Free Republic

Racist 'Retail Redlining' Is Still A Big Problem In America Emily Badger, The Atlantic CitiesApril 18, 2013 David Mekarski, the village administrator for the south Chicago suburb of Olympia Fields, told a startling story this week at the American Planning Association's annual conference about a debate he recently had with a restaurant official. Why, he wanted to know, wouldn't quality restaurants come to his mixed-race community, where the average annual household income is $77,000, above the county average? The reply: "Black folks don’t tip, and so managers can’t maintain a quality staff. And if they can’t maintain a quality staff,...

A group of 10 Olympia Fields residents is taking offense at a recent story in the Tribune suggesting there are a lot of run-down houses in their village. They say the problem is ridiculously exaggerated and they live in one of the best spots in the country. The residents are: Matthew Sosnowski, a construction manager, who has lived in the village for five years. David Mekarski, the village administrator, who has lived in the village for three years. Geraldine Tyler, who works in corrections and has lived in the village for seven years. She has six children. Ilene Waite, a...