Subdivisions

My professional office is on the southern end of Third Street. Third isn't all that long; it's bounded south by Wisconsin Avenue and kind of blends into another street on the North.

Between, it's history is as a thriving commercial street, often called Milwaukee's other Downtown; at least it was for a fair bit of last century. In fact, I have a personal link; my wife's relatives operated a hardware store somewhere along there in the first part of last century.

It also became the center of social and commercial life for the African-American community. It was called Bronzeville, and thrived until the misguided and savage urban renewal programs of the sixties came along and drove freeway spurs through it, severing the community from other parts of the city and displacing thousands of residents. Since the folks of Bronzeville were politically disenfranchised, it was an.... expedient solution. Not to mention physically reinforcing and crystallizing the existing segregation of the City, resulting in one of the most racially divided cities in the country.

Further exacerbating the problems was the white diaspora, removing millions of dollars of commerce from the community, further impoverishing the area. Money got spent where the white folks were. It became known as 'one of the bad areas' in town, and was written off as Inner City Blight. All of this mere minutes away from the center of commercial activity in the region.

But; regardless of what people think, everything changes; in recent years, the northern portion of 3rd street was renamed Martin Luther King Drive, and economic development has started to resume, spurred in part, at least, by the previous Mayor of the city demonstrating the fallacy of freeway-oriented development and performing the heresy of demolishing a freeway spur that served as physical separation from downtown. And not coincidentally, opening up fourteen acres of real estate to new development. Not the least of which is the relocation of Manpower headquarters to the area.

It's cool. Watching a City heal itself.

In my own small way, I've participated in the process. Through the work I've been doing on moderate income projects financed through tax credits, a creative partnership of local residents, City and State governments, and private developers with proven results. It's especially effective in the last few years, when Republican hegemony has thrown most cities on their own resources, after the respective states and regions have depleted their economic resources. I'm inordinately pleased with the work we've done in these areas; the effect is nearly immediate and perfectly visible; palpable. This is my city too, and I can't find the heartlessness to ignore fellow residents because they live in a different area or have a different skin color. All of Milwaukee thrives or sinks together; what harms one of us harms us all.



Wednesday, I attended the Grand Opening of our most recent project in the area. It was packed with local and state officials, including our Mayor, and local residents. The Mayor showed late, and had the misfortune of being bumped to speak after a resident of one of the units made her remarks.

Ms. S- was not used to speaking publicly, and had most of her remarks written down. But rather than speaking about her work, as most of the speakers were, she was talking about her life, and the emotion in her voice was plain. She spoke of how living within the new buildings had changed her life, and her family's; even as a single mom she could afford a new, well appointed and safe living unit with good neighbors, in a neighborhood that was rapidly becoming a desirable address. She spoke of her new neighborhood, and how her kids could go outside without fear, and how she now had a home. She spoke of Martin Luther King Junior. She thanked us all for the efforts that aided in her journey of self-reliance. She spoke of unity.  Of Hope.  The applause for her brief speech was sustained and enthusiastic.

The Mayor didn't stand a chance.

I was reminded once again of why I do this, and put up with the hell I receive from clients, contractors, and inspectors.

Thank You, Ms. S-. This Friday Random is all for you.

1. Puked to High Heaven from the album "The Secondman's Middle Stand" by Mike Watt this is what I do when I see the damage done by our American addiction to the Holy Auto.
2. The Musical Box (Closing Section) from the album "Seconds Out" by Genesis..... got nothing.
3. Race With The Devil from the album "Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92" by Stray Cats
4. Same Old Story from the album "SKA The Third Wave-Volume 2" by Downbeat Rulers. White folks playing ploitics with the lives of the poor and minorities.
5. Kind & Generous from the album "Ophelia" by Natalie Merchant Which is how the black community has responded to their own.
6. Pebbles & Weeds from the album "Whatever´s Cool With Me" by Dinosaur Jr What had been left, and are now being plowed under for new houses and businesses.
7. It's All Been Done from the album "Stunt" by Barenaked Ladies
8. raquel from the album "Something's wrong" by Violent Femmes
9. House Of Cards from the album "In Rainbows" by Radiohead The built environment in America is predicated on an unsupportable system; cheap fuel and limitless environment to absorb the detritus.
10. Let Down from the album "OK Computer" by Radiohead Itunes does this sometimes, in a huge pool of songs, puts two together by the same artist. It is sometimes a little creepy, but I enjoy it.

Bonus five for the lovely Ms. S:

11. Angles Don't Cry from the album "Midnight To Midnight" by The Psychedelic Furs
12. House Of Fun from the album "The Business (Disc 2)" by Madness
13. Doe from the album "Pod" by The Breeders
14. Even With My Eyes Closed from the album "Love Among The Ruins" by 10,000 Maniacs
15. I Can't Own Her (Home Demo) from the album "Homespun" by XTC


It may only be Friday morning, but what say we start the weekend a bit early? First round's on me.