finally, someone normal!

I feel like this guy is a voice of reason.

I am a newcomer to the iva dialogue. I am not a newcomer to the neighborhood. I've lived on Iroquois, between Geothe and Mack since August 1990. I find the discussion about refuse containers fascinating.

Even on this, the eve of the day we have set to proclaim the life of MLK, I resist the temptation to offer the well known, over used Rodney King cliche. Instead, I submit that one thing I have learned during my 49 years, is that as much as it would be nice for everyone to get along and like each other, that just isn't going to happen much of the time.

I used to work for the City's Resource Recovery Authority (infamously known as the trash incinerator). I was responsible for developing pilot recycling programs. I learned that getting people to change how they deal with their trash is very challenging. Its means getting people to change very fundamental habits. It isn't easy, but it can be done. It requires a lot of patience, and sometimes quasi-punitive measures are necessary. But that does not mean that a tactful, non-confrontational approach cannot work.

As an African American, I found Mr. P*******'s use of the term "ghetto" as inappropriate and offensive. Regardless of dictionary definitions, and historical usages of the term, today, the word ghetto is used most often as a derogatory term for poor, predominantly african american neighborhoods. Mr. P*******'s used the term in a way that (to me) insinuated that an unclean neighborhood is a black neighborhood. If you happen to venture just to the North of Mack on Seminole, Iroquois or Burns, we will find that he his insinuation is off base. There we will find neatly kept homes and yards which are overwhelmingly African-American owned and/or occupied. It was appropriate for him to apologize.

If it is true that after 15 years, the efforts by some to get some iva residents to get their neighbors to comply with City rules about refuse and bulk collection have not been successful, then it probably is time to use appropriate measures to get violators to get with the program.

Even if we as neighbors, don't like each other, it is in our collective best interest to continue to discuss issues of common interest, and try to come up with workable solutions.
We all should try to be tough skinned enough to dish out and take criticism. Let the exchange of thoughts continue.

But then Mr. P******* had to go and ruin all the normalness and reply...

If I'm over zealous in my assigned Indian Village Board duties it is because I've tried being polite about our trash problem for 15 years and it isn't working. But, I don't "attack" individuals trying to help make the neighborhood a better place. I inform and warn the whole neighborhood, as instructed by the police. I give out reminders 2-3 times before I do my civic duty and inform the police. I don't want anyone to get a ticket, but enough is enough. I get calls from villagers, on a regular basis, asking me to do something about offenders. I wanted everyone to know what they could do if their neighbors refused to comply.
I didn't look up ghetto in the dictionary. I was using it the way my Detroit Public Schools middle students "slanged" it. If a fellow student threw paper on the floor they yelled out "Ghetto!"

Well if the middle school students do it, it must be okay.