President Trump and the economic challenges of inner city neighborhoods

[renf]

President elect Trump spoke several times about the economic woes of inner city neighborhoods and their residents. I went to his website but found no specific planks about this issue. Last March he spoke about this topic, mentioned Detroit and seemed to strongly endorse an expansion of Urban Empowerment Zones. That is, he seemed to favor giving large tax cuts to firms that would locate in low-income areas. Does he have more such policies? Is there any evidence that the Federal Empowerment Zone in Detroit and the several dozen state enterprise zones have increased employment and raised incomes of Detroit residents?

[Lowell]

Mr. Trump: What do you have to lose?

Residents: What do you have to offer?

Mr. Trump: It will be awesome.

See? Problem solved.

I hope that answers your question.

[davewindsor]

Mr. Trump: What do you have to lose?

Residents: What do you have to offer?

Mr. Trump: It will be awesome.

See? Problem solved.

I hope that answers your question.

Or, better yet:

Mr. Trump: What do you have to lose?

Residents: What do you have to offer?

Mr. Trump: Trust me. I will make American inner cities great again using this [[self pointing to his great brain).

[Bham1982]

Trump claimed the booming inner cities were "hellholes" and "disasters", claimed crime was at all-time highs [[when crime is half what it was 20 years ago), but, more often than not, just used the term "inner city" as a metaphor for "places where those dysfunctional black people live".

Trump has no plan for the inner cities. He just uses the term to communicate racism to old rednecks who imagine inner cities of today in 1970's terms.

[Wesley Mouch]

Trump has made vague promises to just about everyone. Everything will be 'awesome'.

This seems not much different than the promises made each and every election for every office. Everyone thinks they have the solution, and that it'll be wine and roses for us.

Trump has a lot on his plate -- to put it mildly. But his comments to Black Urbanites that they don't have much to lose ring in my ear. It may be time to try something different.

I hope Trump keeps urban revitalization on his agenda. What might that be? I've no idea. And he probably doesn't either.

But I think he knows that he was elected in part because it is time for some new thinking in our country. I hope he engages. And I hope that the usual suspects don't fight each and every proposal because it gores their ox.

Its a new game. Someone very unlikely just might bring some fresh ideas to urban revitalization and the plight of urban residents.

[ABetterDetroit]

Let's not miss quote him. The correct quote was "greaaat"

[JBMcB]

Let's not miss quote him. The correct quote was "greaaat"

I thought it was "Heugge!"

A am not looking forward to his idiotic immigration policy and protectionist ideas on trade.

I am looking forward to renegotiating NATO so we aren't subsidizing the defense budgets of Europe / funneling money to defense contractors. Also normalizing relations with Russia would be nice. Hilary's idea of going to war with Russia over Syria was, by far, the dumbest position of the campaign. Trump's wall is pretty dumb, but at least it doesn't involve bombing the crap out of a country we should have nothing to do with.

[Bobl]

There are two plans: Enrich himself, and push the deregulation and tax reductions on the wealthy, [[trickle down economics). You know, the plan that the last republican president used after inheriting a balanced budget, resulting in the second worse economic collapse in a century. The worst, of course, happened after a republican president with republican house and senate as Mr Trump now has did the same thing.
I have never been so pessimistic. It's just a matter of how long before the next predictable collapse happens.

[hybridy]

Just as HRC was held to a different standard, DJT and the republican congress now have a clear path to put up or shut up. I don't want any excuses for economic progress for all. Nevermind social progress for the time being RME. The millennial electoral college map was a stark difference to what came out on Election Day...so we have 4 yrs of this. I sure hope they can get their act together on our dismal infrastructure...and I don't mean a f_cking wall

http://www.curbed.com/2016/11/9/13573718/infrastructure-trump-rebuilding-roads

[Bham1982]

I have never been so pessimistic. It's just a matter of how long before the next predictable collapse happens.

Last time Republicans had control of all levers of national and state govt. was right before the Great Depression. Trump isn't really a Republican, he's more a white nationalist, but I think the comparison still stands.

He's a 100% supply-sider, and has promised massive business tax cuts and massive tax cuts on the wealthy, all while eliminating environmental regulations. Scary as all hell.

[mikeg19]

Trump probably has the same mantra about inner city neighborhoods as he does his plan to defeat ISIS: Bomb the Hell out of them.

You think this guy gives a crap about the inner city [[i.e, blacks, Hispanics, the poor, elderly)? The Great Con has been completed. He got the votes, he's in office, now it's time to abandon them and revert out country back to 1946. I'm gonna hold out hold and pray that the rhetoric he used to get elected was just that, rhetoric, and he takes this shit seriously.

[GMan]

Trump probably has the same mantra about inner city neighborhoods as he does his plan to defeat ISIS: Bomb the Hell out of them......

It would be hard to do worse to the city than it has been experiencing in the last 30yrs. Detroit has had it's share of problems with tons of money thrown its way by various administrations.

One group hates tax breaks while the same group praises a certain developer who has helped re-build the city on the very same tax breaks he gets to re-locate firms here. Damned be to the communities he moved them from.

We fight over a transit system for the region that doesn't want the grandiose plans of the planners and a 20yr tax hike tied to home values.
Where's the accountability in that.

We talk about crime and at the same time praise the recreational use of drugs or complain when police try to crack down on crime or stop us in our cars due to an infraction that we see as trivial.

We complain about the schools but don't want to eliminate the tax dollars going into failed systems allowing them to die and something new to take its place.

We would rather take in a sporting event then volunteer at our local church.

I can see that no matter what Trump does there will be the same griping going on here in this forum.

[daddeeo]

I'm going to invest heavily in Depends.

It would be hard to do worse to the city than it has been experiencing in the last 30yrs. Detroit has had it's share of problems with tons of money thrown its way by various administrations.

One group hates tax breaks while the same group praises a certain developer who has helped re-build the city on the very same tax breaks he gets to re-locate firms here. Damned be to the communities he moved them from.

We fight over a transit system for the region that doesn't want the grandiose plans of the planners and a 20yr tax hike tied to home values.
Where's the accountability in that.

We talk about crime and at the same time praise the recreational use of drugs or complain when police try to crack down on crime or stop us in our cars due to an infraction that we see as trivial.

We complain about the schools but don't want to eliminate the tax dollars going into failed systems allowing them to die and something new to take its place.

We would rather take in a sporting event then volunteer at our local church.

I can see that no matter what Trump does there will be the same griping going on here in this forum.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

Let's not miss quote him. The correct quote was "greaaat"

Let's not forget, " It's a disaster"

[Wesley Mouch]

It would be hard to do worse to the city than it has been experiencing in the last 30yrs. Detroit has had it's share of problems with tons of money thrown its way by various administrations.

...snip...

If I were a black Detroit resident, I would take note that every 'various administration' wasn't Republican.

There's a clear awakening in the Republican party. They are talking about how they can make a difference in our cities by paying attention to results, and not just trying the same old failed ideas over and over.

Electing Democrats in big cities hasn't produced much success. [[Any? None popped into my mind, but let me know.) Trump was right when he said that urban blacks have nothing to lose.

Disclaimer: I don't like Trump much, but I'm gonna hope he sticks with working on urban issues. The guy actually mentioned urban challenges in his acceptance speech. Now when was the last time you hard a Republican talk about cities nearly as their first priority. I think he believes "yes, we can". I do hope.

[GMan]

If I were a black Detroit resident, I would take note that every 'various administration' wasn't Republican.

There's a clear awakening in the Republican party. They are talking about how they can make a difference in our cities by paying attention to results, and not just trying the same old failed ideas over and over.

Electing Democrats in big cities hasn't produced much success. [[Any? None popped into my mind, but let me know.) Trump was right when he said that urban blacks have nothing to lose.

Disclaimer: I don't like Trump much, but I'm gonna hope he sticks with working on urban issues. The guy actually mentioned urban challenges in his acceptance speech. Now when was the last time you hard a Republican talk about cities nearly as their first priority. I think he believes "yes, we can". I do hope.

I don't believe that to be true. I believe during Bush jr's term HUD distributed monies to revamp some of subsidized housing projects but the C.O.D. sat on that money for years before finally tearing down Herman Gardens. Guess they just wanted to make sure the right contractor came along.

[dtowncitylover]

Electing Democrats in big cities hasn't produced much success. [[Any? None popped into my mind, but let me know.) Trump was right when he said that urban blacks have nothing to lose.

Seattle, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Boston, San Fransisco, Portland, Denver...yup look at those failed Democratic cities.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

If I were a black Detroit resident, I would take note that every 'various administration' wasn't Republican.

There's a clear awakening in the Republican party. They are talking about how they can make a difference in our cities by paying attention to results, and not just trying the same old failed ideas over and over.

Electing Democrats in big cities hasn't produced much success. [[Any? None popped into my mind, but let me know.) Trump was right when he said that urban blacks have nothing to lose.

Disclaimer: I don't like Trump much, but I'm gonna hope he sticks with working on urban issues. The guy actually mentioned urban challenges in his acceptance speech. Now when was the last time you hard a Republican talk about cities nearly as their first priority. I think he believes "yes, we can". I do hope.

. Yes, progressive policies for our core cities are what has been attracting the alt-right, KKK and white nationalists to this man. Claptrap from a speech intended to momentarily make him appear sane means nothing. He has a lifetime of being vindictive and if you think he will aid anyplace that's not his power base you're smoking some strong stuff. He'd probably prefer riots in Detroit so that Attorney General Rudy can impose nationwide stop and frisk and other police state tactics. Don't try to normalize the reign of a man who would not have accepted the results had the candidate with the most votes won. Check who's working on the transition so far - all hard right extremists

[CassTechGrad]

Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan message to President Barack Obama at the Men’s Day program hosted at Union Temple Baptist Church in Washington, DC, September 18, 2016

“But I just want to tell you, Mr. President, you’re from Chicago, and so am I. I go out in the streets with the people. I visited the worst neighborhoods. I talked to the gangs. And while I was out there talking to them, they said ‘You know, Farrakhan, the president ain’t never come. Could you get him to come and look after us?’ There’s your legacy, Mr. President. It’s in the streets with your suffering people, Mr. President. And If you can’t go and see about them, then don’t worry about your legacy ’cause the white people that you served so well, they’ll preserve your legacy. The hell they will. But you didn’t earn your legacy with us. We put you there. You fought for the rights of homosexuals. You fought for the rights of this people and that people. You fight for Israel. Your own black people are suffering and dying in the streets! That’s where your legacy is. Now you failed to do what should have been done.”

[Bham1982]

Electing Democrats in big cities hasn't produced much success. [[Any? None popped into my mind, but let me know.) Trump was right when he said that urban blacks have nothing to lose.

What are you talking about?

First, urban centers are, by far, the richest and most successful places in America today. NYC, LA, SF and the like are the engines of the American economy. Manhattan is the richest and most successful place on the planet. Wall Street, Silicon Valley, Hollywood and the like generate massive wealth.

Guess who governs these places? Liberals! NYC's mayor is Bill DeBlasio, who is borderline Socialist. California's governor is Jerry Brown, "Governor Moonbeam", who ran for President on a mantra of "Protect the Earth".

It's rural America, and to a lesser extent suburban/exurban America that is dying. That's, in part, what's driving the [[completely misplaced) anger of the Trump voter.

Second, "urban blacks" have a hell of a lot to lose under a racist, ultra-right wing Presidency. Economic gains and basic civil rights are under existential threat. You have a President who won election based on explicity racist appeals, and wants to use unconstitutional measures like Stop and Frisk to harass black communities.

[GMan]

What are you talking about?

First, urban centers are, by far, the richest and most successful places in America today. NYC, LA, SF and the like are the engines of the American economy. Manhattan is the richest and most successful place on the planet. Wall Street, Silicon Valley, Hollywood and the like generate massive wealth.

Guess who governs these places? Liberals! NYC's mayor is Bill DeBlasio, who is borderline Socialist. California's governor is Jerry Brown, "Governor Moonbeam", who ran for President on a mantra of "Protect the Earth".

It's rural America, and to a lesser extent suburban/exurban America that is dying. That's, in part, what's driving the [[completely misplaced) anger of the Trump voter.

Well I guess since the cities are thriving successes that people are lining up to move into, the government can stop the urban renewal program grants and claim sucess!

[Bham1982]

Well I guess since the cities are thriving successes that people are lining up to move into, the government can stop the urban renewal program grants and claim sucess!

You're right, actually. The U.S. govt. largely ended large-scale urban renewal programs under the Nixon administration. What little remained was ended under Reagan.

Since then, there has been only minimal federal involvement in urban issues. Almost all of the wild recent success in cities like NYC and SF is generated from the private sector.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

Well I guess since the cities are thriving successes that people are lining up to move into, the government can stop the urban renewal program grants and claim sucess!

Well, most people sure as hell are not moving to Appalachia.

[Bham1982]

Well, most people sure as hell are not moving to Appalachia.

Maybe people are confused because Metro Detroit is something of an outlier, in that urban recentering has been much less robust than in other metros?

In the majority of U.S. metros, exurban growth has basically stopped, and almost all the population and economic growth is in the urban core. There has been a dramatic shift in the last 20 years.

You even see hints of it in Metro Detroit, but to a much lesser extent. Twenty years ago the Woodward Corridor was in decline, and places like Birmingham, Royal Oak and Huntington Woods were considered old news; where grandma lived. No longer.

Metro Detroit is a bit different in that the auto industry is so heavily concentrated along certain suburban corridors, so the Novi-type places are still very successful, and will likely continue to be successful. Additionally, our core city is frankly still in horrible shape, overall, and not a reasonable option for most households. Places like South Lyon and Northville and the like will probably continue to boom, because that's where the engineering jobs are.

[snf]

. Yes, progressive policies for our core cities are what has been attracting the alt-right, KKK and white nationalists to this man. Claptrap from a speech intended to momentarily make him appear sane means nothing. He has a lifetime of being vindictive and if you think he will aid anyplace that's not his power base you're smoking some strong stuff. He'd probably prefer riots in Detroit so that Attorney General Rudy can impose nationwide stop and frisk and other police state tactics. Don't try to normalize the reign of a man who would not have accepted the results had the candidate with the most votes won. Check who's working on the transition so far - all hard right extremists

As opposed to kkkillary being mentored by the former grand dragon and being endorsed by the kkk this election?
Or obama being endorsed by black racist supremecist communists such as the nation of islam and black panthers?

Get over it. You lost and its a white guy that promised to fix what your racist dem gods didnt care about.

Tell me again who the racist is?

Get over your sjw gentle snowflake melting ass and improve your life and stop playing the damn race card.


Meanwhile here is his plan for the 1st 100 da ys in office .
FIRST, propose a Constitutional Amendment to impose term limits on all members of Congress;

* SECOND, a hiring freeze on all federal employees to reduce federal workforce through attrition [[exempting military, public safety, and public health);

* THIRD, a requirement that for every new federal regulation, two existing regulations must be eliminated;

* FOURTH, a 5 year-ban on White House and Congressional officials becoming lobbyists after they leave government service;

* FIFTH, a lifetime ban on White House officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government;

* SIXTH, a complete ban on foreign lobbyists raising money for American elections.

On the same day, I will begin taking the following 7 actions to protect American workers:

* FIRST, I will announce my intention to renegotiate NAFTA or withdraw from the deal under Article 2205

* SECOND, I will announce our withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership

* THIRD, I will direct my Secretary of the Treasury to label China a currency manipulator

* FOURTH, I will direct the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative to identify all foreign trading abuses that unfairly impact American workers and direct them to use every tool under American and international law to end those abuses immediately

* FIFTH, I will lift the restrictions on the production of $50 trillion dollars' worth of job-producing American energy reserves, including shale, oil, natural gas and clean coal.

* SIXTH, lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks and allow vital energy infrastructure projects, like the Keystone Pipeline, to move forward

* SEVENTH, cancel billions in payments to U.N. climate change programs and use the money to fix America's water and environmental infrastructure

Additionally, on the first day, I will take the following five actions to restore security and the constitutional rule of law:

* FIRST, cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama

* SECOND, begin the process of selecting a replacement for Justice Scalia from one of the 20 judges on my list, who will uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States

* THIRD, cancel all federal funding to Sanctuary Cities

* FOURTH, begin removing the more than 2 million criminal illegal immigrants from the country and cancel visas to foreign countries that won't take them back

* FIFTH, suspend immigration from terror-prone regions where vetting cannot safely occur. All vetting of people coming into our country will be considered extreme vetting.