Roseland Residents Criticize Obama On Urban Issues In Meeting With Burris

Chicago Sun-Times:

President Obama got his start as a community organizer in Roseland, but a few dozen residents gathered there Saturday gave the new commander-in-chief a failing grade for not doing enough to tackle urban problems during his first 100 days in office.

Read the whole story: Chicago Sun-Times

Comments

[Charmed]

They still don't get it.....you can't be aggressive, mad and angry if you want to get things done. As soon as they start talking with all that resentment, I instantly tune them out.

[robXdion]

No YOU don't get it. Maybe if you weren't so "charmed" you'd understand they have good reason to be resentful.

[ThisIsJustMyObservation]

Maybe if you were so weak you would no what it means to be strong and fight for what you believe in and them mean a good and positive community, good educational system; well manner non-violent kids.

But according to you that's to much to ask you prefer it to be handled to you.

[AllenWrench]

if you realize who runs over there, its less about race and more about not wanting to deal with coveting crooks on the southside.

You got Meeks down the street, Burris who was sitting around waiting for a job, Rush going to Cuba and complain about water in Crestwood, Jesse Jackson now wants to go to Iran to help, Jesse Jr is in hiding... I mean really, there are so many pivotal "Black" community leaders out of Chicago's southside, yet THEY can't go down the street and do something, not even in Englewood?.. its a punk move to throw Roseland's 20 + year issues crime on Obamas lap as if they deserve being rewarded for apathy.

[rain33]

parents need to take care of their kids so urban communities won't be a bigger epidemic especially guns sales are on the rise and nobody isn't talking about gun control.i don't expect president obama trying to be perfect but give him a chance when it comes our economic issues,healthcare problems, enviromnment issues etc.you didn't press this when we had bush in office so give our president time.he isn't stuipd like other folks.stop complaining and start making adjustments in your lives as citizens.

[meede]

I always have a problem readings these stories. Then you read a story of one of the kids killed, where there were witnesses but everyone clams up and won't give information. Therefore the killer or gang member continues to run the streets.

If parents don't teach their kids, then pouring the whole stimulus bill on the community won't do a darn thing.

[Kokosnapper]

Urban issues start within the home.
Each parent take responsibility for their own..FIRST!
Obama is not responsible for parenting anyone except his own 2.
Like I said, the Urban issues start at home, you can't just open the front door and let your children out. Somebody needs to tend to the children that's outside.

[BushBites]

OK, whatever.

They thought money was going to rain down from heaven when Obama got into office.

Ain't gonna happen.

[BushBites]

Sorry.

The south side is full of whiners.

[1088]

The President should fix all the problems in 100 days? I guess so, just ask CNN!

[dredeize]

You have someone who is now pretty much responsible for keeping the WORLD together. I'm sorry, but the POTUS just can't focus on ONE particular community, per se. The stimulus money goes to states, then gets allocated to the counties, cities, towns, etc. within those states. Mr. Obama has started paving a path in that particular community, and now it's time for someone else to pick up the torch and run with it. There are more than enough people who are capable of keeping the community going.

[rwext]

Check out the SunTimes comments .... Barack you got some "splainin " to do"...

[Crissy Patters]

Barack Obama is the President of the United States, if they want a community organizer; they need to look within their community. The problems Roseland and other communities face are problems they should take to their city councils, their state representatives and their congressmen and not look to the leade4r of the free world, The POTUS got the Stimulus bill passed its up to those on the local level to make sure all parties benefit. Rather than attacking the POTUS they should use their energy attacking their political leaders. Why should Chicago be treated any different than any other city?

[ThisIsJustMyObservation]

I agree it starts with you. If you don't fight for your neighborhood no one is going to care. And who gives a sh*t about Burris, have him be yoru community orgainzer

[mafeoc]

Folks, listen up! He was a community organizer. Where are all the community organizers, activists, local business coalitions?
The problems of Roseland/West Pullman run deeper than any one person could do? I, too look forward to the day when Roseland will regain it's legs.

I love Roseland, it's where my mother grew up when it was mostly Italian, and I want the people who live there now to succeed and flourish.

The key is to band together and speak out. CHANGE and HOPE comes from the bottom up, that was the whole point of his campaign.

[robXdion]

People have been making excuse after excuse for him. But the truth is he's held captive by the perceptions of wary white citizens afraid he'll identify with blacks too much. And they're paranoid because since racial solidarity is what THEY usually do, he might do the same at THEIR expense. So he allayed those fears by avoiding the inner cities during the campaign trail and generally saying as little as possible about those communities unless he needed to generally chastise all black men as if they are the ONLY absentee fathers in the country to help with his "hard working white voter" problem in the primary. Not to say there isn't a problem in the black community but let's be honest and recognize it was politically helpful to approach it the way he did on a National Holiday for all bad fathers.

[ThisIsJustMyObservation]

Oh please stop with your empty rhetoric. It starts in the community and if the community doesn’t care, how do you expect anyone else to. Once you allow things to destroy your community then of course things are bound to get worse and to get into this black / white talk is taking the coward way out; that’s always easier than putting forth an effort; you know like the republicans just saying no than coming up with their own ideas that actually make sense.

My neighborhood is an okay place and I prefer it stay that way. And I am not one of these people who just sit around and wait for others to come in and fix the mess that I allowed to destroy my neighborhood. When some adult’s men thought they could drink beer in front of my home, many neighbors as well as I put in a call to the police and complained. And guest what happen we no longer see people hanging around our street drinking.
When some kids were playing with water and tissue and had it all over the ground I asked those kids to pick that mess up.

So you see it can be that simple but you have to care and not just look the other way with silly excuses.

It's called power to the people

[robXdion]

And yet all of that STILL as no bearing on what he hasn't said or done. He motivated the people to elect him. Why can't he motivate them to help their communities? His campaign itself sho.ots holes all in your lecture.

[Peachlicious]

"He avoided those areas". He brought it straight to the heart of 'Detroit' when he came here to campaign. He spoke about the urban communities quite frquently during and on his campaign trail. Not only did he mention his own 'dead beat dad', but yes, he talked about others. On the other hand, he did not run to be 'President' of the hood. He ran for POTUS. It's time for people to stop thinking the man's only agenda is their agenda. America is culturally deep and diverse. It is not only about the urban community. Maybe if some community leaders would get off their butts and form grass root movements in the urban communities, like Obama did when he was actually a 'community leader' they could get their agenda's to Washington. And by the way, what's up with all the churches. Since they have become so politically inclined, why aren't they more involved with the communities, I mean it's only 15 on every block. Liquor store-church, it seems they are hand in hand. Fight the real battles in the communities, then you can rag on the President...........

[robXdion]

That's right. He didn't run to be President of the hood. Therefore he shouldn't be singling out the hood for lectures. It seems you like that part but cringe at the idea he'll identify too closely with blacks by helping them specifically. And when blacks do "get off their butts and form grassroots" movements they have nervous nellies like you crying about reverse-racism. Proving my earlier point. Face your own fears about black ascendancy and quit the one-sided carping.

[Whatashame]

He had more pressing issues to deal with. Give a chance.

[petphotos]

I think that he has had bigger issues on his desk that have to come first.

[47th]

Ya, like backing Daley's Olympic scam!

[Solja]

No, like making sure the entire country doesn't slide into a Depression. Get a grip.