The cost of progress.
In case you didn't know, this side of town has a long history of activism and community organization. The most widely recalled of such activism came after the police murder of Jose Campos Torres in 1977. This article sums things up as well as what has been going on in the past 37 years to bring light to the events of the infamous "Moody Park Riots." There was a film about the events, as well as a panel discussion that brought together people from the community who both remembered the events first-hand and/or heard the stories and suffered the consequences of the year-long struggle for justice for Mr. Campos Torres.
In the current political context of today's Northside, we aren't seeing much picketing or rioting as we did in the late sixties to early 80's. Many people have remained in their homes, worked on their careers and their families and let the system just work the way it always seems to work: out of sight, out of mind. When plans for the MetroRail to come through the Northside surfaced, there was little argument from the citizens, unlike the uproar we knew was occurring in the East End (a VERY organized part of town). It seemed not to bother people that pedestrians would have to walk BLOCKS AND BLOCKS to cross Fulton at a safe location to avoid crossing the tracks. We just figured most of us have cars anyway, and if someone wants to walk across the tracks, it was his decision to make, his chance to take. After all, progress is progress, and that train looks pretty futuristic flying through our barrio.
When the apartments were set to be torn down to make way for the new HCC Northline campus, hundreds of people were virtually kicked out of their homes within a matter of months. And it's hard to argue that there was no space on the extremely vast Northline lot that already included a huge, empty parking lot. But again, there was no uproar. People quietly moved along, and as the rest of us drove by the demolition site, we thought to ourselves about the crime that used to happen there and the dilapidation of the structure with it's peeling paint. Now this beautiful glass building with bright minds bustling throughout stands there, and we have long forgotten about all the displaced families and the quaint little courtyard where we played t-ball with childhood friends. Progress.
Fast-forward another couple of years and the post office that stood on the Northline property for years, the only post office in this part of town, was the next to get the ax. Again, no community protests or calls to action. We let that one go too, and though it may not seem like a big deal because the building was a little outdated anyway, I'll bet you are just like me, driving a few more miles to send your packages or check your PO Box. Hey, but what's a few extra miles to someone who's got a car and the money for gas?
My question to you is: what about the viejitos and viejitas who still depend on their legs to get them places? What about the poor families who push their kids in strollers to the bus stop and have to get that extra transfer to get to the post office to pay their bills or buy their stamps. Many of us were those kids in the strollers whose parents didn't have a car or money to pay more than the minimum for rent for a tiny apartment that was close to the mall, post office, and across the street from the taco stand. The way things stand now, mama would have to pull two kids over the MetroRail tracks to get food, take 2 different buses to get to the post office and our apartment, well that place doesn't even exist anymore.
There are a number of sacrifices that were made all in the name of progress, even if you and I, with our cars, our gas money, and our expectation for the aesthetics of our neighborhoods, aren't the ones who feel like we've lost anything.
Remember, this is your Northside, too. This is the barrio our grandparents, parents, and children call home. Our voices will ALWAYS be heard as long as we speak up. And if you're unsure of how to do so, just ask!
I am a NORTHSIDE PRECINCT JUDGE. We don't just handle elections. We work all the time for the people of this fine community. That is why we exist. We are here FOR ALL OF THE NORTHSIDE! Get educated, vote smartly, and be forever NORTHSIDE PROUD AND NORTHSIDE LOUD!
-NSHV Team
In the current political context of today's Northside, we aren't seeing much picketing or rioting as we did in the late sixties to early 80's. Many people have remained in their homes, worked on their careers and their families and let the system just work the way it always seems to work: out of sight, out of mind. When plans for the MetroRail to come through the Northside surfaced, there was little argument from the citizens, unlike the uproar we knew was occurring in the East End (a VERY organized part of town). It seemed not to bother people that pedestrians would have to walk BLOCKS AND BLOCKS to cross Fulton at a safe location to avoid crossing the tracks. We just figured most of us have cars anyway, and if someone wants to walk across the tracks, it was his decision to make, his chance to take. After all, progress is progress, and that train looks pretty futuristic flying through our barrio.
When the apartments were set to be torn down to make way for the new HCC Northline campus, hundreds of people were virtually kicked out of their homes within a matter of months. And it's hard to argue that there was no space on the extremely vast Northline lot that already included a huge, empty parking lot. But again, there was no uproar. People quietly moved along, and as the rest of us drove by the demolition site, we thought to ourselves about the crime that used to happen there and the dilapidation of the structure with it's peeling paint. Now this beautiful glass building with bright minds bustling throughout stands there, and we have long forgotten about all the displaced families and the quaint little courtyard where we played t-ball with childhood friends. Progress.
Fast-forward another couple of years and the post office that stood on the Northline property for years, the only post office in this part of town, was the next to get the ax. Again, no community protests or calls to action. We let that one go too, and though it may not seem like a big deal because the building was a little outdated anyway, I'll bet you are just like me, driving a few more miles to send your packages or check your PO Box. Hey, but what's a few extra miles to someone who's got a car and the money for gas?
My question to you is: what about the viejitos and viejitas who still depend on their legs to get them places? What about the poor families who push their kids in strollers to the bus stop and have to get that extra transfer to get to the post office to pay their bills or buy their stamps. Many of us were those kids in the strollers whose parents didn't have a car or money to pay more than the minimum for rent for a tiny apartment that was close to the mall, post office, and across the street from the taco stand. The way things stand now, mama would have to pull two kids over the MetroRail tracks to get food, take 2 different buses to get to the post office and our apartment, well that place doesn't even exist anymore.
There are a number of sacrifices that were made all in the name of progress, even if you and I, with our cars, our gas money, and our expectation for the aesthetics of our neighborhoods, aren't the ones who feel like we've lost anything.
Remember, this is your Northside, too. This is the barrio our grandparents, parents, and children call home. Our voices will ALWAYS be heard as long as we speak up. And if you're unsure of how to do so, just ask!
I am a NORTHSIDE PRECINCT JUDGE. We don't just handle elections. We work all the time for the people of this fine community. That is why we exist. We are here FOR ALL OF THE NORTHSIDE! Get educated, vote smartly, and be forever NORTHSIDE PROUD AND NORTHSIDE LOUD!
-NSHV Team