If there has ever been any question in your mind about the status of racism in Oakwood you need not ponder any further. In the July 24, 2007 edition of the Oakwood Register (on the front page below the fold) the following appeared:
Section Eight housing going up across Shroyer Road
“Did you know there’s going to be eight hundred units of Section Eight housing going up in Kettering?” “What’s going on with this Section Eight housing deal?” “Is it true Parkside Homes is moving over to the plat across from Shroyer Road?” “I’ve been told that they are relocating people from the low income housing north of downtown to the apartments across Shroyer, because the same developer owns both, and the low income housing downtown, which was a haven for drugs and crime, is being razed.”
Over the past nine months, these questions have been asked by concerned citizens in the area who have contacted The Oakwood Register by phone, letter, e-mail and office visits, all either telling what they have heard from local officials, “on the grapevine”, and asking if the rumors are true.
“Were you aware that the Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority has bought three apartment buildings in the 500 block of Telford in Kettering, just across the street from Oakwood?” one concerned Oakwood citizen e-mailed us and who asked not to be named. “I spoke to a DMHA official who said people will start moving in from the Parkside Homes project as soon as the buildings are refurbished. He (the DMHA official) also said they plan to buy all the apartment buildings that go up for sale in the area on the east side of Shroyer Road. That is an eight-block area full of those apartment buildings. I feel we are in for a big ride and crime, drugs, etc, will follow. This will be a devastating blow to Kettering and Oakwood. The complexion of both communities is about to change. This and the possibility of a Metro Government sure doesn’t make me want to stay in this area,” she wrote. In talking with Kettering officials, they did in fact confirm that 79 families from the Parkside Homes project have since moved into the apartment plats across Shroyer Road in Kettering.
Getting straight answers from officials from both Kettering and Oakwood on the record has turned out to be a catch-as-catch-can proposition. One official who did go on the record is Oakwood Safety Director Alex Bebris.
“I’m aware of the fact it is there and it is being purchased up (by the DMHA). It is not a factor that Oakwood has any control over. Is it something we’re keeping an eye on? Yes,” Bebris said. “It’s a difficult situation but we are keeping an eye on the situation.”
Many of the auto break-ins and thefts have been suspected as originating from across Shroyer as of late. A case in point occurred with an Oakwood resident recently, who remarked that such an occurrence had never happened before in his 32 years of living here.
The resident, living in one of the ranch homes on Acorn Drive, had awakened at about 4 a.m. and distinctly heard voices outside. Checking further, he was startled to see two faces peering in his living room window. Putting on his bathrobe and bringing along his 38. Cal. revolver for good measure, he walked outside and confronted the pair, asking what they were doing on his property? The two were surprised at being caught and told him that they had dropped their cell phone and were looking for it. They immediately left on foot heading south on Acorn Drive. The resident got dressed and decided to follow them in his car to see where they went. He caught up with them as they crossed Shroyer Road and headed into the Kettering plat where Acorn Drive continued. Later on, a few months later, his wife had her truck broken into in the middle of the night and a CD/radio stolen. He remarked he had never had one of his autos broken into either in 32 years.
“If you see something that seems out of place, call us,” Chief Bebris said. “It’s important that people contact us if something appears to be not right. To us, the more information we can get, the better we can fight crime. Sometimes it takes old fashioned detective work.”
“A Neighborhood Watch system can be put in place easily by getting all the neighbors together at a block meeting. All it takes is one neighbor on the block being the self-appointed contact person to organize a meeting,” said Lt. Keith Benson. “We’ll be glad to provide safety tips and information on crime issues. Neighborhood Watch is a great way to use the power of the group to provide the Police Department with group issues that affect the neighborhood. Working together in a partnership, it is a good example of community-oriented policing,” Lt. Benson said.
There is no talk of race in this entire article. Paranoia, sure, maybe even snobbery based on a view of lower income individuals, but no where does a person say that they are on the look out for black kids, or hispanic kids. If you want to make an impact, drop the sensational headlines and get to the real point at issue.
[...] such insulting and defamatory language to describe individuals concerned for their community. DaytonOS.com posted an article from the July 24, 2007 edition The Oakwood Register as an example of racism when [...]
Welfare causes drug use and crime. What do you expect these people to do, just sit back and take it while the crime rate goes up?
If section 8 housing leads to crime, but it’s racist to say that, then I guess it makes giving an honest accounting of reality ‘racist’.
You’re racist and retarded for implying that all people using section 8 housing are …. black.
It is fact that theft crimes have increased since low income housing was introduced into the Kettering area. Our employee’s car has been broken into twice and she lives in Patterson Park, what is considered to be one of the safer areas of Dayton–where lots of firemen and police live. When we filed the theft report (it was company property stolen from her vehicle) the investigating offer said there had been an increase in theft since the apartments on Wilmington had been occupied by Section 8 tenants. That’s not to say they are all bad, I certainly don’t believe that – but it does increase these types of crimes and it makes us angry.
PS: If you want an email address–why don’t you fix your request. It says “Mail”
Racism, elitism, snobbery, NIMBY- it’s all the same. The point is- the Oakwood Register is publishing a bunch of hearsay and innuendo, without attributing names.
And none of this is “Section 8″ – it’s all DMHA owned subsidized housing.
If the Oakwood Register is going to be a “Newspaper” it should publish facts- and have quotes from named sources.
[...] slumlords. Its clientele includes some of the worst of society. For fear of being subjected to accusations of racism, many people do not fault DMHA or its residents for the squalor and vice that accompanies the [...]
I fail to see that the article written in the Oakwood Register implies any issue of racism. I do believe that the person writing the article used the word ‘complexion’ and, in the context, has nothing to do with skin color! I believe the person is talking about the possibility of a change in the safety of the neighborhood, not its makeup of race. In all reality, any person of any race can and does use Section 8. It is a well-publicized fact that many people are concerned about the safety of Parkside Homes and its inability to house people in a positive, life-supportive manner. I cannot believe that someone at DaytonOS would publicize this as racism! Perhaps that might hint at how that particular person feels about section 8?
DMHA buying property ANYWHERE is bad. Ask Vandalia, Clayton, Englewood, Butler TWP. ASK AROUND….it lowers property values when non working lazy welfare people move in. It also raises crime rates. ITS A FACT !!! When the overall unemployment rate is where it is right now (5%) there is NO reason for government assisted slums. Oh other than the fact that certain people have figured out they can be lazy and the Government will wipe their behinds for them.
Racist…No
Prejudice…yes….prejudice against lazy non workin’ government cheese eatin’ baby makin’ food stamp tradin’ crack smokin/sellin’ people with no ambition. Don’t have enough money…get rid of your cell phones and HDTV wide screen plasma TVs with satellite hook up…5000 dollar spinning chrome wheels… sheeeesh…is it me am I the only one? I can’t take it !
Try the Oakwood Register’s feature story on July 31, 2007 “DMHA directore briefs neighbors on future plans.”
Quote:
“I’ve lived in Oakwood all my life,” said a long-term resident who lives in the 300-block of Aberdeen. “I went to school here, my children all went to school and grew up here. The complexion (need I add emphasis?!) of our neighborhood has completely changed over the past year,” she said with dismay.
P.S. Thanks for covering this Mike! I thought about, but never got around to, blogging it.
True that some people in the DMHA housing are non-working and lazy, but not all of them. And yes Parkside homes had a lot of crime and drug activity. Don’t let that scare you away from your homes. What about the people who have done nothing wrong? What about the people who work hard and are trying to take care of their families? Don’t these people deserve somewhere to live? I think that if the residents see suspicious activity going on they should contact the authorities–That should help to get rid of crime and drug activity.
Why can’t we all just get along! Why is everyone so worried about the people moving from Parkside homes into the Oakwood area—— suck it up. People in the community can do something about it——show your love for one another, put aside all slander and negative thoughts, get involved! We are all in this together. WWJD?
i wanna respond to the r. weber person… HOW DARE YOU? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? not all people think like you and thank God for that! Have you ever been to parkside? Have you seen for yourself the mixed race apartments? Whites lived out there too. Section 8 was started back in 1937, do your research. Do You honestly think section 8 was started to help “lazy baby making people”? Parkside was never section 8, it was apartments owned by DMHA and rent is based on income. Section 8 is for families who need help paying rent. It does not cover DP&L, water, trash, or anything else just helps pay a proton of rent, the tenant is to pay 30% of their gross income. how dare you critisize people when they are trying their hardest to survive by working. You shouldn’t be prejudice.Open your mind and EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE ISSUE! If everyone thought like you Barrack Obama would not be president… but he is….TIME TO WAKE UP!! GROW UP!! I LOVE ALL MY FELLOW AMERICANS.. ALL OF THEM!!!
P.S. take time to sit and watch that womens clinic out there in your precious kettering, do a head count on whites and blacks, i know for a fact you will definitely see my point and will no doubt CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK FOREVER!!!!
CINDY !!! Ya know, I never said ANYTHING about black or white. YOU are the one that did !
gimmee a break !
I said I hate LAZY non working baby making people who expect a good life by others paying their way.
You are the one that equated that to Black or White…. You are the racist Cindy.
Not only am I prejudice against LAZY non working baby making…flat screen at walmart trampling losers!
But i am also prejudice against citrus flavored milk shakes. Being prejudice against dumb things is GOOD !
Prejudice does not have anything to do with racism. Look up the word. You must have been educated from the media…Buy a dictionary.
By the way… I have only one arm. I am missing my right arm below the elbow. Nobody ties my shoes for me. Nobody gives me a break…I’ve been bustin’ my ass feeding my wife and 4 kids as I stand in line behind some yo yo yo guy in gold using his Food Card to by his kool aid and candy for his kids. I have HAD ENOUGH. If you want to keep these people fat and stupid…..just keep on givin’!
Me on the other hand…I work,I eat, I sleep, I work, I eat, I sleep. This welfare mentality that you apparently support, is the same mentality that keeps the poor,poor and the lazy, lazy and the dumb, dumb.
Just a reminder….I said NOTHING about what skin color the non workin lazy baby makers had…. THAT WAS YOU CINDY….You are the one that equated to a race. And if I read your post it pretty much sounds like you are equating it to blacks. re read what i wrote….. THINK ABOUT IT …. then realize you assumed what I said had something to do race. You put race into it. WHY? What about my post made you think I was talking about blacks? I think it is pretty easy to see…. look in the mirror. Stop calling the kettle black. Look up prejudice.
and… its STILL a FACT DMHA homes RUIN entire neighborhoods ! The evidence is all around you. Just look at Harrison TWP. & Northridge High School. It has been absolutely destruyed because of welfare/gov. aid LAZY LOSERS! If you can afford a TV, CELL PHONE, COMPUTER…. then you shouldn’t be getting ANY HELP FROM THE TAX PAYERS !!!
I having no problem feeding the hungry. But giving low rent to losers so they can afford stuff that I don’t even afford….as I bust my hump every damned day ???
YOU must be joking. or high….
the road to hell is paved with good intentions…..
early to bed early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise…
or
money in his hat, from the street corner where he sat, gets him drunk and makes him fat….