South Milwaukee: How About We Discriminate Just A Little?
The City of South Milwaukee, still awaiting a final federal ruling on whether it can legally tear down two apartment buildings housing low-income and minority tenants, says now - - as the judge ponders a final order - - that it wants only to tear down one building.
South Milwaukee just doesn't get it.
The issue isn't resolved by only kicking some of these tenants out of their apartments.
The issue isn't resolved by reducing discrimination quantitatively.
The issue is resolved - - and I believe this will be the legal ruling along with the larger moral conclusion - - by leaving the buildings intact.
And then looking inward, and trying to understand why the city has been spending taxpayers money year-after-year to fight a losing battle.
Even if the city were to win in court - - which I think is unlikely as a jury last week said "no teardowns" - - South Milwaukee would lose in the court of public opinion.
This is 2009.
Housing discrimination, by whatever bobbing-and-weaving it takes, has no place in America, Wisconsin and South Milwaukee.
2 comments:
In addition to the $ they are spending to fight this, they have refused to even collect property taxes on the apartments - for almost 15 years. Because the buildings "don't exist." How much tax revenue has South Milwaukee lost by its ridiculous actions?
To Anon: This is the kind of episode that undercuts regionalism, though the debate usually doesn't touch on such matters.
Post a Comment