Obama: Help Wanted for Stimulus in Urban Areas

President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan focused on creating 2.5 million jobs and rescuing "Main Street," not just Wall Street, is a welcome departure from the top-down economic theories we have heard up until now.

But though Obama's plan feels right on the surface, for me it raises two questions: "Which Main Streets?" and "Who gets those jobs?"

Main Street is in the eye of the beholder. On Chicago's South Side, Main Street runs through neighborhoods with double-digit unemployment along the Dan Ryan Expressway, a perfect example of a road reconstruction project that cut through the black community but did not translate into significant economic opportunities for area residents and minority contractors.

Obama's plan could potentially be a real game changer for urban America. It could go beyond the economic boom of the Clinton years and finally address the high jobless rate and income gaps that persist even in good times for far too many Americans.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-oped1130jobsnov30,0,499266.story

Comments

[ChicagoSpook]

Funny I didn't know this was a place for flowery political speeches, "applauding committment of desires" and "encouraging" a well funded organization to do what it should have been doing along time ago, instead of issuing yearly academic reports that tell folks what they already know about poor communities of color on the south and west side of Chicago. Oh wait, issues those reports are a big business as opposed to breaking a some political eggs to actually improve said communities for its current residents.

But wow I am impressed that some one "inside" is finally asking President Obama about his plans for inner city communities, now that he no longer has to worry about offending the Joe "Six Pack" Plumbers of America.

Keep it up Ms. Jackson

[LeeMaher]

I applaud the committment of the Chicago Urban League's desire to bring much needed economic develoment to Chicago's southside. I would also encourage the CUL to actively provide non traditional vocational training to the thousands of women who's businesses are being affected daily by this economic down turn. Women are being affected 2-1 in this harsh climate due to their traditional roles as child care providers, retailers, and salon owners. If more women were trained in construction, electrical, green techonology they too will have a seat at the table if and when a stimulus or capital bill is passed-

Lee Maher Salzman
Director, Women's Business Development
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
State of Illinois

[mom2sons]

Hear, hear. I'm hoping, but people need to be prepared to take advantage of opportunities as well.