Our Community Needs The Resource!

 For 20+ years community members of Englewood, NJ have been advocating for a community center. 

I have watched other surrounding municipalities build and enhance their community centers while we continue to fight for one in Englewood. One must ask why. What is it that is preventing city leadership from allowing a community center in Englewood?

There have been a plethora of excuses including financing, programming, location, and even blaming the Jews. All bullshit.

Our schools are steadily declining, people are sleeping in our parks, violent crime is increasing but yet all leadership seems to care about is $$$. The bullshit story goes like this-

The city is broke so let’s bring in more ratables by declaring areas in need of redevelopment and offer PILOTs so we can attract big developers who will come in and change the dynamics of neighborhoods ( where most leadership does not live). The city gets PILOT money, developers make money, and the schools get nothing, people living here get nothing and we don’t know if anyone in leadership gets anything. What is wrong with this picture?

These developments change neighborhoods. The Bennett Rd project, for example, not only has destroyed the character of the neighborhood aesthetically, but chances are it will change the demographic of the population. How? By diluting the population. By changing the neighborhood demographic. Keep in mind 1 William is also in this same neighborhood.

(Please don’t try to accuse me of promoting segregation, because that is not what this is. First, it was white people who created these communities of color through redlining. The fact of the matter is we all find comfort in being around others with whom we share a cultural familiarity). These 2 projects will bring in probably a minimum of 400 people, many of whom, if not most, will NOT be people of color. Now, let me be clear, this is significant because people of color have distinct wants and needs from leadership (on all levels) that stem from their experiences in this country. Diluting the neighborhood demographics dilutes the voting power of people of color. People of color were herded into these neighborhoods through redlining and now you want to take them back.

The question is what are you giving us in return? So far....nothing, but that’s not because we haven’t asked. We’ve been asking for a community center for 30 years and yet here we are. What’s ironic is that we aren’t asking for something that would only benefit us but we are asking for something that would enhance Englewood at large.

So now that we’ve established the plan, whether you choose to acknowledge or not, and the ask, where do we go from here?

People are our greatest investment and now is the time for leadership to start investing in the people of Englewood. We have got to take a proactive step towards supporting residents, especially given the uncertain times ahead. We must have a centrally located facility not just for programming but clearly there are socio-economic needs. Every week somebody touts how many meals have been given out by various organizations. Thank God for these organizations because many would not eat without them. I am concerned however that I don’t not hear any leadership acknowledging the fact that, off my rough calculation, close to 2000 meals are being given out each week indicates we have a real problem with poverty in Englewood. Poverty, poor performing school district (based on SLA scores), increase crime, people sleeping in parks and yet our lovely leadership still refuses to invest in the people.

Our entire community needs the resource. A place to promote mental/physical well-being, enhance environmental awareness, develop social awareness, increase efficiency of current services, provide space for schools, essential worker childcare, provide social resources, etc.....

Many refer to the Liberty School as the gateway to our city. Well shouldn’t a gateway be a place that welcomes people with a myriad of offerings and services. Usually upon entering a place you have a welcome center, information center, resources.

It is incumbent upon the city council President Charles Cobb to put on the agenda ASAP the issuing an RFP for a community center at the Liberty School site. Englewood is suffering and the personal agendas must be pushed to the side. We have a unique once in a lifetime opportunity with Metro Community Center and that must be explored. It is deplorable that there is an organization willing to invest more into the people of Englewood than our own city leadership.

Gauging temperatures-we already know we have a fever, it’s called socio-economic crisis

Sustainability- make it happen, hire a grant writer, create foundation, get sponsorship, whatever it takes, that’s why we elected you, figure it out.

#Justdoit
#peopleareourgreatestinvestment
#povertyaliveandkicking
#electedofficials
#workforthepeople
#incaseyouforget
#votethemALLout
#randomthoughts

Author:

Penned by Amy Jones Bulluck