Democracy In Action

Doesn't look like much here, but Chaz got fired up this weekend. Travis County selected a site for a new health clinic down on Braker, which is a major street in our area. The neighborhood association which abuts the site is trying to fight the county, at first using zoning, but they're also having a brainstorming/planning meeting tomorrow to come up with other angles for not having the clinic be there. It really boils down to the neighborhood not wanting people from the neighborhood RIGHT ACROSS Braker on their side of the street. Heaven forbid poor people or people of color come near their property, nevermind the neighbor down the street on a fixed income that can no longer afford to travel to the existing clinics to get a free shingles shot. The neighborhood association next to ours asked for some help in petitioning the city and fighting that location, and a few of our neighbors have said its worth their time to do so. Chaz and I are progressive enough to be indignant at this, so we sat at the end of the drive and gathered just a few signatures of the walkers in our neighborhood. Only 1 couple out of 12 were on the fence, and one signer even said she used the clinic in Pflugerville when she was out of a job. I'm going to present this at our association's board meeting tonight, and let them know I think they should stay out of the fray. If individuals want to support the fearful neighborhood association, more power to them, but I don't think they're doing it out of benevolence. I ask myself, would I support the clinic going in where the Albertson's is at the corner of Lamar and Braker which abuts my neighborhood, and I think I can. It'd be a bit better than having it empty as it is now. Would it affect my property values? Not as much as having a rental property with junked cars parked in its backyard next door, as was the case when I tried to sell my house last year. If these guys think they can get away with racially motivated scare tactics, its crap, and we'll make sure they know that.