Taft exodus about ready to hit Peoria neighborhoods (UPDATED)
NOTE: This post is linked on a white supremacist forum which I will not name. And the comments are about what one would expect. To these folks, I say: Make all the comments you want about black people and work, most the World Church of the Creator knuckleheads I encountered here in central Illinois looked, sounded and smelled completely unemployable. If half of you losers were able to get and hold work, you wouldn’t have to gather to hold each other’s hands and complain about how those mean black people are holding you down. I’d tell you all that they are hiring down at the car wash, but those guys look presentable.
Oh, boy:
Residents living in the soon-to-be redeveloped Taft Homes must comply with the Peoria Housing Authority’s Housing Incentive Program that requires them to have full-time jobs or a part-time job and schooling, a good rental history and utilities in their own name.
That likely will sweep many residents – none of whom currently pay utilities and some of whom don’t have jobs – out. That’s why the PHA is developing a community task force to help residents get on track to qualify for the planned mixed-income housing to replace the 1950s-era Taft, originally constructed as a temporary shelter for Korean war veterans. The PHA hopes to have the task force in place by August.
In the long run, getting people off the public teat is a good thing. The less people who live in taxpayer financed slums, the better off everyone is.
But in the short term, these folks will be looking for places to live in Peoria neighborhoods. So look for more people with public housing vouchers competing for apartments and rental homes with people who work for a living and who have a history of being able to pay for their own food and shelter. I’ve heard horror stories of these vouchers paying rents in crappy little dives that are double what they would get on the open markets.
And as is always the case in Peoria, when slums or torn down in one neighborhood, the problems associated with slums move to more middle-class neighborhoods.
I’ve known landlords who do take vouchers who own and maintain their properties very well. But there is plenty of evidence that there are others who do not. These are the ones who are smacking their lips at the news.
The best solution for the problem with substandard housing and a housing shortage for the poor is for the government to get out of it.
The biggest slums in Peoria are those OWNED and FINANCED by the government. Rents are too high because housing vouchers tend to raise rental prices.
Instead of replacing Taft Homes with something new that probably won’t work either, they ought to just close it down.
Won’t happen though. Because we have to demonstrate that we care.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
Dennis,
(laughter) ” WOW! Did YOU get that from Fox News, too? “
So, is “Did you get that from Fox News” the new short-hand for “You said something vaguely conservative, but I lack the verbal skills to enunciate a response.”
If you are questioning my reasoning, please state where you find the flaws. Please try to do so without resorting to “that’s just MEAN.”
“Mean” is creating a welfare system that keeps generations of people in government slums.
Why bother rebuilding at that site? Demolition is a unique opportunity to turn the property over to the park district and to expand the riverfront park. The riverfront park at its current size is too small. Has anyone approached the park district with this unique opportunity to expand the park? It would benefit all residents.
I have heard that the subdivision of beautiful newer houses (the one completely surrounded by an iron gate, just west/northwest of Moser’s shoes) is subsidized housing for the poor. Is this correct? If I were in charge, I would demolish more of the run-down buildings located southwest of the OBrien field and build there. The only thing missing at that location is a big park within walking distance of those homes.
Maybe all those displaced residents along the riverfront should move to Bloomington. Do you recall a few years ago when all the housing projects across from Comiskey Park were demolished? Most of those people were sent to Bloomington/Normal….. Is there any assurance that the displaced people would even want to remain in the area if given a choice. Will they be asked?
Since the advent of LBJ’s “Great Society” policies, our federal government has been paying people to stay home, watch talk shows, and have as many illegitimate babies as quickly as possible. I don’t understand these policies. Most of these people have never had a job, and they lack social skills. One major problem with pushing unskilled welfare recipients to get a job – even if part-time, is that they lose free government health care.
Would the paycheck that these displaced people would earn from a job be larger than a government check? I cannot imagine someone being forced to work at a gas station or grocery store 20 hours a week and struggling to pay utilities and medical bills. Under those circumstances, I too would rather stay home and collect welfare. (By the way, I just made the case for national health care without even realizing it!)
No mean is throwing a five year old out on the street because their Mom can’t find a job. You’re absolutely right Bill… this will make sure that people that can’t even live off the government teat will be hitting your neighborhood soon.
Please dont give the park district anymore land that could be put to GOOD use.
So Billy, if we permanently close down the Taft Homes and don’t build something to replace it, what would you propose to do with everyone who lives there? While eliminating Taft and any replacement would yes, put the immediate issue out of direct sight it wouldn’t solve the problems of poverty, it would just move it elsewhere. A similar example is that of Chicago’s public housing. Chicago has been tearing down numerous public housing sites for the past several years promising to build new mixed neighborhoods, but has not really, as of yet, built nearly enough of these to replace what has been torn down. The result as been the migration of a number of those who used to live in this housing to elsewhere in Chicagoland and downstate (including Peoria & Bloomington).
” That’s right, Scio! ” Unbeknown to most, is that the replacement of thousands of units for displaced residents was NEVER the intention of the (CHA) Chicago Housing Authority under, incredible, pressure from political conservatives AND developers in Springfield, Washington D.C., and Chicago to downsize the public housing supply in order to reduce neighborhood crime and improve private investment.
And, with the suburbs out of reach for many reasons, those CHA residents displaced by the destruction and transformation of thousands of units are forced to seek residence outside the Chicago metropolitan region, yet within the state boundaries. But, their issues and problems relocate with them. Many have longed for Taft’s removal from the riverfront. As a haunting old saying goes, ” Be careful what YOU wish for….! ”
COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU?
The recent problems at Newman Golf Course are related to the relocation and rebuilding of the projects. Before I am branded a racist, my mother grew up in Harrison.
My mom lived in Warner Homes.
They have to tear down Taft… remember all those condo’s that developers want to put along the riverfront?
http://cityofpeoria.blogspot.com/2009/06/blog-post.html
Any bets which neighborhood turns to shit this time around?
I bet town and country bowl area. It was hit the last time. This time will do it in.