Tom Simons speaks about Hartford (video in two parts, with transcript)
Tom Simons sits in what may be his business office in Hartford as he discusses the challenges in the city of Hartford, especially when it comes to... Show moreTom Simons sits in what may be his business office in Hartford as he discusses the challenges in the city of Hartford, especially when it comes to the racial divide and what he sees as the opportunities in the city. Simons arrived to Hartford six years ago and states that Hartford’s social concerns have mirrored that of the whole country. He believes that what has changed is that more people in the community are trying to get involved in a more sophisticated, action-oriented, less naïve approach than in the past. Simons discusses his fear that the black community is not interested in liberal-minded whites but rather with people in power who can get things done. He believes this is “bruising” to liberal-minded whites who are interested in coalition-building. He thinks there is an overemphasis on racism but that even if racism were removed, the whole problem would not be gone. He talks about the significance of fundamental needs beyond communication including jobs, education, motivation, elimination of rats, decent rent, day care centers and that this “systems approach” shows the enormous complexity of the problem. Communication is important regionally and across the boundaries between political, business, recreational, and transportation sectors ,and all issues should be worked on at once. Simons discusses how whites have “taken a terrible beating,” with a somewhat self- sense of guilt. He also discusses what he sees as issues with what he calls the black leadership, in that the black community needs to reflect on attitudes as well as talk about the importance of the family unit when it comes to educational support. He compares the way in which people point to the parents in solving problems of the suburban youth to the way in which parents should be pointed to when it comes to problems of black youth. Simons discusses the role of business in community development and that the solutions of the city problems should be thought of in a profit-making way. He says that one cannot rebuild the cities with government money. He says the city has got to be looked at as an attractive investment for a business to come to the city. Simons talks about living in the suburbs, where he and his family wanted to have a more rural experience, but are now looking for a house in Hartford because he spends most of his time there and the city needs a vote of confidence. He believes that high-income housing should be just as as important as low-income housing for the health of the city. Simons says that he will put his children in the public schools up until high school because of the violence and anti-social behavior that he hears about at high schools.. He believes this has to change in order to make it an educational environment. Show less
