Arlington and Its Future Part 2

So where does Arlington go from here? OK Carter discussed two issues facing Arlington in recent columns. One, that the city must respond to the changing demographics, and two, the need for a UTA strip (and Glorypark). First, over the last 16 years, Arlington has become more racially diverse. Carter cites figures that show Arlington's racial demographic to be 50% white, 50% minority. He brings up the term "White Flight" as part of Arlington's future. The practice of White Flight is racist at its worst, ignorant at its best. White Flight out of major US cities caused innercity communities to become forgotten, rundown, and crime-ridden. (Interestingly, many major cities have begun revitalization projects which have brought "the downtown" back to life.) The thought that a city will decline simply because of racial demographics is a product of the south - and of prejudiced rationale by those moving. However, Carter does not give any solutions in his article, but simply brings the conversation to the forefront.

The more pressing concern for Arlington residents shouldn't be race, but socio-economic make-up of residents. How Arlington manages to provide needed resources for those in need while also remaining an attractive city for young families to live in and invest in is the main issue Arlington faces. With the plethora of churches in Arlington, including Mission Arlington, Arlington Urban Ministries, Salvation Army, and the Life Shelter, the needs of many residents are able to be met, or should be met, by churches and ministries. The city should depend on these agencies and ministries to provide for the material needs of the people. Not by providing government funds, but by encouraging these ministries to take charge, as many already have, in this area. And local churches should carry the burden, not complaining about what the city is doing or not doing to help meet material needs. Church being the church, salt and light in the communtiy. (This is a separate issue altogether, but one that churches need to face. Churches must begin to reflect their communities, reaching out to those in need - and perhaps in the process, become more diverse. Afterall, it was MLK, Jr who said that 11:00am on Sunday morning is the most segregated time in American life. That is a stinging indictment on the hypocrisy in the church concerning issues of race and inclusion. And one we must address as Christians. Better community = better church = better city.)

What should the city do? Providing quality education for all Arlington children in the key. Arlington teachers should be the highest paid teachers in the area, the school buildings, even the ones on the east side of town, should be equipped with the best curriculum, computers, playgrounds, etc., including aesthetically pleasing buildings and landscaping. If Arlington schools continue to be among the best, by attracting the best teachers, paying the best, and offering the finest in environmental conditions, then the city will remain attractive for families, and even become more attractive. Is this idealistic thinking? To a certain extent, but providing an excellent educational environment supersedes other issues facing the city.

Next, our police should be among the highest paid, and more police should be hired and in place around the city. With smash and grab robberies of vehicles escalating, more needs to be done to follow leads in these "minor" cases, in order to stem the rise of this type of crime. Better paid and more numerous police officers will help in this process. Cameras at intersections and other public locations would help as well. It is not an invasion of privacy to use technology to stop crime, no matter whether it is just running a red light or something more severe like assault in a parking lot. Cameras equipped with face scanning technology are necessary. This is not Big Brother, but rather, advances in technology that will help make Arlington a safer place to live, with the best officers assisting in lowering the crime rate in our city.

Education and safety are key ingredients to maintaining a vibrant, attractive city. Too expensive, you say? We can't afford not to do it, I believe.

Next item: what should downtown look like, including the "eye-sore" that OK Carter sees in FBC and Mission Arlington sprawling across six city blocks downtown...