A5 - Blog #1

The issue I would like to write about is the justice system, specifically the racial disparities within the criminal justice system. There is a disproportionate number of black people in prisons relative to the population of black people in the United States. Also it is disproportionate compared to the number of incarcerated white people. It is ridiculous for people to even attempt to explain these inequalities by saying, black people commit more crimes.

I am interested in this issue because of the simple fact of it is appalling to me. It is so unfortunate that most African-Americans regardless of their socio-economic position in society, age, profession, etc, know someone in prison or who has been to prison. The justice system is an organized methodical system thats flaws should be able to be solved. There are factors that control the system that should and can be modified in order to solve the problem. Obviously the problem is much deeper than the justice system and is due to the deeply rooted racism in this country but in a system close to supreme government control should represent the ideals and set an example for the rest of society.

Detroit Blight

Detroit has a reputation for being one of the most dilapidated cities in the United States. Many people moved to Detroit when the car industry was booming and there were many jobs available. As a result the city had and has an enormous working class. In the late 1960s the city began to deteriorate as a result of the economic decline in the 50s.

The city now has many vacant, rundown and abandoned buildings and structures, while the occupied buildings are in poor condition. Some neighborhoods have many gang problems and populations of homeless people. The infrastructure is depleted and the amenities of the city are limited.

In, 2008 a plan to revitalize the city was formed. It was a $300 million plan to renew and rebuild neighborhoods and create jobs in Detroit. The plan targets two of the most blighted neighborhoods, the North End and Brightmoor. It is a huge and costly plan because many of the buildings need to be completely demolished and rebuilt. Some areas have been successfully rebuilt and improved, like Lafayette Park although many areas are still in detrimental condition. Sadly, the improvements sometimes push people out of their communities.

There is no outright opposition to these plans to improve areas in Detroit because it is an area undeniable in need of some revitalization but some of the results and things lost in the renewal are not always good. The urban renewal does destroy some communities though because the government just buys out or takes properties from low-income families, many black families. It is a difficult situation because there are many positives and negatives to the city improvement plans.

Master Plan Comments

The overview of the master plan seems excellent. The goals it outlines makes it seem like a plan that can only be welcomed and received positively although at a closer look it appears more invasive than the vague outline suggests. All the improvements the plan suggest seem favorable although unavoidably it will displace some people because the University wants to expand, but the space they want is already being used and occupied.

It is good that the plan addresses ways in which the plan will affect and attempt to help the community. Hopefully, it can be enacted in a way that the surrounding community has some what of a voice in the changes that are made. The plan says one of its community goals is 'to identify mutually beneficial connections'; this is an important idea that will be difficult to make a reality. Currently, USC does not have a mutualistic relationship with the community due to the limited interactions and the general attitude of superiority that USC students feel they have over the community and the people within it. I think it is true to say that most USC students do not think of the community in a positive sense, and the perception of real outsiders unfamiliar with the University and its surrounding area have an even worse impression of the area around USC.

The irony of the plan is that in order to make USC more of a community a currently existing community will be altered and changed. It is an interesting plan that seems essential to the growth of the University although I think the way it is executed will be the test of its effectiveness and fairness. I hope that in the end it is something that will be beneficial to all parties that it will impact.