"Human Blight": ghastly view of humanity

[sheclown]

When we start thinking of people as "trash" as a "blight", what does that tell us about ourselves as human beings?

Lee said she has been working on improving the city's neighborhoods since she was first elected to the City Council in 1982, and that  economic development and job creation have been key issues for city lawmakers for as long as she has been in office.

"At the end of the day, what businesses are going to move into areas that are number one, unsafe, and number two, that are depressed with blight, not just trash blight, and lack of mowing right-of-ways, but human blight," she said.

For Lee, human blight defines anyone who "contribute to the demise" of Jacksonville's neighborhoods.

.............................

Lee also encouraged city residents to report blight of all kinds, including reporting on neighbors.

http://news.wjct.org/post/jax-councilwoman-denise-lee-stand-your-ground-combat-human-blight

why not help JSO if the concern is illegal activity? 

[sheclown]

Alarmed about drug deals, Jacksonville councilwoman targets 'human blight'

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-03-27/story/alarmed-about-drug-deals-jacksonville-councilwoman-targets-human-blight#ixzz301eIKH5V


http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-03-27/story/alarmed-about-drug-deals-jacksonville-councilwoman-targets-human-blight

[sheclown]

In the video she taped with Steve Patterson,  she tells him:

"I'm sick of these Negroes" (22.16)

[Cheshire Cat]

This is sad to hear but the reality is that it is vintage Denise Lee and she is not the only one on the council that holds to these views about their fellow humanity.  It exposes again the need to not be lulled by charism or agreement with some issues into believing that a person elected or otherwise shares your belief system or embraces what you care about.  This is something that needs to be remembered next election cycle. 

[ChriswUfGator]

In the video she taped with Steve Patterson,  she tells him:

"I'm sick of these Negroes" (22.16)

Is this a joke? Please tell me it's a joke...

[sheclown]

Watch the video   Link is above

[twojacks]

Boy, I understand that you may not like the council woman, but I for one understand what she's talking about.  So she calls some people human blight?  What would you call them?  I was once asked when the last time I picked up trash that wasn't mine was.  I'll tell you, every day.  And it's not nice neighborly people who are throwing crap in the street everyday.  It's the people who walk back and forth along these streets all day every day....and that's not to and from their office jobs or ever burger king jobs. You all want some of the souls she calls blight??? I'd be happy to have them hop in a cab and visit y'all for a few months.  So, while I may not agree with the messenger on all accounts, this message I'm ok with.

[Cheshire Cat]

Boy, I understand that you may not like the council woman, but I for one understand what she's talking about.  So she calls some people human blight?  What would you call them?  I was once asked when the last time I picked up trash that wasn't mine was.  I'll tell you, every day.  And it's not nice neighborly people who are throwing crap in the street everyday.  It's the people who walk back and forth along these streets all day every day....and that's not to and from their office jobs or ever burger king jobs. You all want some of the souls she calls blight??? I'd be happy to have them hop in a cab and visit y'all for a few months.  So, while I may not agree with the messenger on all accounts, this message I'm ok with.

So there are people who create blight, true enough.  That's a bit different however from calling the people themselves blight or those "negroes".  Unless it is only "negroes" who exemplify blight in the eyes of some.

[sheclown]

She has been their councilwoman for how long?  Couple of decades?  How many tens of millions of dollars of federal money has been pumped into that neighborhood over the past 40 years?  Anyone want to venture a guess?

I have no problem with Denise Lee as a person. I have a problem with a council person calling her constituents "human blight "  even if they toss trash or hang out.

[sheclown]

And twojacks -- you will find me in Denise Lee's neighborhood on a daily basis.  And I have been a constant traveler on these urban core streets for 15 years.

I'm not saying that trash isn't a problem, but don't shoot the hand that drops the can.

Set out some trash cans, improve trash pick up, empower neighborhood groups to gather trash. 

Don't call Jacksonville citizens "human blight" and expect this city to get better.

We, as a city, are only as healthy as Moncrief Road. 

[twojacks]

So  nobody has come up with a better term than human blight??  Disadvantanged, freeloaders, litterbugs, entrepreneurs??  It's tought calling a cur a cur.  Give 'em a bath, take them to the vet, teach them to walk on a leash, and stop crapping where they eat.  Then that dog is transformed from a cur to a pet.  Until then, it's a cur, and until those she's calling out stop hanging out, selling drugs, and throwing full bags of garbage out in their own neighborhoods...I'm inclined to join her in saying they're blight.  Unless of course you come up with a more pc word.

[sheclown]

So  nobody has come up with a better term than human blight??  Disadvantanged, freeloaders, litterbugs, entrepreneurs??  It's tought calling a cur a cur.  Give 'em a bath, take them to the vet, teach them to walk on a leash, and stop crapping where they eat.  Then that dog is transformed from a cur to a pet.  Until then, it's a cur, and until those she's calling out stop hanging out, selling drugs, and throwing full bags of garbage out in their own neighborhoods...I'm inclined to join her in saying they're blight.  Unless of course you come up with a more pc word.

ouch.  We certainly see the world differently.

[NotNow]

We wouldn't want anyone to be responsible for their actions now, would we? 

[NotNow]

StephenDare!, is it possible that this whole "human blight" issue is being overblown.  Ms. Lee sounds like most of the responsible people in her district (and most other districts).  I don't think she is just writing people off, she is just sick of the criminality that robs the vast majority of her constituency the opportunity to live without fear.  Ms. Lee represents a district with challenges and it sounds to me like she is trying to meet the challenge of crime head on.  It is refreshing when a politician speaks the truth and just doesn't do the usual empire building or throw more taxpayer money around.  She is asking for citizens to take a personal stake in their community and that is a good thing.  While I recognize and applaud a Christian attitude towards all persons, many forget that we must hold our brothers and sisters accountable for themselves as well.  To enable criminality and sin is to be guilty of the same.  If you really want to help people, let's get the people that Ms. Lee is talking about out of these unhealthy lifestyles and then everyone benefits.

[thelakelander]

With Stanton, Shands and the S-Line literally right around the corner, 13th & Moncrief should be one of the most desired urban core spots in the city.  As shown in the video, the housing stock is Riverside-esqe.  We definitely should not want those beauties demolished for the hell of it. I think the Councilwoman means well but has no earthly idea what the right solution may be. The solutions being discussed are reactions to issues that stem from a much larger problem.

Install fences if you want but they won't work anymore than sealing off streets, which has already been done in the area. With all those built in assets in the immediate area, it's time to get progressive with economic revitalization, which in turn, will reduce the amount of crime and drug dealing associated with pockets of despair, hopelessness and abandonment.