It's official: Louise DeSpain retiring

[nvrenuf]

Implicitly racist - please provide examples when making such statements

Are you asking for someone to prove in public that the actions of SPAR have been implicitly racist?  What purpose does this serve?  Lets be about the future and move forward.

See my amended post. It helps to add validity to the statement rather than it just being an opinion. If they have nothing to add there's no real reason to make such comments. It's just inflammatory.

[sheclown]

At least we could spell her name right, couldn't we?  DeSpain.

<geez>

[Livein32206]

i only hope whoever's next isn't as abrasive and implicitly racist--people keep saying louise did a lot ov good for the neighbourhood, but having lived here my entire life all i've seen is the interests ov the wealthy served at the expense ov people who'd lived in springfield for decades before i was born.

Great points, Kuroi!

But hopefully we all are remember for the good we did, and forgiven for the bad.

It's amazing how suddenly everything's forgiven and the world is once again wonderful. My, how you've made such a complete turn around.

[CityLife]

i only hope whoever's next isn't as abrasive and implicitly racist--people keep saying louise did a lot ov good for the neighbourhood, but having lived here my entire life all i've seen is the interests ov the wealthy served at the expense ov people who'd lived in springfield for decades before i was born.

This interview that was posted on MySpringfield.org kind of refutes the notion that only the wealthy have benefited from the work of Louise DeSpain.

Long-time Resident Profile Series

Name: Idela Miller

Age: 63

Status: Married to Cleveland “Spooky” Miller for 42 years

Location: East 7th

Occupation: Retired food service worker

Fun Fact: Idela enjoys carpentry and woodworking in her free time, which she learned from years of watching “This Old House”

Q: What brought you to Springfield ?

A: Cleveland and I moved to Jacksonville from Valdosta, Georgia in 1984. We had to move, you see. And at that time Springfield was the only neighborhood we could afford. We needed a decent size house, not a shack, and we couldn’t find that anywhere else.


We lived on the corner of 3rd and Laura Street for three years, and then moved here, to this house. We’ve lived in this house since that time, in 1987.

Q: What were some of your challenges or concerns at that time?

A: Let me tell you, it was bad. Real bad. The neighborhood was infested with drugs, drug dealers, prostitutes, and all kinds of crime. The streets looked like a garbage dump, with trash everywhere. Abandoned cars, tires, shopping carts were all around the neighborhood. Just trashy.

I was afraid to go out at night or early in the morning. Even just to walk around the outside my house. You never knew what was going to happen. It was bad.

Q: What kind of changes have you seen since 1984?

A: Goodness, I can’t even tell them all. So much, so much. The streets are clean. The drug dealers are gone. The crime is down, way down. I can go for walks without worrying about things now.

You couldn’t even believe the difference.

Q: When you look back, what memories of the neighborhood stick out in your mind?

A: I have both happy and sad memories.

On this block, about three houses down, two men were shot and killed. At the end of the block a baby was found dead in an apartment. The mother said someone climbed in the window and strangled her baby. Those happened the first year we moved in to this house, in 1987. Those are sad memories for me.

But I have happy memories too. I was excited when the houses started to be restored. It’s just made the neighborhood look so pretty. And the Christmas Home Tours are an always exciting times for me too. I like the lights, ribbons, and everything else; they always look so nice.

I can’t list all of them, you know, there are too many to name.

Q:  What do you enjoy most about the neighborhood now?

A: Oh everything. The people. My neighbors are so loving, so caring and kind. I don’t know if I could live anywhere else and find neighbors like these. They have helped Cleveland and I with so much, I can’t even begin to thank them. I even have a neighbor, Annette, who I call my “adopted mother” because she watches over me so kindly.

I also like that it’s just a short drive to the hospital and the grocery store. So this location is very convenient for us. 

Q: How do you see the neighborhood changing in the future?

A: Well, just more good things. More friendly neighbors and more positive things in the area.

Q: Anything that you’d like to say to you someone thinking about moving into the neighborhood, or your current neighbors?

A: I have the best neighbors and I can’t thank them enough. They know who they are.
To someone new, I’d just like to welcome them into the community. This is a beautiful place. We have beautiful people here. We work together to accomplish our goals, as neighbors. That’s what I have to say.

[CityLife]

Thats a great post and interview City.  But I dont think that the point you are addressing was ever made by the poster.  They never said that 'only the wealthy have benefited'.

Its a counterproductive argument, I think.

Best to figure out how to move powerfully, fairly, and positively forward.

The poster was "implicitly" expressing that the work of Ms. DeSpain was only geared towards white people and those with money. So in that sense that is what the post implied. Or at least how I interpreted it.

You are right though, no need to waste time arguing about semantics and the past.

For that poster that tried to blast Ms. DeSpain, the SPAR office is open anytime you want to discuss your ideals for Springfield. Feel free to come in anytime.

[strider]

I believe this has been covered often, but the policies that SPAR Council often subscribes to are somewhat prejudicial to the lower social economic groups and can be considered and sometimes are called "racist" by some.  Frankly, it makes no difference if the polices are “racist” or that being somewhat racist is an untended consequence of the policy and the make up of the social economic groups, it is still wrong and we all hope that those polices are going to be changed in the future.

Working together is much better and beneficial to all than working against each other.  It is hopefully time that SPAR Council learns that, regardless of whether Louise DeSpain is retiring or not.

[CS Foltz]

Right wrong or indifferent..........Ms DeSpain is retiring! Time to pass the torch and see if SPAR can actually do something besides being anti-business (if the business does not meet their standards) and actually do something positive for the ENTIRE area..............but thats IMHO!

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

having once worked in the SPAR building (i was with the tragically poorly-run viva computers), i saw how she interacted with my boss and my black co-workers as opposed to how she interacted with me.  i also live near a woman whose fence was run over by a drunk driver and who was accosted by her about how the fallen fence was an eyesore before she had a chance to do anything about it--the neighbour was also black and, yes, has lived in the neightbourhood since before i was born.  i don't dent that some people who don't fit the WASP profile have benifitted from SPAR's actions, but i feel that these have been happy side effects rather than part ov SPAR's plans.

ultimately, the folks saying we should be more interested in the future than in arguïng about the mistakes ov the past (and whether or not they were mistakes) are right, but i'd like to feel comfortable that those same mistakes won't be made again.

[CS Foltz]

I agree with your viewpoint...........mistakes are mistakes, unless something is learned from the mistakes then they become lessons in life! Time will tell I do believe!

[sheclown]

So, what does THAT mean?  Is she going to run Springfield from remote-control?

[Miss Fixit]

Dear Dr. Gaffney,
Your words touched me very deeply last night at the Reception.
Springfield has indeed come such a long way, and so many wonderful things have happened that I feel humble to be a part of it.
Without you though, we could not have accomplished as much as we have. We know very well how important a Council person is to his District, and you have proven yourself to be exactly what you promised you would be. You will forever have my love and admiration because you are a caring person, not just a politician.

I wanted to say Thanks, but do not want to say Goodbye, because I think there are other things for us to accomplish together.
God bless and be with you,
Louise

Thank goodness we are operating in the sunshine, yall

[Springfield Girl]

There sure are a lot of pots calling the kettle black. You are from Jacksonville right?