The difference between the projects and what they replaced, to me, is that the old Hastings Street neighborhood had political power, in that all residents new each other, traveling up and down their street, from the richest undertaker to the poorest hooker. Also, they lived in a mixed-use environment, and could run their own businesses, live near work, heck, walk up and down the street and job for others if they wanted. Instead, look what "public housing" did. It separated people from their livelihoods, and poor people from other people. It was one factor in breaking black political power as it existed in the old neighborhood.
Bookmarks