On Reality Asserts Itself, Marisela Gomez tells Paul Jay that Johns Hopkins "broken windows" policy and Baltimore's use of eminent domain law helped destroy a once vibrant community See more videos: therealnews.com
Having lived in Baltimore and owning a home there from 1978 though 1989 I observed numerous changes ... what this woman fails to mention is that Baltimore was unique in having land rent, which meant you could own your row home, but not the land that the row houses sat on unless you negotiated a purchase of it. The monthly or yearly rent was laughable being less than $200. a year! Also, the majority of the East side people who lived there worked for Bethlehem Steel or on the docks. Once the steel Industry closed those people lost their livelihoods and there was no replacement jobs for those people, many had no choice but to move on. As with Detroit, once the Auto Industry closed those properties and neighborhoods fell into poverty due to the loss of employment. Sure she's touching on a very small issue with Johns Hopkins being a landowner, but Hopkins is also a huge Educational hub as well as a Medical facility. Students need housing. But what happened in East Baltimore was not Hopkins fault! But hey, she has a book to peddle!
***** Yes the land rents are an antiquated practice dating back to colonial times. The concept of ground rent originated in the 1600s when King Charles I, gave the second Lord Baltimore the land that was to become Maryland. According to the charter, Lord Baltimore was owner of the soil of Maryland and could charge rent to the colonists who wanted to build on that soil. Shortly before the American Revolution, the concept evolved into a system of annual rents reserved on leases for 99 years, and renewable forever! In 1982 I purchased my land that sat under my home from the family who had owned it for years. I paid around $4,800. dollars. If people fail to pay their land rent monthly or annually then they can face eviction, regardless how much money they paid for the house or had invested in rehabbing that house! Some people invested in land rents, just hoping for the day they could evict the owner and take over that property for control or resale!
***** So you're partially correct in assuming that corporation built these homes for the Mills, How or when some of these lands became owned by private individuals could only be answered by either a title search or property tax record searches! Which leads me back to this interview. When did Hopkins make the purchase of these lands in East Baltimore? 40's 50's 60's 70's? Only a title search would reveal that info... when and by whom did Hopkin's receive these lands or was it a donation or part of an endowment? Because in the late 70's early 80's John's Hopkin's may have had plans for the future, but they sure as hell were not as big as they are now!
You all need to do your research there have been people there who have been displaced. My family members in particular were told that they could move back, but because they raised the cost of housing, they couldn't afford to move back. They were told they would get a house for the same value as they sold their property for and the other end of the bargain was not kept. Look at brooklyn, oakland, and DC they do it everywhere. Once upon a time white people who were not of the community did not come around there walking their dogs. Now they're everywhere and they are fixing up the neighborhoods to slowly push out the black people who have been redlined to those areas since the 1910's.
I go to Hopkins and live in Middle East Baltimore. What this lady is saying is nonsense. Hopkins is not forcing people out of their houses. The neighborhood I live in, 1/2 to 2/3 of the houses are abandoned, boarded up, and many are falling apart. But Hopkins has not bought these properties, no one has been FORCED out. There are hardly any businesses in this area. The economy is almost completely hollow. If it weren't for Hopkins being there, this neighborhood would be a third world country. It was never bustling. Those videos they show at the beginning showing lots of people and business isn't the same area. That video is NOT showing East Baltimore. Wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't even the same city.
This woman is such a liar. She is a activist that wants to paint Johns Hopkins as the evil giant. The entire neighborhood was abandoned and boarded up except for a couple of hundred homes that were private owners or section 8 renters. Hopkins only purchased properties after they were abandoned and become city owned for taxes.She doesn't mention that the city tore down 6 high rise housing projects and replaced them with single story homes just 4 blocks west of Hopkins. She doesn't mention the thousands of jobs Hopkins has brought to the local black neighbors. She doesn't mention the thousands of people with no insurance who are treated daily at Hopkins. In short Hopkins has become the lifeblood of east Baltimore
@@jackmeyers9291 That's a lie. Hopkins has good and bad qualities. The reality is they are doing what she said. I have family who is directly influenced by it.
what she describes as a natural by product of capitalism is more accurately a by product of the collusion of government and corporation. Crony capitalism it is often called, but this scenario plays itself out in other economic and political systems than capitalism.
Did she just say that Hopkins medical research (intended to benefit the whole of humanity) must primarily benefit a couple of Baltimore neighborhoods first before it can be considered morally in the clear? Please tell me I heard her wrong.
A bit off the subject to some extent, but I hope we start using completely non-toxic materials in building, or construction, especially of places where people will live. All the chemicals and heavy metals etc.. that are in the materials can cause many short and long term negative health effects ( endocrine disruptors, heavy metal build up, carcinogens etc.). Maybe when we start using more hemp products we can use organic and completely natural, non-toxic materials to build structures. All the chemicals lead to environments of toxicity that negatively impact people and ruin the environment for things like urban agriculture or recreation.
What a beautiful concept and in a perfect world it would already be taking place. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for homelessness or hunger anywhere on this planet! To quote Gandhi " The world has enough to satisfy everyone's needs, but it does not have enough to satisfy everyone's greed". Peace to you.
It has been known for a long, long time by residence of east Baltimore that this plan (by Hopkins) was in place to change this area! I have to respectfully disagree with Ms. Gomez that this wasn't a star chamber type action plan by the city legislature and Hopkins.
Gentrification is happening all over the place. Where I used to live, one man was buying up all the affordable housing apartments and converting them into higher rent apartments. He broke many laws, was fined a pittance, and completely got away with it. My rent went up about 30%, and he hadn't even remodeled yet. I had to move. I may one day develop asbestosis because of him. A friend of mine once described it as "Manifest Destiny all over again, but this time it's cannibalism."
Bring in European legal immigrants into not only to Baltimore but to all cities that are decayed. The problem really is what do we do with the black people in America? No matter where you put them or how much you spend it won't work with the black communities. Facts and history show this.
