Posted on 05/26/2005 6:28:44 AM PDT by cweese
Hundreds of Austinites have had their say. Now, after a couple months of public forums, an independent consultant will give the city some direction about quality of life issues for African Americans.
The city's demographer came up with an African-American Quality of Life Scorecard last month. The statistics showed a levels of disparity between blacks and other races in Austin.
For example, Austin ranks 20th out of 30 major cities when in African American business ownership.
"You see that church bench? I pray every morning," Lozina E. Stevens said, pointing to a pew near the entrance to her restaurant, Queen Nubian Soul and Cajun Food.
She prays for success.
Just minutes away from the lunch hour, Lola cooks up a batch of some good ole' soul food.
"A lot of soul food. I do know how to do Cajun. I need business to pick up so I can do my good dishes; my crawfish etouffee," Stevens said.
Stevens said she's struggling to keep her business running. She's been open near the intersection of Rosewood and Salina in East Austin for nearly a year.
"I've had my lights cut off so many times," Stevens said. "I don't have air conditioning here, either."
"They know that it's a struggle. But, they know it's a blessed struggle," Stevens said.
She believes her own community has failed her.
"You see me strugglin'. You see I need you. Come in and support me. And you wonder why we can't go up. Well, oh, I'm black. Because you're not supportin' me, and if you're not supporting me how are you gonna make it as other people that want a business. You've got to give to receive," she said.
Only 2.5 percent of Austin businesses are owned by African Americans. That's just one component of their quality of life in Austin.
"This has been a strong dialogue within the community," Acting Assistant City Manager Michael McDonald said.
McDonald says a solid network system is one place to start. He's helped lead the forums.
"Marketing and branding is one of the top issues for the African-American community. They felt the city needs to try to do more to assist the community with networking with one another and sharing resources," he said.
For striving business owners, like Stevens, success starts with herself first. And, she won't dwell on her challenges.
"The doors ought to be open just a little it wider," she said.
The independent consultant, Group Solutions, will give the Austin city council its recommendations at Thursday's council meeting. The recommendations will become a part of the city's overall economic redevelopment plan.
Too bad we can't judge a business by the quality of their food, and not the color of their skin.
---She believes her own community has failed her.---
Maybe it's the food that has failed.
Exactly. What I infer from this lady's complaints is that the city needs to force people to eat her slop to keep her in business.
It is indeed! News8 has been stirring the pot for a couple of years now (the staff over there were all balling their eyes out when that Midtown Live crackhouse of a "nightclub" burned down last year).
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