Cities Eye Reversing Population Losses

Newsday ^ | 4-15-03 | Genaro C. Armas

[jordan8]

By GENARO C. ARMAS

Associated Press Writer

April 15, 2003, 2:22 AM EDT

BALTIMORE --

Jose Ruiz's sales pitch to prospective home buyers starts with a pat on the back and a firm handshake. Next comes a brisk walk through "Spanishtown" and a bus ride around Baltimore to look at homes for sale.

Ruiz is not a Realtor. As the city's Hispanic liaison, he is trying to persuade Latinos to move to the city.

"It's like a game show. People look at the prices and say 'Oh my!'" Ruiz said, covering his mouth for added effect. "There are some good deals here, amigo."

It's part of Baltimore's attempts to reverse losses that have reduced its population by 31 percent since 1950.

Philadelphia, Cleveland and Washington -- all shrinking cities -- have initiatives to lure new residents. Schenectady, N.Y., has a more personal approach: Mayor Al Jurczynski travels to New York City to urge Guyanese immigrants to move to his depressed upstate city to buy and move into vacant houses.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Perhaps if the government hadn't made it such a terrible place to live, people might want to live there. Restore the right of citizens own and carry guns, eliminate government-owned housing, and you might start the rejuvenation as crime declines.

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[davisfh]

"Perhaps if the government hadn't made it such a terrible place to live, people might want to live there. Restore the right of citizens own and carry guns, eliminate government-owned housing, and you might start the rejuvenation as crime declines."

You're absolutely right. Social engineering has destroyed our cities. People who have the means to move their families to safe places will do so. In many cases, what needs to be done is to just put a security fence around the city and walk away.

[Dialup Llama]

While a city core might be a hip place for singles, for a mom with kids to be confronting an agressive, pandhandling schizophrenic... the city suddenly loses its charm.

[Bigg Red]

In the case of Baltimore, you would also need to address the extremely high numbers heroin addicts. The mayor of Baltimore is a do-nothing Rat who is content to let the criminals continue to drive away decent people.

[goodnesswins]

Seattle is next......I came back from living away for 12 years.....and was told you cannot walk around at night in the core......too bad. Plus, they're taxing us outta here....so, soon we'll say good bye to the area and move to where there's LESS taxes and MORE sun in the Summer, and MORE snow in the Winter.

[rllngrk33]

This article forgot to mention why people left the cites in the first place.

High crime, high taxes, too many regulations, etc. ...

[STONEWALLS]

"It's part of Baltimore's attempts to reverse losses that have reduced its population by 31 percent since 1950."

....my first cousin is still holding on...I keep telling him to get the hell out while he can still get something for his house....his taxes are high, because only 30% of the citizens there pay any taxes at all....so you got a 70% millstone around your neck....the murder rate is steady at around 300/year....a couple years ago the mayor said that he was worried and was going to ride in a squad car on night patrol to see the violence for himself....they pulled up to a murder scene...a guy is lying dead on the sidewalk with a pool of blood spreading around him...he's wearing a tee shirt that says:"Lightning Bail Bonds-Ride the Lightning Bolt to Freedom".....a passerby approaches and says to the mayor..."what'cha gonna do wit dat boy's cigarettes?"....such is the cheapness of life on the streets in Baltimore....