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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhite then Black residents abandoned Jackson, propelling its water crisis
Washington PostThe opposing circumstances, suffering in Jackson as surrounding towns are spared, are rooted in decades of racism, historians and infrastructure experts say. Those divides rest on the impact of two separate migrations out of the city.
White flight beginning in the 1970s drove onetime Jackson residents into neighboring areas. The citys decline since then has prompted better-off Black residents to escape Jacksons failing infrastructure, not just water but also roads and schools. The more recent departures further eroded the citys tax base, lessening its ability to afford repairs or apply for federal money as its infrastructure crumbled.
Gabriel Killingsworth lives in suburban Clinton with his girlfriend, a registered nurse who bought their brick house in a subdivision last year after living in Jackson. Both are Black. Since this past week, his daughter has been coming from Jackson with her 7-year-old son to shower, eat and do laundry.
ret5hd
(20,595 posts)we can swoop in, purchase properties for pennys, rebuild the water system and wham! Project complete!
brooklynite
(95,157 posts)dsc
(52,187 posts)Jackson is the state capital after all, it will have some industry due to that.
brooklynite
(95,157 posts)And there's certainly no evidence of a conspiracy to ruing the water system.
BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)Wtf?
ret5hd
(20,595 posts)Thank god.
Historic NY
(37,469 posts)jimfields33
(16,251 posts)I sure this isnt a two year problem. Somebody knew this was a mess. The governor at least should have held immediate meetings with the mayor.
BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)Turbineguy
(37,442 posts)conservative virtue.
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