What do you want?

By imil delorosa

May 5, 2009 6:44 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Ms Dugat- This plan - would take 40 years to implement-

what this means is- Most of the East Waco Residents would die out by this time- They would leave homes behind- Those homes would be bought by government interest;

this is is a redistribution of East Waco; Basically what their hoping, is in 30 years there wont be an East Waco. Just a part of Waco.

This study doesn’t include bringing more african americans to east waco and making this community vibrant- Their hopes- is that by this time, Most of East Waco will be dead, and they swoop in here and take the land cheap, redevelop it for Baylor use and extend the terroritory with the hopes of attracting more whites to the area-

MS DUGAT WHAT THEIR SAYING- IS EAST WACO IS THE ROADBLOCK-

GO BACK AND REREAD THIS PLAN-

LOOK AT ALL THE WORDS THEIR USING IN THE FUTURE TENSE-

THIS PLAN IS A PROCESS- 2050 GOALS-

IF THEY KEEP MOVING ALL THE JOBS OUT THE AREA, AND RAISING THE TAX BURDEN ON MOST OF THE RESIDENTS OF EAST WACO THEY SLOWLY START PUSHING OR RATHER FORCING THE BLACK RESIDENTS HERE TO RELOCATE TO OTHER AREAS- WITH CHEAPER TAXES AND BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES-

THEIR GOAL IS NOT TO HELP EAST WACO- THEIR GOAL IS TO ANNIHILATE EAST WACO-

By imil delorosa

May 5, 2009 7:01 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

THIS IS SOMETHING THEIR CONSIDERING DOING MS DUGAT-

I THINK THIS IS PART OF THE CDBG REQUIREMENTS- THEY SPEND PART OF THE MONEY ON TRYING TO REDEVELOP IMPACT ZONES- HANG ON LET ME DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THIS-

By kristin

May 6, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Imil,

I have always respected your posts - you do a great deal of research and know your subjects well.

In this case though, I think your off base. I dont think the city cares whether your black, white, brown or purple - its not a government conspiracy to run us out of east waco.

I have lived here since the mid 80’s, and your right - not much has happened. But finally, steps are being taken to improve our neighborhoods and bring in new businesses and homes. There is a plan now(or there will be), which is the first real step that has to be taken in any process like this.

My impression is this - Waco is waking up from 50 years of sliding under the radar. Its almost like the tornadoes of the 50’s hit and destroyed not just buildings, but Waco’s bright future. Now, in the last 8 or 10 years, we have been moving forward. But Waco is new to this, and there is some hesitation. What comes first the chicken (business and homes) or the egg (infrastructure)? This plan well help us make the right decisions.

What needs to be done now is not self pity or conspiracy theories. Waco is in this together - we need to make this a place where someone who has never been here before wants to live. For the first time, I feel like something is being done and I am hopeful that it is the first step of many

By mikey

May 6, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Kristen; Waco has a long history of stealing land. I recall back in the 50s-60s all of the land near Baylor reclaimed by “imminent domain” many many residents (my great-aunt included) lost their homes and their land to see it these days occupied and developed by Baylor, McDonald’s, Hotels, Shopping centers, etc. Fair market value wasn’t worth squat those days. Then I-35 came through and the land magically increased in value. Lots of “brother-in-law” dealing was going on. East Waco is being run down, knocked down, burned down, run out, much in the same fashion. All we receive is lip service. With all of the plans you talk about. How many building permits has the City of Waco issued fro East Waco lately? How many contractors and builders have made appearances before the Building Standards Commission? Why has not “Big Box” business’s set up on the I-35 corridor between the Brazos river north to Waco Dr? Bellmead’s business’s have exploded once you cross the city limit. (The guy mainly responsible for Bellmeads growth was a Waco City Councilman) Look on the ground Kristen, behind the plans you may hold in your hands. NOTHING but dirt. The Citys plans have nothing to do with preserving the African-American culture of its East Waco residents. Seems as if the only person willing to put his money where his mouth is a “young” Russian-immigrant descended Jew. If Mr. B had not rescued the former Paul Quinn campus it would have become the citys biggest crack house complex. If not for Mr. B’s funding of schools many East Waco children would not have the opportunity to attend a first class school—not WISD schools. Conspiracy?-Yes, Mired in history?-Yes, Still going on to this day?-Yes. PROGRESS SEEN ON THE GROUND? Nothing, No, Nada, Negative, Nicht, Nein, Neyet, Naw, Nope, Nuffin, any language or slang you put to it has an “N” to it.

By kristin

May 6, 2009 11:44 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

mikey,

You too, are a poster whose opinion I respect. I think what it all comes down to is this: you cant make a business open up shop somwhere where it doesnt want to be. No one at the city, chamber, or otherwise can force their hand. The same thing goes for building permits, new houses, and everything else that we want here.

So what do we do? How do we convince these people that EW is good for them? You get a comprehensive plan that covers an entire region. Then you show people that plan, show them that the community is behind it. This Friganese plan is just the ticket. Once investors see an opportunity to make money (yes, I dont like the idea, but thats how progress is made), THEY will do the investing. Then, we just have to make sure that the city is backing them and us up, building the roads, pipes, etc that it takes to grow a community.

Everything that Ive read about this plan is that we will have a voice in the way it plays out. So the thing to do now is just make sure we attend the meetings. We share our ideas and hopefully, we can keep some of what made me feel at home here while still getting the growth and attention we all want. I can say this - we can in there and shout and insult, but its not going to do any good (we will get dismissed). What weve got to do is get in there and lay out real plans and ideas. Tell these people how important it is to maintain our identity, but that we want to see the investment, and that we will support investment.

Again, I dont like the idea of selling out, but thats not what were doing. We are making our lives better, and those of our kids. The only way you can lose your identity is if you give it up, and no one can make you do that.

By Carol Dugat

May 6, 2009 1:13 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Kristen, you see what I see.

By mikey

May 6, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

What I am getting at is that the City Council has passed resolutions such as creating the “Brazos Corridor” and “Downtown Waco” that imposes a greater number of rules, regulations, and restrictions than the rest of Waco. I personlly closed my business there due to restrictions that my business just flat not could afford. When I presented my plan to the Director of Planning I was informed that my property was in the “Brazos Corridor” and my plan was not acceptable. If my business was on Valley Mills Dr. it would have been accepted. I decided to close shop and 6 jobs were lost. Business’s trying to stay open are stifeled from improving and new business is scared to get started. I know, I’ve been there done that.

By Arce

May 7, 2009 1:38 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

If you want to be heard, you need to be positive about what can be done in the future. Being negative about the whole process and the opportunities it MAY represent will result either in nothing being done for EW or you being ignored. So find a way to express your ideas in a positive manner.

If you are worried about people taking improper advantage of the situation, then say, “the plan is a good idea but we need to be sure that it is fair and that no one derives an improper benefit at the cost of others, so let’s put some fairness standards and oversight into the plan.”

By mikey

May 7, 2009 4:56 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

I just read about the death of Mayor Frank Melton of Jackson Ms. This methods were unorthodox but he definatly got peoples attention even at the risk of his own safety and freedom. (Went after a crackhouse with a sledgehammer). Now thats a man’s man. Too bad we dont have anyone around here with the (ahem) to attempt such a thing. Talk, Talk, Talk. The ears can only here so much. The eyes want to SEE. The day may come all too soon when old mikey will cease posting, Carol you know what I mean. I want so desparatly to SEE something on the ground while Im still able to see. You guys may have the time to wait it out, my clock is ticking—fast.

By The Daily Cynic

May 8, 2009 8:20 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Perhaps I’m just unobservant or my eyes deceived me, but did I see that a new restaurant has opened on Elm Street? A small Mexican food place? (My deepest apologies if I’ve overlooked that over the years.)

I’ve also noticed that great airplane hanger-looking building on East Waco Drive has been repainted bright pink and some sort of resale business appears to have opened there.

Does anybody know anything about these new ventures?

Viva East Waco.

By mikey

May 9, 2009 5:04 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

YAAS,YES, YES, THANK YOU LORD. I have got to get some burritos at that Mexican place and stop by the pink place for some cloths or whatever. See yall there! Also in the news today that a new clinic is in the works for EW and expansion of the present one. Wonderful news for a change. HE HE HE I was wrong, thank God Almighty, I was wrong. The gate to better times and prosperity in EW is open, run with it, people, run with it. Yall see an old white man trying to dance in the middle of the street? That be me.

By imil delorosa

May 12, 2009 9:07 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Now lets see here;

In response to the article I read about them hiring the firm, fregonese and assoicates to lead-LEAD, LEAD!!!!!!!!! A PROCESS TO RE-IMAGINE A 7 SQUARE MILE AREA OF WACO- KNOWN AS “GREATER DOWNTOWN”-

THEIR HOPE IS TO MOVE, BETWEEN 65,000-80,000 PEOPLE INTO THE 7 SQUARE MILES THEY CALL ,”GREATER DOWNTOWN”.

(THIS ROUGHLY EQUALS, 10-15,000 PEOPLE, PER SQUARE MILE)

TO HIRE THIS FIRM, IT WILL COST- $300,000 DOLLARS- THE CITY OF WACO, IS PAYING 185,000 DOLLARS OF THIS BILL, AND BAYLOR AND SOME OTHER LOCAL FOUNDATIONS ARE FOOTING THE OTHER HALF-$114,000-

UNDERSTAND SOMETHING- THIS FIRM- IS NOT AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM-OR A CONSTRUCTION FIRM-

THEY ARE SIMPLY- “PLANNERS” THIS IS ALL THEY DO-

THEY GIVE THE CITY A PLAN. “OR A GOAL”

GUYS- BAYLOR IS NOT FOOTING A PERCENTAGE OF THIS HUGE BILL TO REBUILD EAST WACO FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS BLACK CITIZENS- IF BAYLOR GETS INVOLVED- THEY ARE DOING IT WITH THEM AND THOSE STUDENTS IN MIND- SO THE QUESTION IS- WHAT IS THEIR PLAN………..

YOU SAW WHAT THEY DID TO SHERMAN MANOR- THEY TOOK THAT RUN DOWN PROJECT- DISPLACED ALL THOSE POOR PEOPLE OVER THEIR AND THEN TURNED THE PLACE INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR STUDENTS-

DON’T TRUST THEM

(ILL GET BACK TOO YOU)

By Carol Dugat

May 13, 2009 9:14 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Imil, enough already!!! The quota has been filled on blame, shame, and justification! It is time for responsible people to take advantage of their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Lose the chip off your shoulder. We are all in this boat together and it’s time to recognize that. We must forgive, forget and start all over if we are to make progress. This is a free country. Stop talking about EW like we are slaves on the plantation at the mercy of the slave master.

What is it that you are trying to preserve in EW? Are you trying to ensure that it remains predominately black or predominately poor? If we are going to grow and prosper, we must do something different. Can you say partner? As Dr. King said, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools”.

By mikey

May 14, 2009 2:27 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Carol, I don’t know if I would dismiss Imil so quickly. Even in the “Fantasy Waco” video that came out recently it portrayed the “undefeated Baylor Bears” playing in a domed stadium about where the former Summer Palace was and Hotel Waco stands now. Do you think Baylor will seek to preserve the neighborhood boundaries around MLK, South Loop, and I-35 as it is today? What happened to the communities of “Frogtown and Edgefield”? Now Baylor building sites. Baylor in order to grow has no room left to build on. The only available open land is down 3rd street road and University Parks Drive. That direction has multiple reasons not to go to. Gravel/Sand pits that would be extremely costly to reclaim, flood plain liability, not to mention the sewer treatment plant nearby just to name a few. The smart thing to do, the $$$$$ thing to do would be to exploit the land on the opposite side of the river from Baylor. We (Baylor) can have the City Council, County Court, Waco CofC in our pockets, we have enough Baylor alumni strategically placed in the financial institutions, legislative and judicial systems. We can do this. We can run those uneducated, uncouth, former sons of slaves off and build our little own little green and gold kingdom. What do you think would happen to the African-American identity, heritage, and history of East Waco? POOF!!! Make no mistake good people and advocates of East Waco, something is afoot in the works. I want to see the deep African-American history of East Waco preserved by its own on its own land, not sitting on a shelf in a library across the river called the Texas Collection.

By Carol Dugat

May 14, 2009 11:52 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

So Mikey, what is it that you want for EW. There has been no development for 50 years. Do you want more of the same?

By mikey

May 15, 2009 8:11 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

I believe I said it in the last post. Local cultural history preserved by the people of East Waco. If Baylor comes to East Waco, the area culture and history will be destroyed and lost. Look at the apartments on the east side of the river that are occupied by students. How about them steel fences? security gates? Is that the Baylor communities sole contribution to East Waco? I say let them keep their pink little @$$es on the west side of the river with yuppie-puppies of their own kind. The business’s up and down the length of Franklin seek to re-create Austins 6th St. Do we want thousands of inebriated students stumbling all over East Waco on Sunday morning? Perales Restaurant newly opened on Elm St. is just a start of what I think we should have. Hardworking local people no matter what color they are just trying to make a living, not super rich entities that seek to obliterate the local history and culture. Places like Jaspers and Tony DiMarias thrive on the east side whereas places like RibCrib, TGIF, Ryans, and Tony Romas, failed on the west side. Why? no identity, no past Waco history, no ties to authenticity of being hard working local people. Those were corporate owned stores that didnt have a clue or give a damn about their community. How about a meat market (with a wood floor) that offered oxtails, neckbones, chicken tails, summer sausage, hoghead cheese and souse, rat cheese, salt hog jowels, goose liver, pig feet, ham hocks, are you thinking back in time? Do you remember “BigMama” cooking all those wonderful things? Are you hungry now? How about a hamburger stand that is just a drive up, like Lee’s only darker faces behind the counter. How about new BBQ joints up and down Elm, Taylor, Turner, Dallas, streets, hell, even Waco Dr. It is common knowledge that black men have made an art and science of cooking BBQ. Do we (EW) not have the musicians to man a heck of a jazz/blues club? Waco Police nailed the coffin shut on hooliganism on Valley Mills Dr. No more “Drag”. What about East Waco? They protected businessmen there and not residents here? Whats wrong with that picture? Why does EW deserve so much less from the City than other areas of town? The white man cometh, the black man loseth.

By Carol Dugat

May 16, 2009 1:20 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Mikey, I find your crude, bitter comments insulting to me and people you don’t even know. I’m told that bitterness can make you very sick.

Oxtails, neckbones, chicken tails, summer sausage, hoghead cheese and souse, rat cheese, salt hog jowels, goose liver, pig feet, ham hocks, Am I thinking back in time? No, I’m actually thinking about heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

The apartments you refer to on the east side of the river that are occupied by students - steel fences and security gates. Is that supposed to offend me or scare me. Truthfully, I was much more offended and afraid when it was an out of control, crime infested, unkept, low rent housing property.

What I hear you saying is that you don’t want change in EW, you want more of the same. Well, I don’t. I want an extreme make-over for EW even if that means all my neighbors may not look like me or that EW won’t look like it did when I grew up.

We have an opportunity to come to the table to participate in the change process. I will not allow what has happened in the past to cloud my mind with bitterness and resentment - no progress will happen that way. I will come to the table respectfully, to share my ideas, dreams and expectations for the good of all - the way my parents and teachers taught me when I was growing up in EW.

It is time we practice living together as brothers, lest we all perish as fools.

By mikey

May 16, 2009 3:00 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Hey, those were the foods I grew up with. And yes I still enjoy some of them to this day. (BigMaMa Irene taught us how to cook some of them). I could not help what my extended family cooked but I sure would stick my nose in the pot. All that Tex-Mex food everyone is so crazy about is much of the same health hazards you mentioned, I dont see anyone blasting their native culture for that. Are you trying to say that black people are not able to save themselves and their community by their own sweat and blood but have to have others invade their lands and exploit their shortcomings? That’s disgusting. No wonder many of the other regular bloggers do not write here anymore, they see something I have not been able to see A SELLOUT.Do you think WacoTrib. started this blog with East Wacoans intentions and hopes and dreams in mind? Imel is the only black person here with the guts to fight back. If you are further offended by my comments then pardon me all to heck. By the way, who do you work for? Have you been able to persuade that company to “franchise” across the river? They tore down houses in North Waco to expand their business. Has that housing been replaced. Rev. Dr. King also marched to protest injustices, where have your feet been? Attending all these meetings and nodding politely is not going to help EW either. Cut the strings stretching across the river, If a white boy such as me can defend black people then surely everyone else here can too. Brothers? those people don’t want to be your brothers, they want to be your puppeteer. Sorry if I ruffled your feathers, mine have been ruffled for 40+ years now. I don’t know where you were raised in EW but I am an “Albino” ghetto product. I will fight and I am sick of seeing my “neighborhood family” being treated like bugs or something you would step on. These are people, my people, my adopted family, even though a simple color divides us, human beings, not pawns to be moved around on a chessboard.

By Carol Dugat

May 16, 2009 5:53 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

No Mikey, I’m not trying to say that black people are not able to save themselves and their community by their own sweat and blood. I’m saying development hasn’t happened in EW.

By mikey

May 16, 2009 8:40 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

A good start would be to get some of the bankers across the river to turn loose some business loans and help provide support to fleldling business owners. Notice I did not specify color, race or religion. Trib. could help by featuring East Waco’s new business’s I used the butcher shop scenario as only an example but, I would be amoung the best customers at their counter if ever such a place materialized. Lets talk about food, Put a black woman in a kitchen and see what wonderful things come off of her stove and oven. Even a lot of the rich white folks whose wives can cook will admit that some of their recipes and techniques came from a black cook or housekeeper in their family’s history. I know of a local judge who was practicly raised by his parents black housekeeper. She was the one who told me that story when she called one day to solicit our votes for “my sweet child” as she called him. See, I’m not the only white who has close black ties. I think most black folks are fearful of starting a business due to fear of rejection from banks and rightfully so. Past history has not been a friend to them. That must change. How many blacks are in the banking business downtown? Waco bankers turned their backs on the very people who cleaned their houses, cooked their meals, tended to their children. Where did they learn betrayel? Somebody slap me if I’m wrong but doesnt the majority of Waco’s Bankers hold degree’s from Baylor? Is that where it came from? Maybe Waco’s schools before they were segregated? Old Klan sentiments? Where? Why? What can be done to mend those fences? To live together as brothers, the other brother must be willing to live with his brother also.

By mikey

May 18, 2009 3:35 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Comment on living together as brothers. Did anyone see the Tribs. slide show of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce? Out of 50 photographs shown, I counted 2 “black brothers” and 1 “black sister”. Pictures speak louder than words.

By Chris Whitfield

May 26, 2009 2:24 AM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

I’m not a Waco native, so I am not up to speed on all the history of east Waco. I have been reading most of the entries here. One that I totally disagree with is the lenght of time for development. To develop east Waco into “the next big area” shouldn’t take more than 5 years. I read in one of the blogs that bankers in Waco don’t seem to be willing to deal with people when it comes to east Waco. Money is money. Does it have to come from local banks. Get some major developing going on, and these local bankers would see that there is some major potential on the east side, and everybody would be throwing their hat in. Not to knock the aspiring business man, but something new needs to be done in east Waco. The mom and pop type restaurants are good, but they cannot sustain themselves against competition like an applebees, a Rudy’s, a Rosa’s Cafe, or a Cheddars. There needs to be an anchor, a main attraction or two. Right now, east Waco is as stereotypical as it gets. Liquor stores, convienience stores, and check cashing places. Followed by pawn shops. This may be a stereotypical statement by me, but how many of these businesses are actually black owned? There is money in the black community. A lot of money. I would bet that if the right businesses were in the area, people would spend their money there. I do agree with the posting by Mikey saying that there are enough baylor alumni in financial institutions to allow for baylor to obtain land that otherwise could be part of east Waco. Again, I bring up the question why limit getting a loan,or land financing through local banks. I haven’t lived in Waco for 5 year. Any outsider can come in and visibly see what is going on here. Typical separation of the haves and the have nots. Many cities and towns have become diverse these days and are striving. Many places don’t discriminate against the dollar. Waco seems to be a place that does. Reading up on some history of baylor and its sports, the fantasy video of baylor will not become a reality. I think it is safe to say. Baylor is only out for itself, not for the city of Waco. I think that a starting point for rebuilding east Waco and it’s image could start with something as simple as re-paving the streets there. Starting from 17th and Waco Drive on down to I35. The clientele is there in east Waco. The money is there. Is it me, or does anyone else think that Waco pd lets crime go on on the east side for the simple fact of containing it and preventing it from spilling over into other areas? East Waco has the most potential to grow. Hewitt is overcroweded already, Robinson and China Spring are too far out, Bellmead doesn’t really have room to grow. Hotels take up all of their space. Maybe it’s time for me to start going to some of these meetings around town instead of watching them on tv.

By Carol Dugat

May 26, 2009 5:42 PM | Link to this | Report comment abuse

Chris, I agree with much of what you are saying, especially that it’s time to start attending meetings instead of watching them on TV - so much can be said and done, respectifully, ‘at the table’ by interested, forward thinking people, willing to present their point of view. This would be a good time to start. There is an interesting roundtable discussion at the Greater Waco Chamber on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10:00 am that you might like to attend as well.