The ultimate in NIMBYism - campaigning against a public library because it attracts poor people

9 posts / 0 new

Wed, 2009-11-04 17:30

Doug

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/08/rich-guy-hates-poor.html

Constantine "Connie" Xinos is the president of the home-owners' association in a gated community in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook. He dislikes being near poor people (he successfully blocked a permit for a senior's home, stating, "I don't want to live next to poor people. I don't want poor people in my town"). He reportedly worked to elect an Oak Brook village council who would shut down the town library, which he also campaigned against. When local kids showed up at town meetings to ask that their library be left open, he is quoted as saying, "I don't care that you guys miss the librarian, and she was nice, and she helped you find books;" and to the library staff to "stop whining."

Ebenezer Scrooge is back!

Wed, 2009-11-04 19:05

toddsschneider

Then there were the residents of a suburb in Waterloo, ON, who campaigned against public transit for their neighbourhood, because it would be unsafe for their children to play in the streets.

Wed, 2009-11-04 20:36

Catchfire

The morning dude on CBC Vancouver was interviewing a member of city council about the Olympic Village, and how hard it would be for the city to recoupe the one-billion-dollar-plus price tag through condo sales. "But it's right smack up against the Downtown Eastside," the host sadly pointed out, missing the irony. This is the same host when asked the sports guy for a bit of history about the Olympic Torch relay, and was duly told that it originated in the "controversial" 1936 Games in Berlin, didn't even flinch.

If there's one thing those poor people are, it's a nuisance.

Wed, 2009-11-04 20:44

N.Beltov

It's long overdue. If rich people declare class war on the poor, it's time the poor declared class war on the rich. And I'm sure there are plenty of "middle class" people who will happily take the side of poor people. Make the rich pray, I say.

Wed, 2009-11-04 20:54

kropotkin1951

Catchfire wrote:

The morning dude on CBC Vancouver was interviewing a member of city council about the Olympic Village, and how hard it would be for the city to recoupe the one-billion-dollar-plus price tag through condo sales. "But it's right smack up against the Downtown Eastside," the host sadly pointed out, missing the irony. This is the same host when asked the sports guy for a bit of history about the Olympic Torch relay, and was duly told that it originated in the "controversial" 1936 Games in Berlin, didn't even flinch.

If there's one thing those poor people are, it's a nuisance.

That would be Homer Cluff.

He has brought a new low to the CBC and is very much a state booster. I love his way of having community people on and having the right wing (usually BC Liberals) politicians listening in the wings. Then when the community person is done the right winger gets to speak without having to actually debate. I hate paying for my state media. I used to love our public broadcaster but that is a thing of the past. I miss Gzwoski.

___________________________________________

Soothsayers had a better record of prediction than economists

Wed, 2009-11-04 21:39

remind

N.Beltov wrote:
It's long overdue. If rich people declare class war on the poor, it's time the poor declared class war on the rich. And I'm sure there are plenty of "middle class" people who will happily take the side of poor people. Make the rich pray, I say.

Perhaps people's noses are just being rubbed in the fact that fascism is happening now?

Fri, 2009-11-06 13:39

N.Beltov

If you mean our own country, then I have a slightly different take. Class war by the ruling classes isn't fascism. It's business as usual. Fascism is a violent response to a crisis of capitalism, so we've got elements of it (Canadian and BC regimes in regard to the Surveillance Games of 2010 are adopting police state methods; the Canadian government disgraced by its role in the torture of Maher Arar; and so on) but I would not call it full blown fascism.

Sat, 2009-11-07 11:17

George Victor

Kropotkin:

"He has brought a new low to the CBC and is very much a state booster. I love his way of having community people on and having the right wing (usually BC Liberals) politicians listening in the wings. Then when the community person is done the right winger gets to speak without having to actually debate. I hate paying for my state media. I used to love our public broadcaster but that is a thing of the past. "

Why do you use the sentiment and language of Barbara Amiel? Surely you know that deterioratiion is due to increasing underfunding?

Sat, 2009-11-07 11:47

al-Qa'bong

Quote:
Constantine "Connie" Xinos is the president of the home-owners' association in a gated community in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook. He dislikes being near poor people (he successfully blocked a permit for a senior's home, stating, "I don't want to live next to poor people.

All that fuss over one guy's house?