Repurposing an old school

Here is the letter I sent to the committee that's deciding what to do with the property where Bingham school now sits, at the corner of 77th & Wyandotte in the Waldo area of Kansas City. To share your thoughts with the committee, come to the community meeting:

Thursday, January 10
6:00 pm
Keystone United Methodist Church
406 W. 74th St

Dear Ms. White:

Thank you for all the work on the Repurposing Initiative. It has taken tremendous dedication from the whole committee to solicit, analyze, and negotiate proposals for the closed school sites in Kansas City. I especially appreciate the effort that you and the committee have made to include the surrounding community in the conversations and the decisions.

I live a block from Bingham, and so am personally interested in what will happen to that site. It is unfortunate that Hen House backed out of the contract, as their proposal sounded most positive. Their commitment to the local economy and the way that they considered the needs and desires of the community in their planning were great strengths. Since their store was a replacement for the Price Chopper on Wornall, they would have added to the local economy without redundancy.

Now, we are again left with the difficult decision of what to do with the space. As a neighbor, here are my thoughts.

Yes, it’s an eyesore. The abandoned school building at the corner of Wyandotte & 77^th St. adds little to the beauty of the neighborhood. The boarded up windows and dirty brick seem despondent and neglected.

But surrounding the edifice are patches of green space brimming with life and action. On any given day of the week, you can find athletes and friends, young and old, playing baseball, football, soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, and even Lacrosse. In the early morning dog owners slip through the gate to let their dogs run free for a few minutes, and on warm days families spread out picnics on the rough grass. Even without a playground, tables, or sidewalks, this area serves as an unofficial park for the community.

The city has determined that empty space is neither profitable nor manageable. That’s true. The old building must go, and the property needs a proper designation. So, how do we determine the best use for this space?

It seems that we have chosen the path of the largest bidder, to sell the land to a developer. Although many potential buyers made offers, only three were chosen to present to the public. The explanation was that these were the only three who offered the price range that the city was looking for. The community gave feedback at a public meeting, and given the limited choices, the public requested the one developer who promised to leave some green space for public use.

Unfortunately, this deal fell through, so we may be saddled with option two, a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, who promises to remain open 24 hours a day and, instead of green space, will install gas pumps. Who would want to live next to that?

If the city were a business, this would make some sense. But the city is not a business, it is a community, and so leaders must make decisions based on what will best serve the needs of the community.

Take a look around this area of town. The closest grocery store to this property is 1 block away, and it is rarely overflowing with business, most likely because there are 7 more grocery stores within a two-mile radius.

To discover what the surrounding neighborhood wants and needs look at how they’re already using the land: kids’ baseball and football practice, Sunday pick-up Ultimate Frisbee games, weekly Lacrosse practice, leash-free area for pets, play area for children.

Yes, the city is short on cash and could use a few million, but if we invest in the real needs of the residents now, when we have an opportunity, we will spend far less in the future addressing the blight, rise in crime, and rent in the social fabric of the Waldo neighborhood.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I look forward to the meeting this Thursday when the community will discuss the plans for the future.

Yours,

Dagney Velazquez

It's not about marriage

It’s nothing to do with marriage.
Across the country, people are making commitments to life partners, some to partners of the opposite gender, some to same gender partners. They do so in ceremonies and celebrations attended by friends and family as well as more private ceremonies. Together, then, they create homes.
Laws and constitutional amendments do not prevent or even deter this. No matter what North Carolina (or any other state) residents vote, people will continue exchanging vows to love one another through this life. No law can affect this.
What can the law do? It can not prevent relationships, but it can refuse to recognize people’s relationships with one another. It can discriminate between people. It can, and throughout our country’s history often does, deny to some groups privileges that it bestows on others. It can give financial breaks and physical protection to some but not to others.
It can turn its back on people it doesn’t like in hopes that they will disappear.
But we never disappear. We grow stronger, demand recognition as humans equal to all other humans.
“I’m not anti-gay, I’m pro-marriage,” one voter claimed.
No, this has nothing to do with marriage. Rather, this has everything to do with anti-people-not-like-you.
In the end, civil equality will win, and I will proudly tell my grandchildren that I was on the winning team, the team of fairness and humanity.
This post is inspired by and dedicated to Vicki and Janice who, after 30 years of committed love and raising two beautiful children together, will travel to New York in July to be legally married. To all who know them, their relationship demonstrates deep and abiding love, faithfulness, mutual support and unending friendship. I am grateful to have them in my life.

Math, the gateway discipline

“Math is like crack to you, isn’t it?”

One of my students in an Algebra class I taught said this to me. I took it as a compliment, though I’m not sure it was meant that way. It’s true, math excites and energizes me. It brings me pleasure, almost as much as it frustrates and confuses me. I’m well aware, though, that not everyone shares my excitement. If math were not a graduation requirement, our math classrooms would be nearly empty, populated only by the few math addicts, like myself.

The question I hear most often from my students is, “how am I going to use this in real life?” It’s a valid question. No one likes to suffer without reason. But I find myself reflecting that people don’t ask this of their music classes, their art classes, or even their literature classes. These studies are usually appreciated on their own merit, for the beauty, color, and depth that they add to life.

Albert Einstein said, “Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” Mathematics can stretch us in ways that nothing else can. It tests the limits of possibility of our minds and the universe around us, and then takes us beyond those limits.

When I read the news, listen to political commentaries, and take part in the debates over current issues, I realize that we could do with a bit more poetry of logical ideas. Too often when it comes to the important things of life, logic and clear critical thinking get left in the dust and we find ourselves in confused and ugly messes.

Not that mathematics makes sense of everything. The same genius I quoted before also said, “Mathematics are well and good, but nature keeps dragging us around by the nose.” Just when we think we have everything figured out, a black hole opens up and nothing makes sense anymore. That is the world of nature, and so that is the world of mathematics. It not only orders and classifies, but it is full of mysteries, such as why does that number pi keep showing up all the time? And how can two imaginaries come together to form something real? If I told my daughter that two unicorns can create a horse, she’d never believe me. Sometimes, math is a wonderful, powerful mystery.

The poetry, the logic, the mystery, the discovery- these are why math is addictive for me. And it’s why, in an institution of higher education, we require our students to at least try a taste, in hopes that they will go out into the world and infect it with a little more reason, a little more beauty, and a little more poetry.

Religion: a faith or an excuse?

For many it is a deeply held faith, but for others it is an excuse to avoid civic duty, operate outside the bounds of the law and grasp for power.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

They are the first words in the Bill of rights. I am no constitutional expert, but I can see where they would leave room for interpretation. What does "free exercise" mean? How far can it go?

It was intended to keep the government from getting involved in religion and vice versa, but what do we do when these two worlds cross? When a religious organization buys property, must it abide by all the laws that apply to other property owners? The taxes and codes associated with property fall under the authority of government, but would restricting the legal use of property be prohibiting free exercise of religion? On the other hand, how might allowing free reign to all religious organizations trample the rights of others? And does a religious organization need to be allowed to do anything it wants in order to exercise freely? Do these words mean that anything goes?

This has always been and will probably continue to be debated, but it is disturbing how often religious authorities use the shield of religion and faith to hide their own self-serving purposes, to wield power, or to oppress others. Not all religious people do this, in fact many are sincere in their faith that inspires them to good deeds. When some people's use of religion costs others, though, a line must be drawn.

It makes no sense, for example, that clerics do not pay the same in income taxes as the rest of the country. A minister does not have to pay tax on the portion of income used for housing, which includes rent or mortgage, utilities, furnishings, and all household items. This means that often half of their income is not taxed, and yet they still benefit from all those services paid for by all our taxes. How is it right that our tax dollars are subsidizing the clergy?

Labor laws, intended to ensure equity and justice in the workplace, hold religious organizations to a lower standard. Sex and race discrimination that are penalized elsewhere must be overlooked in faith-based organizations, as people use religion as an excuse for their bigotry. The government won't touch that.

But when religious organizations move out of their private sphere and into the world of education, medicine, and commerce, is it unreasonable that they must submit to the authority that governs these spheres? No, in fact we recognize in so many ways that this is reasonable. Religious schools must meet certain standards to be accredited. Hospitals must follow health codes. Churches must charge sales tax on commodities sold.

And so why, if the government requires specific minimum standards for health care insurance, standards set for the good of public health, would it not apply to all employers choosing to operate in the sphere of employer-employee relations? It may have been religious fervor that inspired the building of a hospital, but its existence is not necessary for the free exercise of religion. A high-minded faithful person may have felt called by God to start a university, but its parent organization does not require its continuance to practice its faith. Therefore, they fall under the regulation that any other organization would fall under, including laws that we all must follow for the good of society and for justice for all.

Over half of the states in our country already require that any health care insurer that covers prescription drugs include contraceptives in the coverage. This is nothing new, and the laws were created with public health in mind. If private citizens believe this shouldn't be required and want to do away with the laws, then they may. But it is time to stop hiding behind religion to dominate over others, and it is time that we stop catering to that behavior. Freedom of religion does not apply here.

What will you do when you're 111 years old?

"I'm too old to...."

Never mind, because in light of Warina Zaya Bahou, that excuse just crawled in the corner, released one last pathetic whimper, and died of asphyxiation.

Today at 2:00 p.m., Bahou, born in 1900, will become the second oldest person to become a naturalized citizen of the United States (who was the oldest? Fifteen minutes of intense googling did not reveal an answer).

The first time I tried the excuse I was just 14 years old. After playing violin for 4 years, I lamented that I wished I had chosen cello as my instrument, but it was too late to switch instruments- I was too far along in my musical career. I was too old. (insert eye roll here)

It's an easy excuse, one that is always standing by, waiting for the opportunity to jump to the aid. Pass by an opportunity 10 years ago? It's too late now. You're too old to begin something new now. Like Waterboy, though, the "mama always says" battles the creepy "I'm too old" excuse. My mama always said to me, "Well, two years are going to pass, one way or the other. At then end of those two years you will have either accomplished this or not. Either way, you'll be 2 years older. Saying it's too late isn't going to stop the two years from happening."

I wonder whether a similar voice whispered to Bahou. I don't know how long she worked toward naturalization, but even if it took 10 years, that would mean she didn't begin it until she was over 100. Did her mama's ghost tell her, "Well, in 10 years, you will be 111, there's no stopping that, and either you will be a U.S. citizen or you won't. Which do you choose?"

Suddenly, I'm feeling young, spry, and full of potential.

Why my daughter wants to be president

This morning, during our commute, while I’m still waiting for the caffeine jolt from the 6 a.m. coffee, my daughter’s brain is in full gear. An excerpt from our conversation:

Aliyah: I want to be the president when I grow up.

Me: Why do you want to be president?

Aliyah: So that I can make rules.

Me: What kind of rules do you want to make?

Aliyah: To make countries stop fighting each other.

Me: That’s a good rule.

Aliyah: And I heard that there are still slaves. I don’t want there to be slaves.

Me: No, neither do I.

Aliayh: Also, some people think that basketball is just a boys’ sport, and that’s wrong.

Not a bad platform, really. Her top priorities are peace, human rights, and equality. Listening to the news, reading politicians’ speeches, and looking at how I spend my own time, these don’t seem to be the top priorities for many.

Buzz phrases like, “bring to justice,” are mere euphemisms for vengeance, and I rarely see peace, wholeness, and healing as even desired outcomes. There is a sense of satisfaction in watching thieves led away in handcuffs, and our nation celebrates when we kill our enemies. I admire organizations and individuals dedicated to reconciliation, but also wonder why this isn’t the standard operating procedure for all of us.

Slave traders, though, do need to be brought to justice, or at least shut down. There are many fighting this good fight, but not nearly enough. Today there are more slaves in the United States than there were before the Civil War. Why do we tolerate this? If we deployed as many resources in addressing this as we do fighting illegal immigration and undocumented workers, would the problem still be so looming?

Ah, and the forever present sexism alive and well today, both subtle and overt. It was tears of shame, anger, and confusion that welled in my eyes when trying to explain to my daughter the lack of women in politics. Another piece of this morning’s conversation:

Aliyah: We haven’t had very many women presidents, have we?

Me: We haven’t had any.

Aliyah: What? But why not?

Me: Well, for about the first 150 years of this country’s history, women weren’t even allowed to vote.

Aliyah: That doesn’t make any sense. Why wouldn’t they let women vote?

That’s a tough one. Although the nonsensical can sound sensible in adult discourse, it is difficult to explain intolerance, narrow-mindedness, and bigotry to a child. It just doesn’t make sense to her.

My hope is that it never does, because if fighting, slavery, sexism, and racism never make sense to Aliyah, she will indeed make a very fine president.

Governor Brownback's answer to poverty: get those women married

Shortly after returning a $31.5 million grant to enable Kansas to develop its own online health insurance exchange, months after cutting the state’s education budget by $100 million, and after spending millions of dollars this summer in an attempt to shut down all of the state’s women’s health clinics, Kansas Governor Brownback is applying for a $6.6 million federal grant to create his marriage initiative program. He claims that this will address childhood poverty in the state.

What is the reasoning? According to Census reports, 50% of families in Kansas living below the poverty level are single mother households. The Census doesn’t bother to report the number of single father households living below poverty. And so Brownback has concluded that the answer to these single mothers’ woes is to find themselves husbands, and he is going to pay them to do so.

The project will use the millions of dollars to hire counselors who will encourage single parents, mostly women, to get married, offering the incentive of a free marriage license. And this is how he intends to address the problem of the thousands of children in poverty, a number that will most likely increase in the coming years thanks to the vast cuts in the educational budget, cuts that disproportionately affect the lower classes.

There are so many things wrong with this plan that it’s difficult to know where to begin. I’ll try.

First, counseling with a predetermined agenda is not good, ethical, or healthy counseling. If a counselor meeting with a single mom is instructed, before even meeting her, to encourage her to marry, there is no room for helping the woman assess her life and herself and determine what would be best for her and her family. She is not counseled, she is coerced. Marriage is complicated enough, but a marriage entered into under coercion is even more likely to end in disaster. Since women who divorce experience a drop in their standard of living, these women are likely to end up even worse off than they were before.

There might be a good reason single mothers aren’t married to the father of their children. He might be abusive, irresponsible, unsupportive of his children, or the mother and father may have no love for one another. Pushing them into marriage will only exacerbate the problems. If he is abusive, now he is around even more to verbally, emotionally, physically, or sexually abuse his spouse, and now it will be even more difficult for her to escape. If he is a man who can’t hold a steady job, she now has one more person to support. And she’s stuck, because though the $50 marriage license was free, who’s going to pay for her $5,000 divorce?

This project also disempowers women. The studies that show that divorced women suffer a lowered standard of women speaks to the need to address the persistent gender inequality in our society. The $9 million would be better spent on helping women, especially heads of households, obtain education and job skills that would better their families. Global organizations that combat poverty have discovered that educated women tend to reinvest their education into their families and community. Instead of investing in education and training, though, Brownback is reducing opportunities for education, especially for the lower class, a majority of whom are women and children. It would appear that his motive is to force women’s dependence on men.

You want to help children in poverty, Brownback? Stop reducing their educational opportunities. You want to help struggling single mothers? Address the gender gap in income, education, and training. You want to increase the divorce rate and domestic violence? Continue your planned course of action.