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Reader comment on: Government Saves the South Bronx

Submitted by Adam Barbanel-Fried (United States), Jul 26, 2011 15:57

The Cross Bronx Expressway was a terrible Idea. But the transformation of the South Bronx, and other very tough neighborhoods like East New York, and public institutions, like the subway system, is nothing short of amazing (at least for this born and bred New Yorker). In 1992, New York City had over 2,000 murders. The toughest of the neighborhoods lead the pack there, and the quality of life has changed dramatically. This is because of communities, some good affordable housing developers (some of who would probably call themselves capitalists and therefore perhaps enjoy the title of this blog?) working with government agencies in tandem to take back this city from the darker elements of humanity which seemed to control it. I do not believe that all problems have been solved from these efforts. Better housing stock, growing numbers of schools were not meant to be panaceas. They were meant to reclaim neighborhoods, and played a huge role in reclaiming the city. If you believe, like I do, that the best government programs are those that give a hand up, rather than a hand out, and you walk through these neighborhoods, as I've spent years doing, you see businesses sprouting, kids walking safely to school, community members enjoying their neighborhood, and immigrants living the American dream. I don't think that 'government' is by definition a panacea. But I think there are some amazing results that some government initiatives have indeed created.

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