One upside to my working double time on real estate renovation is the far flung signage opportunity.
I just kept throwing up signs until I ran out, without concern for how the neighbors might react. Indifference is what I expected. Then one day I came to work on a house and found this taped over poor Ronnie.
If you can’t load the image, here is the transcript:
RESPECTYou apparently are not one that cares for the current administration. Your slogan of Restore America Now reminds me of all the Southerns who believed that the Confederacy should never have been defeated. You are in a Black Community using no black labor and I am quite sure none of the profit from the sale or rental of this property will benefit the community in any way but at least have the decency to not come into our neighborhood with your brand of politics.
Dialouge, hooray! I typed up my response and posted it the next day.
To the 5700 block of St. Louis Ave-I purchased this house at tax auction in August. I was the only bidder. If I had not been there that day, it would have gone to the city, specifically the LRA. In which case, it would stay as a derelict shell forever, eventually attracting squatters and crime. By keeping this property in private hands, I will spend the time and money to make sure it stays up to code and is a worthwhile home. I aim to be a responsible landlord. I own a small real estate holding company, where I do much of the work myself, with a handful crew I have used for a long time. As I do more business in North City, I am meeting more locals and hiring those that impress me, same as anywhere else I own property.
That said, I completely and respectfully stand by the positions this sign represents. Ron Paul is the best possible candidate for every citizen of every race. Dr. Paul is the only one who wants to: end the Middle East wars that use up 25% of all federal money and waste lives; end the unwinnable drug war that enriches gangs and corrupt cops; end all government assistance to corporations; and make your work more profitable by ending payroll taxes.
I think this is a prosperous neighborhood, otherwise I would not invest here, and I hope to help keep it that way.
[my name]
[my phone#]
So far the house hasn’t been burned down, nor further response, but I’m hoping to cultivate a pen pal.
my response letter would’ve been much shorter: lolumad
I know my response is late but as a member of this community (I live in the 5600 block of St. Louis Ave.) for the past 5-6 years, this is the first sign of intellectual thinking outside of ways to distribute narcotics. Everyday, I see images that perpetuate the stereotype of the “ghetto”. The condemned 4 family flats at the bottom of this block are mainly used to hide drugs and dispose of stolen cars (sometimes burnt with bodies in them). The never ending traffic of cars parking in front of our property to purchase drugs from neighboring houses. The 2 break ins of my house within 3 months, one in which I came home and the perpetrator entered the back door while I was home. As you might as well already know, it is an uphill battle living here but this sparked some hope on an otherwise dim situation.
The ones that silently protest your political affiliation, seem to forget that our Black leaders had to voice their minority opinion in a field that was dominated by the White majority. MLK couldn’t hide behind a neatly typed sheet of paper which inked his disdain of the current position of the Black Community. This notice of “cease and desist” of your political preference parallel the bricks that were thrown through Malcolm X window with a note attached saying “Whitey Shut Up”. The very crimes Blacks has been pinning to “The Man” for years, muting their political voice, are now being committed by the ones once victimized by them.
I truly hope some positive dialogue comes of this. This can start some of the locals thinking, “If a random white guy can walk into my neighborhood and buy a building, why can’t I?” I’ll tell you why, look at them rims, you could of bought 2-3 houses on this block for the same price.