Archive for June 24th, 2006
Who Looks Out for the Little Guy?
Word of Mouth’s Scott Bakalar posts Part 3 and Part 4 of Lorraine Ritchey’s recap of the Washington D.C. seminar on eminent domain for private development.
In part 3, I quote Lorraine who quotes
the words of Sandra Day O’Connor – prophetic words in her dissent ring clear “All private property is now vulnerable to be taken and transferred to another private owner, so long as it might be upgraded. The specter of condemnation hangs over all property. Nothing is to prevent(local government) from replacing any Motel 6 with a Ritz Carlton, any home with a shopping mall, or any farm with a factory.”
She also cites someone who does not face eminent domain but says:
“I don’t have to be the one being mugged to see that someone who is being mugged –needs help!!!”
In part 4, Lorraine Ritchey outlines the past year since the SCOTUS Kelo decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. And, the facts are scary, folks.
Those who look out for the little guy are the Scott Bakalars and Lorraine Ritcheys who post about the continuing quest for private land by developers who believe that everything is about money, the private individuals who take time out of busy lives to attend seminars focusing on the growing problem in our country, and supreme court justices who dissent and in that dissention write opinions which spells out the ramifications of rampant eminent domain in the quest for more and more profit. And last but not least, it is every one of us that realizes that we must stand up for each other on this issue because if we stand alone we will fail as a country.
Is There a WiFi neighborhood in Brooklyn Centre’s Future?
Sunday, June 25th at 2 p.m. you are all invited to The Ugly Broad at 3908 Denison Avenue to find out. Bill Callahan of Brooklyn Centre and Steve Goldberg of Tremont will be on hand to explain the operation of wifi neighborhood and how a group of us committed to bringing it to our neighborhood can do that very thing.
If any of you haven’t ever heard me speak on this issue, here is what I think. You may think differently, but please feel free to dream a bit and see where you think WIFI can take us. We are entering an age of a knowledge economy where many of us will be left behind. Specifically, young people in urban neighborhoods because they do not have the opportunities afforded to other young people. CJ Prentiss in her interview with Meet The Bloggers talked intelligently and passionately about this very topic. Those of you reading this post can now very easily click your mouse and go to that site and become better informed. Knowledge is power.
Many of our community do not have that option. By becoming involved in creating an environment of a connected community, you will gain something too. Faster internet access, cheaper rates, and the ability to help others to gain accessibility are only a few of the advantages. Come to our meeting and discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of becoming a connected community. Needless to say, I am having a hard time identifying
Once we set up our grid of charter members, we will then be able to widen the net of our grid and include more people. I see elderly people who will feel more connected to each other and to us. I see students with opportunities that they didn’t have before. If any of you have ever seen the line of students waiting to use the computers at our local libraries, you know what I mean.
Remember: A WiFi neighborhood gives a connected community the opportunity to be part of the knowledge economy.