The Ripples From Foreclosure

I walked through a town home complex in the Lexington Square area within Precinct 14 of Jacksonville/Duval County. I talked to all types of people. I communicated with those that could be classified as working class, professional class, retirees, young families, singles, blacks, Hispanics, whites, liberals, moderates, conservatives. Most seemed content with a few mentions about trash and foreclosed homes with neglected yards (as seen here).

While this community arguably has a higher per capita income than other areas in the district, it is not immune to the effects from the recent economic downturn. If anything, it has been hit just as hard as the more impoverished areas.

Based on my conversations with people in this community, observations in other parts of the district, my experience as a stock analyst, and my understanding of the banking system, I believe we will continue to see more foreclosures. In general, I think foreclosures are highly disruptive to the stability of the family fabric as some families become homeless, move back in with parents or move in with friends. All situations surely lead to stress, which could result in violence, dissolution of a marriage or any other number of negative outcomes. I expect the ripples from these stresses to:
1. Continue to affect policies being made in Washington, D.C for the foreseeable future and
2. More importantly, leave an indelible mark on future generations, which is both good and bad.

Blind Leading the Blind

Monday August 24, Clay County Democratic Executive Committee hosted a town hall meeting with Florida Congressional District 3 (CD-3) Representative, Congresswoman Brown. As expected, discussion centered on healthcare reform. Even though the meeting was open to the public, approximately only 100 people were in attendance. The small crowd and Ms. Brown can be seen in the photo below.


The low turnout either indicates that people have little interest in what is occurring in Washington (which is not a positive sign) or that the meeting notice was not as well publicized as initially thought. Fortunately, the meeting was civil and there were few disruptions.

To my dismay, Ms. Brown demonstrated that she has very little understanding of economics and current events based on the following anecdotal evidence:

1. She mentioned that she was saddened that Florida had some of the highest unemployment and foreclosure rates in the country and verbally indicated she did not know why. I would expect my representative to know that Florida’s economy in based in part on tourism and when that dries up due to a sour economy, people lose jobs and when people are unemployed an extended period of time, they are more at risk of losing their home to foreclosure.

2. When she took an informal poll asking the attendees what they wanted in a healthcare bill, one commented that Medicare should be expanded to all, which drew praise from the crowd. I was hoping that someone would ask the hard follow up question about Medicare's funding status (I would have, but only Democrats were allowed to ask questions). I expected Congresswoman Brown to educate the attendees that the Medicare program is at risk of going insolvent, but she did not and I wonder why. I suspect she does not know because she did share negative news about other programs earlier in the meeting. As such, I believe this is a classic case of the blind leading the blind, which is extremely troubling for us long term. I do not expect citizens to know the details of federal government programs, but I think it is imperative that our elected representatives do.

I am not against government providing a healthcare solution or any solution for that matter if it works, but I have yet to see a successful government program implemented on a large scale over an extended period of time. However, I commend our current President for wanting to tackle the situation. We need more of these types of discussions because I believe they serve to educate the populace. With a more informed populace, we should be able to, as a society, make better decisions. Some of those decisions would include prioritizing our spending and saying no to the lower priority items.

What I find interesting with the current discussion on healthcare is that I have yet to hear much talk about fixing Medicare and its cousin, Social Security, which I think is important before expanding government healthcare to all. Both of these social programs will be stressed (even without adding the additional stress of a nationalized healthcare system) in the next two decades due to baby boomers at a time when we will be:

1. Trying to handle one of the largest debt loads the nation has ever faced; and

2. Trying to maintain our supremacy as an economic powerhouse when an ever-strengthening China will surely challenge us.

I understand the need to make healthcare affordable for all, especially for the working class and the uninsurable. If our leadership is blind, as my current representation appears to be, I suggest we go slowly. Conversely, if we want to go fast as our President seems to indicate then I suggest CD-3 needs new representation that has a better problem solving skills and a better understanding of economics.

Cleanse Thy Soul

I recently worshiped with members of Mount Zion Commandment Keeping Church of the First Born of Central Florida led by Bishop Ron Johnson. I consider the Bishop a friend and believe he is influential in the community of Florida Congressional District 3 (FL CD-3) even though his church is not physically located in the district. His church has a small congregation, which I believe he prefers because it allows him to minister on a more intimate level. He is definitely a man of God and cares about all regardless of creed.

The day I attended there were less than 20 people in attendance. I walked in 5 minutes late, but the Bishop stopped the service to give me a warm welcome. Since he was not giving the sermon that day, he sat next to me. Between hymns and other parts of the service he whispered some context with me about some of the parishioners. I shared with him half way through the service that I enjoyed attending black churches because they are so uplifting and contrasted so much to the church I grew up in. After the formal service ended, I was able to see my fellow congregants with new eyes. I imagine that was his purpose of ministry, to open mine afresh.

Raised as an Episcopalian, I learned the forms of worship such as how to kneel without registering a complaint. As I got older, I took pleasure that I could kneel without complaint. Because of the rote structure of church service, if I were to show up late I could easily pick up the service in the Book of Common Prayer without even looking at the printed order.

Typically, the service will last an hour, but inevitably when I was younger it seemed like two. However, my friend’s church service lasted two and a half hours, but sped by in what seemed like an hour. Based on the few churches I have attended in the district, I am beginning to understand why faith is a big part of CD-3. One feels part of a community and your soul feels cleansed after attending. Amen.

Crime Ridden Neighborhood, Indeed

Earlier this week I visited an Orlando, Fla. neighborhood bracketed by I-4 to the north, Holden Ave to the south, OBT (Orange Blossom Trail/US441) to the east and Rio Grande Ave to the west. While the area was clean, what I found so striking were the not so subtle signs of crime. One of the more visible signs was a billboard with the word 'rape' in large bold letters within eye shot of three separate large apartment complexes that catered to families.

I just caught a glance of the billboard from the corner of my eye, but I believe it was a 'public service announcement' to help those that were victims of such a hideous crime. What was equally disheartening were the single women standing alone nearby at either a bus stop or street corner wearing short skirts and low cut tops; their appearance told me they were looking for more for than just a ride to the mall. I wonder how some parents of young girls that live in this neighborhood ensure their safety from predators.

At one of the apartment complexes, I met two security guards. I found several things interesting from this meeting:

1. The guards were young, not the older ones seen driving around in pick-up trucks at malls;
2. They wore bulletproof vests, wrap around sunglasses and carried several firearms. They definitely looked like they were ready for action; and
3. They gave me their business card so I could call them if I got into any trouble. I chuckle at their reasoning for giving me their card because I try to envision myself pulling out their card to find their number so I can dial it while I am running, ducking or hiding for my life. Yeah right.

However, from their point of view, having a business card and being willing to stand accountable for those to whom they give it, is a validation of the professionalism they aspired to in performing their job. I thanked each for their kindness and admire their service.

Based on my conversation with the security guards I thought it would better to walk the streets nearby that were lined with houses. At the first two houses I visited, I met two disgruntled old men. Our meetings were very brief. Both men slammed their front doors in my face. I wondered why they would be so angry, but upon leaving their neighborhood in the opposite direction from which I entered, I found my answer.

The quiet working neighborhood they had moved into many years ago had become crime ridden. Upon leaving, I met separate groups of recreational pharmaceutical salesmen just one to two blocks away. I can see how these men could be frustrated. The homes may be paid, but the resale value has probably not appreciated over the years and may even have depreciated, which limits their ability to move.

Further limiting their ability to 'vote with their feet' is their advanced age. If they have not already retired to live on a fixed income, they soon will. As a result, I think they must feel/believe they are kind of trapped in what may seemed to be an ever-worsening world around them. I just wonder how many others in the district feel trapped too.

Sadness And Hope In Durkeeville

I am truly baffled by the placement of multiple, infrequently used, very well maintained tennis courts in a community rife with poverty, crime and abandoned property; please see photos below.

I recently talked to citizens of precinct 09K within the historic community of Durkeeville in Jacksonville/Duval County, FL. I visited this community after the recent murder of Mary McAllister less than a week ago.

One concerned citizen questioned the wisdom and display of good judgment, building approximately 10 tennis courts in her neighborhood. I could not agree with her more since those courts could not be used due to locks holding the gates firmly closed.

I further agree with the lady that skill centers, not tennis courts are needed by the community. These skill centers would help children and young adults build skills that would be useful in finding a job/career that would provide a living wage, not a minimum wage.

While I talked to quite a few people in the community, I briefly talked to an elderly woman who by all intents and purposes appeared to be taking care of her grandson, arguably not an uncommon occurrence given the high crime rates in the area. The young boy struck me as being misplaced; he seemed so innocent. Maybe it was that his demeanor and politeness contrasted so much with the rough neighborhood just outside the front door of his grandmother’s dilapidated old house (similar to the one shown here).

I still wondered a day later when I wrote this; how will this boy will fare because I can see his potential. I am concerned that drugs and crime will be in his future since they are literally around the corner. However, I hold out hope that:

1. His grandmother will still be around because it appeared she truly wanted a better future for him given the old National Geographics strewn about on the bookshelf by the front door, and

2. That there will be some in government more in tune with community needs prior to providing future community services.

Feel free to write me, with how you feel at: votegilman@gmail.com