“There can be no real individual freedom in the presence of economic insecurity.”
Chester Bowles (1901 - 1986)

So cities grow and change all the time. Mine seems to have been in a state of flux for the last few years. Prices are rising, people are moving, toy dogs are being walked. Despite the various things that I could say about it, what bothers me the most are the changes that I know will affect my clients and those are the changes that affect my memories. The place where a work was the first place in the city to do the dollar house program. Now you probably couldn’t buy a crack house for a dollar. Considering that I work with people in low income brackets (this isn’t the exact same as what I deal with…but it’s close enough). It’s amazing to me that the houses on the other side of the fence in the picture above go for over $400K. Especially considering what’s on the other side. Everyplace I look in the city there’s more change.

Even on the “street” level things have changed. Prices still go up though. Even if the Daily Show points out that Bmore is a killing field. I realized today the perfect way to stop the drug problem in Baltimore, move all the users out into the county. Some of the changes I enjoy. Others make me nervous. I think thoughts like “I should have bought that house”. Now that’s it’s become a national issue I can’t believe the whole “Stop Snitching” thing orginated from a dumb as DVD from here. Some of us have a different motto. The times have changed and the crimes have changed. White flight has turned to suburban flight. We saw this coming when the people from Murphy homes got relocated out into the county. So with homes that almost cost a half a million dollars 20 feet to my left if an entire family makes what I make in a year, I can’t help them unless they are 7 deep. Did I mention I ride the bus? I wonder how that family gets around. Actually I know, but if I document it I might cause someone problems. Meanwhile we ask what’s wrong with our children. Could it be the apathy is seeping down to them? That’s trickle down economics for you.

Conservative eh? That’s like Gun control means hitting your target. Even the people who can afford those homes are paying for choices they didn’t make…unless they voted for Bush. For those who did, congratulations you put your grandchildren into debt. Meanwhile the kids on the other side of that fence are taking care of their money in other ways. While you’re reading this I’m probably on the phone trying to find out why some of these kids aren’t bothering to come to class.