92% low-income, and over 80% African-American, diversity is created by adding elements other than that. Middle or upper income, white, yellow, red or whatever.

Diversity does not necessarily mean more African-Americans should join the party unless there are few in the mix to begin with.

Yes yes, clearly all "misinterpretation". Gimme a break. The only one misinterpreting anything is her, misinterpreting those Brookings Institution studies she cited, that say the exact opposite of what she's claiming. They'd probably be horrified if they saw their content associated with the language quoted above.

[Miss Fixit]

Funny, in a recent thread, you made it obvious you weren't such a big proponent of having those pesky lower-income residents running around. Change of heart?

None of the quotes in your last post support the statement you made above.   Thus, assumption or misinterpretation.

What do you think about Purpose Built Communities, ChriswUFGator?

[ChriswUfGator]

Funny, in a recent thread, you made it obvious you weren't such a big proponent of having those pesky lower-income residents running around. Change of heart?

None of the quotes in your last post support the statement you made above.   Thus, assumption or misinterpretation.

What do you think about Purpose Built Communities, ChriswUFGator?

You're handing me a dog and telling me it's a cat, what am I even supposed to say to this?

My posts referenced the exact quotes which I then quoted for you, which back up what I posted. How much clearer could this be? Zoo is in one thread rallying against the inclusion of more low-income housing, and in this thread talking about how wonderful it is. I questioned the disparity between the two positions. A question I notice you've completely sidestepped.

[Ocklawaha]

"Cunning Linguist"

Really Stephen, your best title to date!!

ROFLMFAO!!

OCKLAWAHA

[Dan B]

I think Mrs Fixit was asking for you to register an opinion, rather than bash, bash, bash.

[ChriswUfGator]

I think Mrs Fixit was asking for you to register an opinion, rather than bash, bash, bash.

Really? In a thread with the title this one has? They're just neutrally debating a point? Really?

And you folks don't see any disparity between the positions in this thread, and her normal routine?

And though I'm sure someone will try, don't bother twisting my words to mean that I think any more African-Americans that want to come to Springfield should be excluded -- that is not what I typed or intended. However, I'll admit I feel that way about low-income, as improvement of area economics and revitalization (my hope) go hand in hand.

And FWIW, here's where the "cunning linguist" language came forth...

Two studies previously referenced in this thread...

Here's another:
http://www.ceosforcities.org/pagefiles/EconomicIntegration.pdf

Also review the work done by Bruce Katz of Brookings and William Julius Wilson.

And when you contact them, be sure to ask them if they support a "Stampede the poors and 'others' out strategy" so you can get the response you seek.

These experts, and numerous others, are all idiots. We should just jump on the sparsely-supported bandwagon of Stephen, the all-knowing cunning linguist.

And for the record, Brookings would be horrified to have their name attached to this kind of tripe.

Fact: If economic integration is the answer as the experts indicate, in Springfield integration requires re-balancing the socio-economics in favor of higher wage earners.

How do you reconcile the above with what she's posted in this thread? You don't see a discrepancy?

Care to fix it, MissFixit? Or at least address it?

[ChriswUfGator]

The proof is indeed in the pudding.

And it tastes like an imbecile was reading the original recipe.

+1

[ChriswUfGator]

By pretending that your goal of 'integrating' is somehow served by 'excluding the 'wrong demographic', and simply relabeling overt snobbery by giving it a liberal feel good kind of title.

That's my take on it as well.

A new name for the same old attitude that's 1) Blown up SPAR, 2) Caused half the neighborhood to become vacant lots over the last 8 years, and 3) Caused the residents of the other half that's occupied to become endlessly embroiled in a series of petty wars and drama. Doesn't seem like that particular take on things has worked out so well over the last decade.

What happened to that old thing about learning from our mistakes?

[ChriswUfGator]

I think they meant "SPARs Soap"...must've been a misprint.

[zoo]

Economic integration works "spectacularly."

The below article by Leonard Pitts was reprinted in the Viewpoint section of the T-U today (3/7/10) under the headline "Saving young people in crisis; Violent crime has dropped 96 percent, 78 percent of kids passed the state math test." The proof is in the pudding:

A purpose to build homes, lift spirits
BY LEONARD PITTS
LPITTS@MIAMIHERALD.COM
NEW ORLEANS -- Warren Buffett leads a troop of officials, reporters, and a guy with a boom mike into the just-finished new apartment.

Five years ago, after the levees failed, this area was ten feet underwater. Now, on this bitterly cold morning early in March, it is a construction zone ringed by chainlink fences, and one of the richest men in America wanders around what will eventually be some family's home. Model furnishings have been placed just so. The smell of new is still in the rooms.

This is part of the inaugural meeting of the Purpose Built Communities network, to which civic leaders from around the country have come. And, it is an attempt to export ``What Works.''

As in my 2007-2008 series of columns by that name, about programs that have shown success saving young people in crisis. One of the most ambitious of them was the East Lake Foundation in Atlanta, founded in 1995 by developer Tom Cousins.

Cousins achieved near miracles -- violent crime down 96 percent, 78 percent of kids passing the state math test when only 5 percent could do it before -- in what had been one of the worst and most dangerous public housing projects in the country. There were many elements to that success: offering better schools, creating an early learning center, building a YMCA, evicting felons.

But the centerpiece was that in the airy new apartment complex Cousins built to replace the housing project, half the units are held for middle-income families, the other half for poor, government subsidized families. The idea being that middle-income people would, just in their daily doings, model for their neighbors the habits and behaviors of a successful life.

It worked, spectacularly.

And Purpose Built Communities is the outgrowth. Founded by Cousins, Buffett and philanthropist Julian Robertson, it offers expertise, guidance and partnerships to those seeking to replicate East Lake's success in their own blighted communities. Its member network includes projects in Rome, Ga., Jackson, Miss., Indianapolis and Memphis. There is no charge for its services.

Vice-president Carol Naughton says community leaders in other cities who want to learn more should visit www.purposebuiltcommunities.org. Or, she says: ``Give me a call. It's that simple. Give me a call (404-591-1400) and we'll start the conversation. We can kind of coach you about how to build this initial organization, about who your partners can be, who can bring resources to the community and advocate for the community. And who those resources are within the community, too.''

It is not easy and it is not magic. It takes time, tears, toil and setback to grow hope in places where it has not grown before. But do it, says Cousins, and ``you will see the children that would've been lost in the normal process become stars, become bright.''

``There is,'' says PBC President Chuck Knapp, ``a difference between a project and a movement.''

They want this to be a movement.

``Whenever you have something happen like East Lake,'' says Buffett, ``people say, `That's just because one guy had a passion for it, wouldn't stop and went through a brick wall, made it happen.' But the real test is whether it's replicable. Once you do it beyond where the founders started it, it becomes evident to other communities: if the community cares enough about getting it done, it will get done.''

And this, he says, needs to get done in dozens of communities.

[Dan B]

Thats productive. Way to contribute.