In the debate over a basketball court in an Annapolis neighborhood, two strains of thought have emerged.
The first is understandable if oversimplified, while the second is more interesting and more disturbing.
The first is this: The old basketball court was linked with crime and drugs, so the Landex Cos. had good reason to tear it out and refuse to let a new one be built.
The second line of reasoning goes like this: These people live in public housing, so they should just shut up.
Superficially, both are about a basketball court in Annapolis Gardens, a community of 150 homes off Admiral Drive. But this is really part of a larger debate about the role and future of public housing.
There are huge problems that haven't been solved for decades: inter-generational poverty, broken families, a cycle of dependence on government.
That doesn't mean people have to be treated like prisoners while they're living there.
Yet many readers of my column and stories in The Capital have suggested residents have no right to complain about Landex's reversal on the court - or about anything, really.
"If you want a basketball court save up your money and move to a community that has one," wrote one reader on HometownAnnapolis.com. "It is not the responsibility of the taxpayers to fund your recreation."
Said another: "If you don't like that, you're free to get a job and find housing using your own money."
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It is public housing. Don't like it, move out, or buy land and build your own.
ReplyDeleteSick of the entitlement class. Were broke!
"....treated like prisoners..."? THAT sounds like THEIR reasoning. Some of those "families" (a woman and 3-5 kids being the defining "family" unit) have NEVER had a check they earned, paid a doctor, or even LOOKED for a job. Personally, I resent anyone in public housing complaining that the people who work aren't GIVING them enough. An entire generation has been raised to think other people OWE them something. I wonder how they have any time to play ball all day (and night) when all they do is look for jobs all day and try to improve their lot every waking minute. I might be missing something...
ReplyDeletewe pay for them every which way, public housing, food stamps, ebt, health care, failing schools, drug cartels, prisons. how about we just cut em off all together.
ReplyDeleteWhy would someone get a job when a single mom with 3 kids can get
ReplyDelete$60,000 worth of housing, food, and health care allowances a year? Tell her to get a $20,000 a year job and she'll tell you that your crazy.
Your right 8:28. Today in wal-mart there was a family of people who were obviously of hispanic descent. They had $174.93 worth of food on the register. They handed the cashier WIC checks and an independence card. They covered everything but $4.35. That beats extreme couponing! How long can we afford to pay for everything for everyone? Move over Greece. We're gonna default with you.
ReplyDeleteIt was a dummy decision to tear the court down in the first place. The court doesn't create the drug environment, it's the dealers and users that do. I'm sure they are still around the neighborhood even though the court is gone.
ReplyDeleteI know a women supported by the state with everything except housing, shes working on that! I will give you one guess what her daughters goal in life was/is. She said that as soon as she was eighteen (18) that she was going to get pregnant and live off of the state "like my mom". She has not worked a day in her life! Well she got pregnant and now, hold onto your seats, she collects a check, she collects a check for the child, food stamps and has been given 'free housing', here is the kicker she also is given cash monies to spend (on top of the checks) however she wants!!! The only thing she had to do to collect the extra 'cash' is to get her GED! Why in the heck have I been working hard for the past 33yrs. paying taxes and all I collect when I retire will be approx. $1,200 a month and supplemental medical (Medicare). she collects more in one month than I will in two. This has to stop people...WAKE UP, SPEAK UP the system is beyond broke and broken. Is this how you want your tax dollars spent? If not then do something about it besides complain, we have to become active. Vote out all incumbents a unknown,untested person CAN NOT do any worse!
ReplyDeletewow a whole $170.00. What are you, big brother?
ReplyDeleteand all I collect when I retire will be approx. $1,200 a month and supplemental medical (Medicare). 10:19 AM
ReplyDeleteShhh. Haven't you heard? Some people want to stop that entitlement.