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The Newark Arena
By Joe Renna
On November 2, 2002, The Star Ledger reported on the sentencing of two street gang members to life in prison for their role in a drug ring that terrorized a housing project in Newark, New Jersey. While sentencing the U.S. District Judge Alfred Wolin reprimanded city officials for plans to build a sports arena while failing to help residents trapped in a "living hell" of poverty and violence. Judge Wolin commented on the "rampant poverty and troubled school system as primary root causes for gang participation and ultimate individual failure."
There are merits to building a sports arena. Proponents of the
project can site a list of benefits that would cure all the ills
of the surrounding community. In certain communities these claims
may be realistic, but Newark has fundamental needs that will be
passed over for a development plan that will only marginally benefit
the residents. One only needs to look at the advocates and lobbiest
who fought to get the proposal passed to see who will reap the
rewards of the sports arena being built.
Judge Wolin continued his denunciation of the city council in
hopes that they would "redirect its priorities and resources
toward that segment of the community who are powerless to advocate
for themselves and unable to escape the living hell that occupies
their daily existence." Even if the arena delivers on the
promises of creating jobs or seeing funds trickle into the local
economy, the core problems of poverty and safety will not be effected.
These problems must be addressed directly, not residually. The
same can be said for the Newark education system, which is dismal
and adds to both core problems.
Construction of a sports arena is a sample of economic development,
an extreme one. It is a component of community development, but
by no means, is it the end all. There was much political hay made
from the debate of the issue; and with good reason. Funds tied
to the project have topped $430 million. Advocates for community
development at the grass roots level have very little leverage
in attracting the attention and resources away from such a powerful
initiative.
The Newark Arena is an example of the American class system on
a grand scale. Pointing at capitalism as the cause is off the
mark. It is only with political approval and cooperation that
corporations are allowed to manipulate the law and bend the rules.
The benefit is shared by both the business and the government
officials in power, namely, more money and more power.
The slight that is dealt the citizens is done so by the government.
It is the sole purpose of the government to protect and serve
all the people. The government can see to it that the most basic
needs of health, safety and education are administered. It is
a disservice any time an interest is set before those.
Government should be held to a higher standard for it is on the
backs of the citizens that it exists. It is tax dollars which
they spend and the public trust in which they operate.
The situation in Newark did not happen over night. It is the culmination
of years of small abuses that have gone unchecked. The bar of
tolerance is raised lightly with every misdemeanor that a public
official gets away with. The arrogance level also rises and soon
those with out power and with out money lose basic freedoms.
Not for Nothing But...
the only enemy that could deny us
our freedoms is our own corrupt government officials.