More on the Chocolate City situation. While I’m hopeful this is opportunity to change the area, I’m not so ready to do full on celebration. The real problem is drugs, crime, poverty, etc. Chocolate City? I feel bad that all of this gets pointed at a black business. What if there was no crack dealing outside? What if there weren’t people wandering around in a stupor and trashing up the sidewalks and alleys? Then, it would be pretty cool to have a place like Chocolate City around.
–j
Yes, drugs and alcohol are terrible, and the owner of Chocolate City, Dean Falls, who also owns Deano’s Market down the block, is more than happy to provide a thriving retail environment for both. He provides cheap alcohol in his market, and does nothing to discourage the drug dealers on the sidewalk in front of Choc City. It’s a complicated problem, to be sure, but I definitely think redevelopment of that block would be a step in the right direction.
The market and the club are the ONLY reason that corner is as terrible as it is. My girlfriend and I have been in the market after dark and witnessed KIDS who couldn’t have been older than fifteen conducting a drug deal. INSIDE the store. It doesn’t have anything to do with gentrification, it’s urban blight and getting rid of that part of the block would serve the entire community well, regardless of race or class.