The Poconos Scam – Buy a House and Lose Everything

“I wanted to be the first in my family to actually own a home. I wanted to break the cycle, to show my kids that if you work hard, there’s nothing you can’t do.” – Pocono homebuyer to the New York Times

It is ironic that Black people will often accept the notion that their plight results from a lack of interest or willingness to work hard. Other people know that we want the best for our families. One of the corrupt Pocono homebuilders even produced a video depicting urban murder, theft and drug dealing, as if the prospective buyers needed to be reminded of the problems they wanted to flee. The scammers certainly knew that Black and Latino New Yorkers are desperate to improve their lot in life and provide a safe environment for their children.

The willingness to endure a daily commute of four to five hours would not be necessary if anyone in a position of power provided housing for working people. New York Governor George Pataki and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are always ready to preen for the cameras to show plans for a new World Trade Center tower or a white elephant stadium designed to attract the Olympics. There is obviously little interest in helping moderate income workers find decent, affordable housing within New York City.

The median price of co-ops and condos in Manhattan is nearly $1 million. Brownstones in Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn are now purchased by young white people who used to be known as yuppies. The hapless but hopeful masses buying homes in the Poconos would have been able to buy brownstones in years past if they were thrifty enough. Now all of the thrift they can muster just won’t do. The Governor and Mayor spend their time catering to the wishes of millionaire developers and sports team owners. Government workers who can’t buy houses don’t rate in their list of priorities.

Bloomberg and Pataki have bigger fish to fry. They have to lay a foundation for the new World Trade Center site during the upcoming Republican convention. Ironically, the revelations emanating from the 9/11 commission make the choice of New York City as a convention site look less and less like a good idea. Perhaps there is some justice after all. Maybe they will have to think about voters if they want to be elected.

Margaret Kimberley’s Freedom Rider column appears weekly in . Ms. Kimberley is a freelance writer living in New York City. She can be reached via e-Mail at [email protected]. You can read more of Ms. Kimberley’s writings at http://freedomrider.blogspot.com/